Chans Martial Arts News
CMA 25-02 8th June 2025
Tai Chi Jian Course
It was taken up by a good number of students, with a few on zoom. It is a challenging course, but those who are attending classes regularly are enjoying it and continue to make steady progress.
Christchurch Camp & 30th Anniversary of Sing Ong Tai Chi
The celebrations were kicked off at the Christchurch Camp in March. We had a very enjoyable dinner at the Jolly Seafood Restaurant in Wigram. Mike Puklowski Laoshi gave a brief history of SOTC’s development, and there was demonstration of pushing hands along with weapon forms by various instructors. The highlight of the demonstrations was the amazing Quick Fist performance by Michael ShiYe, and the rarely seen crystallisation of Tai Chi Chuan in the 72 Form by Yek Tai Shi.
Many students had their forms graded, and the examiners were generally pleased with the progress. Tai Shi explained the essential characteristics of: softness, completeness, continuity and circularity.
Injury Prevention & Recovery Workshop
This was presented by Ms Suyi Chan was very well received. People are still talking about the benefits and what they have learnt from it.
Women Self Defence Course
This was very well attended. It was conducted with the help of our members, Dr Marin Taylor, (Clinical Psychologist), Mr Dave Joker, (BB & Ex Police officer), other instructors & students. I thought that the session was the best we had deliver so far.
Regional seminars
It was good to see the students making progress in Nelson, Blenheim, Southland, Otago, Fiordland, Auckland and Wellington at the regional seminars. Regional seminars are where we standardise our syllabus, and seed the important ideas that I teach at the annual seminars and camp.
Auckland SOTC seminar & 30th Anniversary celebration
At the seminar in May, Tai Shi talked about not just practicing techniques ‘Ji’, but also cultivating ‘Dao’ or ‘The Way.’ ‘Dao’ can be described as following the principles and philosophy of Tai Chi Chuan, as well as the cultivating good temperament & morality. We discussed the using of ‘Yi’, ‘Slowness’ & ‘Relaxation’ in great detail.
We also had a sumptuous dinner to celebrate the 30th anniversary of SOTC. Master Mike Kinney was the excellent master of ceremony. Various instructors demonstrated weapons and pushing hands. Tai Shi impressed us with the power of Tai Chi Chuan on the big Willie Laoshi from Sydney. ShiYe Michael showed us his incredible energy and control with the Quick Fist and Walking Stick Form.
Annual Tai Chi Chuan seminars
At the seminars last week, I elaborated on Tai Shi’s message of training ‘Dao’ & ‘Ji’ & ‘Yi’, as well as ‘Training the Body’. We discussed what to get out of ‘Slowness’ and ‘Relaxation’ in training the forms. We also worked on more detail in Fixed and Free Pushing Hands.
Annual Shao Chi Chuan seminars
We also discussed the training of the Body, Mind & Techniques. The emphasis was to understand what are we specifically training in every activity. We also discussed the need to train technique 100% correctly with every repetition. We also worked on two versions of spinning techniques, specific usage of stances and multi-fighting tactics.
Some Black Belts who had satisfied the required years in training and service, were assessed in their performance in various items to ascertain their progress. We will follow this up at the annual camp, to see if they are up to technical standard, as wells as having the other important attributes that are considered for up-grading at some stage.
Annual Tournament
There were participants from all over the country, and the results show a good representation of placings in the competition. We are happy that the students showed good spirit and sportsmanship throughout the day.
I would like to thank the instructors, students, friends & families for officiating and supporting the event. Special thanks to Richard Beddie and team for the very professional cafe service.
We have a history of excellent tournament fighters who were very successful in various kind of open tournaments, locally, nationally and internationally. All of them first developed their experience and skills in our class training and annual tournaments. Our tournaments are still the safest place to test yourself, and learn from mistakes to become a better martial artist. As I said before the start of the tournament, even if you do not win in competition, you are still winning, by learning from it.
