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Chin Woo Star Assessment -Update

The 2011 CWNZ Star Assessment was held at the Westwave Recreation Centre in Henderson, Auckland on Sunday 29/05.

The 34 participants and with their many supporters have packed the gymnasium floor just before the starting time at 1:30pm. During the next two hours, each student had to take centre stage up to three turns in group of between 2 to 4, depending on their level of assessment, demonstrating their mastery of various Chin Woo International Regulated empty hands & weapons, such as broadsword, staff and spear forms.

After the physical part of assessment, participants were asked to complete the cultural half by answering a multiple choice questionnaire on cultural aspects of Chin Woo New Zealand and Wu Shu.

This event was concluded with a light-hearted discussion by the Chairman Peter Yu, with all the participants on the meaning and purposes of the Chin Woo concept.

Coach Guo has commented on the improvement of standards of the participants since last year.

Chin Woo New Zealand would like to congratulate the following students on their successful attainment:

ONE-STAR

Akari Winter

Amanda Yong

Bright Cui

Derek Buchanan

Farah Thien

Helen Cheng

Henry Zhang

Janelle Chong

Joshua Tan

Julia Ling

Matthew Li

Miller Fang

Morland Dong

Nick Christopher Ewens

Oscar Qian

Qin Luo

Raymond Li

Sacchi Shin-Clayton

Sealand Dong

Selena Guo

Sung Hwan Shin

Tony Lee

Yongwhan Shin

Yonland Dong

TWO-STAR

Alexandra Kai Fong

Fendi Thien

Jeffrey Li

Jennie Zhang

Jenny Ling

Joshua Botting

Lu-Kerne Lee

Ngaroma Buchanan

Rangiatea Buchanan

Seira-Ann Shin-Clayton

June 18, 2011
New Chen Style Tai Chi Class to Open Soon

A new Chen Style Tai Chi class is set to open in Wellington on Monday 13th June 2011.

Led by Chin Woo member Sifu Terry Young, the “Chen Style Taijiquan Academy Wellington Branch” will be held at the Tung Jung Association Meeting Room Lower Level at 33 Torrens Terrace, Wellington City.

Classes will run from 7pm to 9pm every Monday night from the 13th June.

For more information contact Sifu Terry Young:
Mobile: 027-248 9577
Email: tytaichi@gmail.com
Or on the night before the lesson starts.

The Chen Style Taijiquan Academy was established by Master Peter Wu (Wu Shi Zeng) in Melbourne in 1988. For more information visit www.peterwutaichi.com. Master Wu is one of the most skilled disciples of late Grand Master Hong Jun Sheng and Grand Master Lui Jixun (Hao Style Taijiquan).

May 12, 2011
Chin Woo Membership Renewal Reminder

Annual membership runs from 1st April to 31st March. Membership renewal fee is $20.00.

You can download the relevant forms under the Downloads section of this website.

Please mail your completed form with payment to PO Box 6971, Wellesley St, Auckland 1141, or hand to your regional Director or any of the current executive members.

April 21, 2011
Traditional Chin Woo “STAR” Assessment 2011

Date: May 29th, 2011 (Sunday)
Time: Commence at 1:30pm
Venue: West Wave Recreation Centre, 20 Alderman Drive, Henderson, Auckland

Regulations: The “Star” system is an assessment system that implemented by the World Chin Woo Athletic Federation to evaluate the overall understanding (technical & cultural) of it’s participants for the purpose of popularization and promotion of Wushu worldwide.

A) Levels of “STAR” system:
1) Pre-requisite to “Star”
2) One Star
3) Two Stars
4) Three Stars

B) Requirements for applicants:
1) Pre-requisite grade – training under one year
2) One Star grade – training for one year or more and completed the Tan Tui, Gong Li Quan & Qun Yang Gun forms
3) Two Stars grade – must have obtained One Star and have completed the Jie Quan, Ba Gua Dao & Jie Tan Tui forms
4) Three Stars grade – must have obtained Two Stars and have completed Da Zhan Quan, Wu Hu Qiang, Dan Dao Chuan Qiang & Tao Quan forms

C) Cost:
1) Pre-requisite grade $20
2) One Star grade $40
3) Two Stars grade $60
4) Three Stars grade $80

All assessments comprise of both technical & cultural component. Certificates will be issued to all participants at the award ceremony, time and venue to be announced on a later date.

All applications & payment must be received by Chin Woo New Zealand no later than May 14th, 2011.

Chin Woo New Zealand Secretariat

April 11, 2011
11th Chin Woo World Championships in Shanghai By Siu Yuat Wong

In 1909, Grandmaster Huo Yan Jia the founder of Chin Woo, defeated a European wrestler in Shanghai and became a national hero. This event lead to the start of the Chin Woo movement which has since spread worldwide.

