Chans Martial Arts News
CMA 19- 02 3rd June 2019
Annual Seminars
It was weekend of atrocious weather with heavy rain and freezing temperatures. It prevented some of our students and instructors from the West Coast to come over as both passes were closed. However, we still have very good participation for both Tai Chi Chuan and Shao Chi Chuan seminars. We even have a few from Sydney, Invercargill, Invercargill Central, Winton, Timaru, Nelson and Wellington with the majority from Canterbury.
In Tai Chi Chuan, we discussed the importance of understanding the concepts, as soon as the 6 & 5 exercises are learnt and how we monitor the structure and movements by feel. In the 42 Form we concentrated on sinking and Yin & Yang separation of the moves.
For the instructors, we discussed the syllabus and how to be a good Laoshi and how to practice two parts of the 37 Form accurately. We also worked on some basic pushing hands drills that will help the understanding and development of the necessary skills progressively.
We pointed out that Shao Chi Chuan is not just a collection of techniques. It is based on classical Kung Fu principles that should be understood and interpreted as scientifically as possible. First, we have to understand the techniques before developing the skills. Starting from: stances & angles, centre control, sequential action, leverage, relaxing, breathing, flowing, wave & pulse, internal energy, to finally, pressure points.
We practiced some basic techniques using these principles and the worked on the five ways to ‘close the gap’.
At the instructor’s session, we also discussed what makes a good Laoshi. We then worked on how to derive internal energy or ‘Jing’. We talked about how to train the forms and then practiced hands sensitivity drills.
Tournament
This year we had a 40% increase in participation overall due to the hard work of the instructors. There was also a very good number of supporters attending.
I explained that our tournament is not like the other sports competition, especially most other combat sports competition. We want to test our techniques, fitness, strategy, nerves and most important of all; our conduct as a Kung Fu practitioner. We should endeavour to be brave & strong yet fair & kind. A good Kung Fu person is humble and magnanimous. We should never celebrate excessively, brag about our victories, we must accept defeat with dignity and with a positive resolve.
We are happy that the safety gear, rules and officiating resulted in only one minor fracture besides the expected common bruising. The techniques of the fighters who fought in previous years seem to have improved. The youngest competitors certainly showed great promise for the future.
It is especially pleasing that the conduct of the competitors were very good. This is very important as any bad behaviour always leaves a distaste for future participation by all concerned.
The judges, referees and all the other officials did a sterling job running the tournament more efficiently than ever. They deserve a very big thank you.
We believe the tournament will get even bigger and better next year as our membership is growing strongly at HQ and many other centres.
The Results
Patterns Competition:
Youth Division:
Champion: Ben Hamilton-Skurak - HQ
Second: Kaitlyn Stevens - Lincoln
Third: Tomas Coberger - HQ
Intermediate Division:
Champion: Max Sinclair - Winton
Second: Isileili Paris - HQ
Third: Bruce Hamilton-Skurak - HQ
Advanced Division:
Champion: Anthony Pyers - Kelburn
Second: Lexi Clarkson - HQ
Third: Daegal Hodgson - Nelson
Fighting Competition:
Children < 8yrs < 25kg:
Champion: Jake Harris - HQ
Second: Olive Hughes-Yee - HQ
Third: Krish Chettri - HQ
Children < 10yrs < 30kg:
Champion: Nathan Roy - Lincoln
Second: Luke Stevens - Lincoln
Third: Sabrina Li - HQ
Children < 10yrs < 48kg:
Champion: Gabriel McGrody - Lincoln
Second: Ollie Glover - Lincoln
Third: Olive Harris - HQ
Children < 12yrs < 32kg:
