July 2009

I received some exciting news from Japan. The Fuchu branch of Cheng Ming International is having their Annual Demonstration to showcase their school and students.

It is being organised by Master Ozawa Shoji and Head Instructor/Director Katsuhiko Mochizuki.

It will be held on the 22nd. of November 2009 at Hibari Hall in Chuabunka Centre in Fuchu, Tokyo.

An enormous amount of organizing has gone into this and major credits go to Master Ozawa, my Kung Fu brother and Mochizuki, my Kung Fu nephew and their students.

A special bonus for me is that I have been invited to attend as their special international guest to attend and perform a demonstration.

I am really excited and really looking forward to the trip. I am also keen to eat some traditional Japanese cuisine.

June 2009

Classes in Tai Chi and Qi Gong for Kidz

I have been invited by Our Ladies Primary School in Eltham to teach pupils of grades 5 and 6.  I am really excited by this, as it is a positive approach by Catholic Schools to embrace the more gentle of Martial Arts as an alternative to more physical sports.

The 6 classes program will be demonstrated by the pupils to their parents and teachers on its completion.

I have found the children to be very well behaved with a good level of concentration and focus. This is a credit to their teachers and the values and principles the school maintains for its pupils.

I am thoroughly enjoying the classes.

September 2008

International Martial Arts Championship 2008.                                    Cheng Ming Martial Art International Association

This is the very firs time this event has taken place and Miriam and Neil participated to represent Australia and their own school in Wattle Glen. Events entered were Ba Gua, Hsing-I, Tai Chi and Weapons Forms. All our performances were individual events judged by 5 judges and a time keeper. It a very male dominated arena with most of the judges also being male.

Miriam and Neil won 7 medals between them. 1 gold, 3 silver, 3 bronze.

Approximately 200 contestants took part from Australia, Taiwan, New Zealand, Israel, Japan, America.

Catergories were mixed male and female with age groups ranging from 10 to 70 years. Tai Chi Chuan was timed to between 4.5- 5.5 minutes for the first basic 14 movements. One lost points if you were under time or over time. Judgement was also based on knowledge of form, softness of pattern and level of skill.

The 3 day event brought together many senior and junior students of the Cheng Ming System of Internal Kung Fu.

After the events, we all meet up again at the memorial mountain to pay respects to our founder, the legendary, Grandmaster Wang Shu Chin. Due to the very hot and humid conditions and the fatigque of contestants, we did not perform our usual demonstrations. Instead, Master Wang provided us with a scrumptous vegatarian lunch in much cooler conditions.

It was a great experience for us as now we also have a measuring stick to compare our level of skill with those students from other countries. With our teacher residing in Taiwan and no others in Australia to train with, it is difficult to know how we are progressing.

It is expected this event will take place again in 2 0r 3 years time.

August 2007 The Trilogy of Power Seminar held at Wattle Glen

Master Wang Fu Lai and Master Huang Shu Chin came to our home again for our personal training and corrections.

A few days later, we were joined by Master Ozawa Shoji of Japan.

Master Ozawa is an "inner room pupil" of Master Wang Fu Lai and also my Kung Fu brother. At the weekend, a seminar attended by several students inluding one from Israel was held.

After two of the Masters left, Master Ozawa stayed with us a few extra days and was able to take in some touring of our country.

Our students were again blessed with spending time and training with some of the worlds most experienced masters in Kung Fu.