In November 2010, Shanghai hosted the 11th Chin Woo World Championships marking 100 years of Chin Woo history. The New Zealand team joined others from Shanghai, Tianjin, Malaysia, Poland, Switzerland, USA, Australia and the UK to compete and participate in cultural festivities.

An invitation to Tianjin

The centenary celebration of Chin woo history was marked by the colossal construction of the Huo Yuan Jia Museum and Mausoleum in Tianjin. A vast courtyard welcomed us and standing majestically above was a 20 meter high statue of Huo Yuan Jia himself. The design of the museum building was of the yin and yang symbol when viewed from above. The towering central marble pillars and dragons wrapped around them was a sight to see. The finishing touches were still being put on the landscaped gardens which were beautiful and the perfect surrounding for the mausoleum.

Competition in Shanghai

We were privileged enough to be given the opportunity to train with the Tianjin team when all the teams were trying out the competition mats. It allowed the NZ team to have a eye opening experience of what Coach Guo has always meant by saying “lower”, “more power” , and “kuai yi dian!” – faster! It was an experience that gave the NZ team inspiration to train harder and to understand what wushu really is at an international standard. As Chinwoo members it also gave us the understanding of what “one family” really meant. Friendships were made through the common bond of smiles, laughs, and martial arts. The competition was a wonderful experience where people helped and supported each other and where your next competitor stood along side you and shouted “jia you” for your support and this was reciprocated. It also gave us the opportunity to see familiar faces from previous competitions and meet new ones which we will hopefully see in the years to come.

At the conclusion of the competition we were taken to the shanghai Chin Woo head quarters with a museum show casing the history of Chin Woo. This was followed by teams around the world sharing and demonstrating their martial arts skills. We were once again reminded of why we call Mr. Guo “coach”, as at the spare of the moment he borrowed a pair of Feiyue shoes which were 2 sizes to small and proceeded to give a breath-taking performance with no warm up and in his dress clothes. “Coach” showed all the “young fellas” how its done, and the amount of respect he had earned through his years of being a professional wushu athlete was clear. As his students we can really appreciate how much of a world class coach we have.

To top it all off we spent our nights exploring Shanghai. We managed to find our way down to the famed Bund, which is filled with century old European architecture. It was interesting to see such a diverse blend of Chinese culture and western architecture. It allows one to appreciate why there was such a conflict between western and eastern cultures, the image of the “sick and weak man of the east” which historically lead to the founding of Chin Woo.

It was a fabulous trip with interesting eye opening experiences and friendships that one will remember for a life time.

March 26, 2011
Chin Woo 100th Anniversary Celebrations, Tianjin, China, Mark Botting

Saturday 13th November 2010

It was with great excitement that the Chin Woo New Zealand contingent gathered for breakfast at 6:30 in the morning at the Xinmao Tiancai Hotel in Tianjin on the day of the much awaited Opening Ceremony of the Chin Woo and Huo Yuanjia World Martial Arts Assembly.

There were 13 of us from New Zealand, ably lead by our coach Mr George Guo, assisted by Mr Chris Cheng with club members and competitors Glenn and Jun Selwyn, Ngaroma and Rangiatea Buchanan, Jenny Ling, Woody Wang and Josh Botting and their supporters (bag carriers) Mark Botting, Peter Selwyn, Xiao Ling Tang and Derek Buchanan.

As we boarded the bus we realised that it was a perfect day for the anticipated ceremony. Although it was cold with a strong bitter wind (I think it was around 2 or 3 degrees) the weather was magnificent. Our excitement mounted as we drove through the suburbs of Tianjin in a police guided bus convoy, wondering what was ahead. On the way, coach Guo pointed out the apartment that he once lived in.

Passing through some farms on the outskirts of Tianjin, we could see a large isolated white marble building in the middle of cleared fields. This was the Huo Yuanjia Memorial Hall, a magnificent centrepiece and first stage of the Jingwumen Chinese Martial Arts Park, Xiqing District of Tianjin; and was our destination. Our jaws dropped as we drove into the complex towards this building and saw before us vast arrays of colourful troupes of martial arts performers, flag bearers, drummers, dancers, dragons, lions, swords and weapons of all descriptions all lined up on the most enormous parade ground surrounding a gigantic statue of Huo Yuanjia – the founder of Chin Woo and whose 100th Anniversary of the founding of Chin Woo we were celebrating. It was an unforgettable site which we are never likely to see in New Zealand. As we walked past this array of people to take our seats, we felt truly honoured to be part of such an organisation.
We took our places alongside contingents from other countries including Switzerland, Malaysia, Canada, USA, Hong Kong, Singapore, England, and alongside other special guests, dignitaries and officials from the Chin Woo organisation. The ceremony started with introductions and speeches from the Chair and President of Chin Woo, and then the amazing show began with displays from the thousands of people on the massive parade ground in front of us – hundreds of Wu Shu students performed followed by fabulous lion and dragon dancers and drummers.