Champion: Leo Byron - North Canterbury
Second: Kyle Spriggs - Parklands
Third: Ethan Franks - Parklands
Youth < 13yrs < 49kg:
Champion: Ben Hamilton-Skurak - HQ
Second: Tomas Coberger - HQ
Third: Trae Davis - West Melton
Plate Winner: Lucas Faulkner - Lincoln
Girls < 14yrs < 49kg:
Champion: Sophie Lee-Broome - Hornby
Second: Bridie Blundell - HQ
Third: Abbie Haselden - Lincoln
Youth < 57kg:
Champion: Braedon Murdoch - Spreydon
Second: Michael Planner - North Canterbury
Third: Poppy Cuthbert - Lincoln
Youth < 15 < 66kg:
Champion: Kieran Reed - Lincoln
Second: Moa Jarrari - HQ
Third: John Doyle Simms - HQ
Women < 66kg:
Champion: Lexi Clarkson - HQ
Second: Emma Haselden - Lincoln
Third: Rose Neal - Lincoln
Youth < 16yrs < 73kg:
Champion: Dylan Blundell - HQ
Second: Reuben Clarkson - HQ
Third: Andrew Levy - Lincoln
Plate Winner: Leif McGuinnety - West Melton
Youth < 17yrs < 66kg:
Champion: Jonah Jarvis - HQ
Second: Joshua Brink - Hornby
Third: Max Sinclair - Winton
Plate winner: Reinhard Woltersdorf - Hornby
Mens < 80kg:
Champion: Ben Francis - HQ
Second: Matt Newby - North Canterbury
Third: Luke Gordon - University of Canterbury
Mens Intermediate < 87kg:
Champion: Dougal Gilroy - Papanui
Second: Peter Tan - University of Canterbury
Third: Troy Keen - West Melton
Mens < 99kg:
Champion: Bruce Hamilton-Skurak - HQ
Second: Adam Baker - Sydney
Third: Isileili Paris - HQ
Mens Open:
Champion: Brad Turner - Hornby
Second: Jose Tuhoro - HQ
Third: Scott Goodsir - North Canterbury
Black Belt:
Champion: Anthony Pyers - Kelburn
Second: Tommy Ley - Lincoln
Third Equal: Theuns Verwoerd - University of Canterbury
Third Equal: Jeremy Elrick - HQ
Donations
We thank our members and visitors attending the weekend events who made generous donations to the Mahmood family. We raised $550 over the weekend for the family, if you would like to make a donation do contact us as we are still collecting money.
Dr Haroon Mahmood was killed in the March Christchurch terror attacks.
Dr Mahmood tutored economics and statistics at Lincoln University from 2014-2016. He also lectured business studies at Linguis International in Christchurch from 2014-2017. He was at Canterbury College and gained a PhD in Finance at Lincoln University.
His two children Ahmad (12) and Izzah (11) are green tips students at our Lincoln branch. I hope we will continue to love and support Ahmad and Izzah to become good Kung Fu seniors in the future.
One of our Black Belts is a paramedic in Christchurch. He was one of the first on the scene of the Linwood Mosque to help the survivors. He believed that his training helped him cope with the traumatic situation at the time, even though it affected him badly for weeks afterwards. He has good support and is quite good now.
We must not tolerate racism, bigotry and extremism of any sort that will lead to this kind of terrorism.
Annual Camp in Nelson
Our annual camp this year will be on the 23rd to 25th August at the Nelson College for Girls Gym. It is one of our most important event of the year and is eagerly awaited by students and instructors alike. This should be as rewarding as ever. Please check our website to enrol as soon as possible for the best fees, accommodation and flights.
We have a great few months training before camp. I hope you all will work on the points covered at the seminars. Best wishes and see you at the seminars or camp in Nelson.
May Chi be with you,
Grandmaster SC Chan
Events
11th June:
Canterbury TC Ex Grading
15th June:
Canterbury Adv. KF Grading
6th July:
Sydney SOTC Seminar
7th July:
Sydney KF Seminar
13th July:
Canterbury Ladies Self Defence
20th July:
Auckland KF Seminar
27th July:
Nelson KF Grading & Seminar
28th July:
Nelson TC Grading & Seminar
6th August:
Canterbury TC Ex Grading
10th August:
Canterbury KF Grading
23rd, 24th & 25th August:
Annual Camp - Nelson
14th & 15th September:
Christchurch SOTC Seminar
28th September:
Wellington KF Grading & Seminar
29th September:
Wellington TC Grading & Seminar
