Newsletter 2022-2

Chans Martial Arts News

CMA 22-02 14th June 2022

Annual Seminars

The Annual seminars at the new HQ were well attended with a good number joining in on Zoom. There were not too many issues with car parking and the training area was quite adequate for the seminars.

Tai Chi Chuan

In the Tai Chi Chuan seminar, it was pointed out that we should change how we learn and train in the way we did in the past. Instead of just learning moves and trying to add the concepts of Tai Chi Chuan to it later on, we must instil the concepts as we learn the moves from the very beginning. The development of feeling for balance, tension and breathing must be integral to the learning of each new exercise or move in the forms.

More information was given to help everyone understand how to work on the three ‘Dan Tians’ in the exercises and the forms, as with training ‘rear Jing’.

How we perceive pushing hands must also be changed to enable real progress. We must understand that pushing hands training is not supposed to be competitive or combative even though the knowledge and skills developed for the training are very useful for combat. It must be practised with all the principles of the exercises and forms.

We managed to work on ‘Shao Lu’ and some sword basics with the instructors and assistant instructors.

Shao Chi Chuan

We discussed the need to work on the ideal fighting mind and how to remain calm and relaxed when under pressure. We practised the new training protocol to improve mental conditioning in training.

The concepts of controlling the centre axis, the round shape, stability and generating leverage in all techniques. We also worked on feinting, attacking combinations and counter-attack drills.

The Black Belts worked on their respective forms, taking it to a higher level of developing control, ‘Yi’ and ‘Jing’. We also revised most of the ‘Levels Drill’ for specific situations.

Annual Tournament

The tournament attracted the biggest number of entries in recent years. We have entries from Invercargill, West Coast, Blenheim, North Shore Auckland and Canterbury. We are proud of the students who competed with courage, skill, honour and dignity. It is especially good to see the junior students putting what they have learnt to good use. These students will develop into very good senior martial artists in the future if they keep training well. Those helping to run the event did better than ever before, and everything went like clockwork. A big hand to Master Mike Kinney, Master Bruce Lord, Mr Tony Clarkson and Mr Wai Hoe Chan, as well as all the others who helped to make it a success. We really appreciate the Black Belts and instructors who had to make time or travel to support the weekend's events.

Tournament Results:

Children’s Patterns

1st - Chase Clarke - Blenheim

2nd - Anamika Speck - Blenheim

3rd - Oliver Seifert - Lincoln

Intermediate Patterns

1st - William Kao - HQ

2nd - Katrina Koslover - Blenheim

3rd Equal - Anton Spencer - Invercargill

3rd Equal - Richard Beddie - HQ

Advanced Patterns

Joint 1st - Jeremy Elrick - HQ

Joint 1st - Lexi Clarkson - HQ

2nd - Michele Trott - Lincoln

Kids under 9yrs under 36kg

1st - Sam Tarjomi - Lincoln

2nd - Louis Connell - Lincoln

3rd - Jake Harris - HQ

Girls under 11yrs under 46kg

1st - Tiffany Norriss - Lincoln

2nd - Neave Lowe - Papanui

3rd - Kaitiana Speck - Blenheim

Under 11yrs under 62kg

1st - Hafez Safa - Lincoln

2nd - Hemi Heron - HQ

3rd - Ayden Todd - HQ

Under 13yrs under 52kg

1st - Ollie Glover - Lincoln

2nd - Oliver Seifert - Lincoln

3rd - Chase Clarke - Blenheim

Under 14yrs under 40kg

1st - Leo Byron - North Canterbury

2nd - Nathan Roy - Lincoln

Under 14yrs under 93kg

1st - Gabriel McGrody - Lincoln

2nd - Leiden Ruddell - Greymouth

3rd - Thomas Lucock - Lincoln

Under 15yrs under 59kg

1st - Brylie Ross - Papanui

2nd - Lohan Loots - Papanui

Girls under 17yrs under 52kg

1st - Sophie-Lee Broome - Hornby

Youth under 89kg

1st - William Kao - HQ

2nd - Moa Tuiloma - HQ

Women under 65kg

1st - Damaris Warnick - Blenheim

2nd - Marissa Holder - N Shore Auckland

3rd - Lilith Hofmann - U of Canterbury

Men under 73kg

1st - Leif McGuinniety - West Melton

2nd - Bhavesh Govind - N Shore Auckland

3rd - Oliver Palmer - North Canterbury

Plate - Kieran Reed - Lincoln

Women under 91kg

1st - Alexandria Connell - HQ

2nd - Quinn Evans - HQ

3rd - Katrina Koslover - Blenheim

Advanced Women under 71kg

1st - Zahra Shahtahmabesi - N Shore Auckland

2nd - Michele Trott - Lincoln

Men under 83kg

1st - James Day - West Melton

2nd - Leon Chambers - North Canterbury

3rd - Sidonio De Jesus - Lincoln

Plate - Richard Beddie - HQ

Men's Heavyweight

1st - Jay Lawry - Papanui

2nd - Anton Spencer - Invercargill

3rd - Brendan Paris - HQ

Black Belt

1st - Troy Summerton - N Shore Auckland

2nd - Jeremy Elrick - HQ

Sydney Camp & Annual Camp

We are having Sydney Camp on the 2nd & 3rd of July.