After about an hour of performances, the ceremony reached its climax with the unveiling of the Huo Yuanjia Memorial Hall: fireworks, cannons and confetti rained down on us as we lined up for a massive group photo.

Following the ceremony we were invited to visit the temple and mausoleum complex of Huo Yuanjia Cemetery – the second large group of buildings on the site. This was also truly special following a procession of Chin Woo dignitaries, officials and pupils to pay our respects. All guests were presented with a wonderful scarf to commemorate the occasion (a welcome relief because of the bitterly cold wind!).

After lunch we were given the grand tour of the main memorial building, which is a large museum dedicated to Chin Woo International and Wu Shu – showing the history and culture of the organisation of which we are part. We found our small NZ corner of this large world represented in the International hall. The centrepiece of the Memorial Hall and Museum is a gigantic carved marble column – at least 5 stories tall.

The numbers are staggering. We learnt that the complex we were at is the first stage of the construction of a 300 acre Chin Woo Chinese Martial Arts Park dedicated to the teaching of traditional martial arts and culture. The buildings that were inaugurated today had cost something like $1 billion, and the further stages to come will cost another billion dollars. The mind boggles – and our students on the tour vowed to come back to attend the school at some stage in the future.

What an exciting day – but it wasn’t over yet. After a banquet dinner we were further honoured to attend a magnificent show at the Tianjin Grand Theatre. With over 1000 people in the audience, and (apparently) at the cost of $1 Million dollars to put on, we were all treated to a sensational set of performances by traditional Chinese artists, poets, opera singers, musicians and dancers all with a martial arts theme – interlaced with speeches and awards for the Chin Woo representatives from around the world. A truly amazing spectacle. After such an awe-inspiring day, and after such a lot of travel to get there, we were all very tired so went to bed early, knowing there would be more celebrations and banquets to come the next day. But that’s another story.

March 26, 2011
Chin Woo Wellington – Chinese New Year Festival

The Year of the Rabbit – Chinese New year 2011 was welcomed in with style thanks to the work of the Asian Community Trust, Wellington City Council and the many community organisations that contributed to bring fair and flavour to the Capital. Chin Woo Wellington Region was one such group that volunteered its member’s time and energy to entertain and inform the public on the merits and importance of traditional Chinese martial arts in today’s society.

On Saturday 5th February, younger Chin Woo members from the NZ Ling Nan Wushu Association took part in the Sin Nian Rabbit Party held at Wellington’s Civic Square. Despite the threat of rain, the event went smoothly and involved a brief but energetic demonstration of hap gar kung fu followed by a ‘have a go’ session involving younger members in the audience following basic kung fu hand and leg movements. Despite their youth, the group of eight showed maturity and courage in sharing their art with the public, qualities which lie at the heart of the Chin Woo ideal.

The following weekend was the finale of the CNY celebrations in Wellington, culminating in “Festival Day” on Sunday 13th. Chin Woo’s presence was never far from the festivities with a Chin Woo Stand operating throughout the entire day and two martial arts demonstrations to entertain the audiences inside TSB Arena. The Chin Woo Stand was a chance for members of the public to enquire about learning a traditional Chinese martial art. The table was staffed by knowledgeable Chin Woo members who were practitioners themselves. This is one of the key differentiating features and indeed strengths of Chin Woo in that nearly all of our members are actively involved in studying Chinese martial arts. Thanks to the efforts of Chin Woo Wellington Executives Geoff and Miki, supported by Mercedes, Maria, Arron and my wife Mancie, the Chin Woo information stand was strongly maintained throughout the day. Thanks also to the many Chin Woo members and friends who visited us and gave their support throughout the day.

Up on the markets stage Arron Chan and yours truly entertained the crowd with a demonstration of the Hung Gar Pole form Sup Saap Cheung or 13 Points Spear Stick. In the early afternoon, Chin Woo members from the NZ Wing Tsun Association gave a highly professional demonstration of traditional Wing Tsun kung fu form and application. With the recent popularity of the Ip Man films, the audience needed little introduction to the style and it was a very well received and enjoyable performance.

The festivities were a lot of fun and provided a great opportunity to entertain and inform the public on the many benefits of learning Chinese martial arts. Overall, a very enjoyable occasion for the many who attended with lots to see, do and or course eat.

February 15, 2011