Tournaments Results
Children <8yrs <31kg
Champion: Felix Rollinson - Lincoln
2nd: Kanbir Dillon - Lincoln
Children <9yrs <53kg
Champion: Jack Cronin - Lincoln
2nd: Ruby Seinafo - HQ
Children <10yrs <34kg
Champion: Zeppelin Trotter - Cashmere
2nd: Paolo Alexandre Saul - Cashmere
3rd: Alistair Stone - Greymouth
Plate: Leo De Wet - Lincoln
Children <11yrs <43kg
Champion: Adam Lim - Remuera
2nd: Isaac Lim - Remuera
3rd: Jackson Rodgers - West Melton
Children <12yrs <40kg
Champion: Dan Tanner - Invercargill
2nd: Bonbon Zhong - Remuera
3rd: Grace McPherson - Lincoln
Children <13yrs <58kg
Champion: Adithyan Rohini Abhilash - HQ
2nd: Hafez Safa - Lincoln
3rd: Hayton Gostev - Lincoln
Plate: Divraj Dillon - Lincoln
Girls <14yrs <58kg
Champion: Tiffany Norriss - Lincoln
2nd: Kaitiana Speck - Blenheim
Girls <15yrs <59kg
Champion: Anamika Speck - Blenheim
2nd: Sofia Kyle - Cashmere
Boys <15yrs <69kg
Champion: Oli Seifert - Lincoln
2nd: Charlie Cronin - Lincoln
Men Intermediate <64kg
Champion: Taras Natalenko - Lincoln
2nd: Jean Paolo Saul - Cashmere
Women <87kg
Champion: Marissa Holder - Remuera
2nd: Tinglan Guo - Remuera
3rd: Sophie Chen - Queenstown
Men Intermediate <91kg
Champion: Jackson Allred - HQ
2nd: Simon Schack - HQ
3rd: Lucas Faulkner - Lincoln
Plate: Reggie Gregory-Allen - Remuera
Men <72kg
Champion: Janno Pieterse - North Canterbury
2nd: Reuben Wilson - Blenheim
Men Masters <89kg
Champion: Daniel Reeve - West Melton
2nd: Richard Beddie - HQ
3rd: Brendan Sidwell - Nelson
Plate: Michael Smith - HQ
Men Heavy Weight
Champion: Lance Trotter - Cashmere
2nd: Ariel Rodgers - West Melton
3rd: Aaron Carson - Invercargill
Black Belt
Champion: Matthew Naushutz - Queenstown
2nd: Lance Curtis - Lincoln
Forms Competition
Children White & Yellow Sash
Champion: Vitalii Smetanin - Lincoln
2nd: Robert Hughes - HQ
3rd: Luke Hughes - HQ
Children Orange Sash
Champion: Bonbon Zhong - Remuera
2nd: Alex Straker - HQ
3rd equal: Adam Lim - Remuera
3rd equal: Ruby Seinafo - HQ
Children Green tip & Green Sash
Champion: Zlata Tatarchuk - Lincoln
2nd: Alistair Stone - Greymouth
3rd: Grace McPherson - Lincoln
Intermediate
Champion: Jackson Allred - HQ
2nd: Joshua Hopkins - Queenstown
3rd: Cathie Martin - HQ
Advanced
Champion: Reuben Clarkson - HQ
2nd equal: Lottie Harris - HQ
2nd equal: Brendan Sidwell - Nelson
3rd: Matt Newby - North Canterbury
The tournament was very well organised and ran smoothly, except for a minor mix up, with two students having the same first name and initial for surname. We always review the event with the senior officials, and discuss how we can improve processes to make the competition fairer and safer for our students in the future.
Annual Camp
Annual camp in Wellington is the next important event on our calendar. At camp we standardise how instructors administer of the syllabus, introduce improvements, and occasionally new drills or techniques. We have a good look at our potential candidates for probable higher-level grading. It is also where we catch up with old colleagues, compare notes on training and have a great time. We have long list of attendees already. Do sign up as soon as possible, if you have not done so already.
https://forms.gle/jBhfN2mJg7Bqb4cg6
Chans Martial Arts 50th Anniversary Dinner & Awards
We are having the dinner & award at the same location to celebrate this landmark year. We have many students from way back interested in attending this special event. I hope you will all be there for this historic occasion.
Please register as soon as possible.
https://forms.gle/UutfBoPMUzpcoP4e9
Benefits of regular training
I have written a great deal about the benefits of training over the years. Besides learning how to defend ourselves, training can keep our muscles & bones strong, internal organs, nervous, respiratory, circulatory & lymphatic systems heathy. It also trains us to focus, and exercise our mind to keep it in good shape.
For the older students, even as we age, it is possible to regain lost muscle mass, flexibility, and improve balance & skill. Therefore, it is very important to keep training regularly. However, you must be very careful to train with correct technique at every repetition, and listen to the body to get the best results.
Enjoy your training, and see you at the next event.
May Qi be with you,
Grandmaster Chan
Chans Martial Arts