For more information & enrolment please see: https://forms.gle/KTNtkScDbMc1GUsx5

Annual Camp is in Auckland on the 26th, 27th & 28th of August. Please book your transport and accommodation as soon as possible. For more information please see: https://forms.gle/u6qr4G9NqffKwgPUA

Best wishes for your training and hope to see you at the regional seminars and annual camp.

Keep safe, train well & may Qi be with you,

Grandmaster SC Chan

Newsletter 2022-1

CMA 22-01 19th May 2022

We hope everyone had a good start to the year and is looking forward to more progress and enjoyment in training.

New HQ

We have also moved into our new HQ at 14 Iversen Terrace, Christchurch on the 9th of April with the help of a small army of students & instructors from HQ, and the Canterbury branches. We borrowed a big truck from Mr Nic Morrison which made things a great deal easier.

The new location is just off Moorhouse Avenue, directly opposite the Ten-pin Bowling Centre and on the same street as an indoor multi-sports centre. Mr Alan Logan, Mr David McQueen has helped to refit the lights. Mr Rick Van Den Berg has been doing carpentry while Mr Kevin & Mrs Jacqui Stewart put in many hours of work on tidying the place. Mr Zane Thompson got us a great deal on the biggest mirrors we ever had. Mr Rodney Lambert has come back to help us remove a huge gull's nest and repair the roof. Mr Craig Jarvis helps us with the planning for the rest of the refurbishment to come. We are very lucky to acquire the over 300-year-old antique Chinese doors which will be part of the refurbishment. It will be great when we can put up all our equipment, photos and regalia like our old HQ. 

Most people are very happy with the new HQ. Classes are running as before with some minor adjustments. We have just hosted the biggest Tai Chi seminar ever quite comfortably last weekend. The HQ will only get better as we continue to fit more accessories as we go.

New Students

This is the best time of the year for recruiting new students. Our instructors will be doing the usual low-cost pamphlet and poster drive. If you would like to support your branch, please volunteer to help spread some advertising around to friends, contacts and local spots. 

Our instructors will do their best to respond to the e-mails and phone calls and follow up with a text message with the details of classes as well as pass the information over the phone.

Seminars and Camp

The 2022 calendar is on our website and we look forward to all the scheduled events unless they have to be changed. We will inform you as soon as we know of any such changes.

Annual Camp will be in Auckland as our Auckland people have missed out in the last two years. Sydney training camp is also happening for the first time in two years which should be great.

Annual Seminars

The annual seminars are held on Saturday the 4th of June at the new HQ. These are the next best thing to annual camp. Please register as soon as possible.

Zoom Option is also available!

Tai Chi students: 9:00am - 11:00am

Tai Chi Instructors & Assistant: 11:00am - 12:30pm

Kung Fu students: 2:30pm - 4:30pm

Black Belts: 4:30pm - 6:00pm

1 seminar = $35, 2 seminars = $60, 3 seminars = $85, 4 seminars = $100

To sign up simply email us your name and branch and which seminars you wish to attend. Then deposit the appropriate fees into our account using your surname and first name as a reference: 03 0866 0381094 00 Chans Martial Arts Limited.

Annual Tournament

Those invited to compete should do so and learn from the experience, whether it is in the fighting or patterns. Those who are not competing should try to support their classmates and also learn from watching.

Sunday the 5th of June at HQ.

Weigh-in: 9:00am 

Sing Ong Tai Chi

We just had another wonderful seminar by TaiShi and ShiYe. It was about the three Dantian points in the body and their function. Theoretically, it is not difficult to follow. However, as he explained, most people remain sceptical about the information and never really train it properly to achieve the skills and benefits. I hope there is a bit more faith in those attending and will gain from this seminar.

We will be making another order for Tai Chi swords and broadswords. The TC sword is $280 and the broadsword is $320. Please notify your instructor of size or height in cm and pay to CMA account 03-0866-0381094-00 by 25th May 2022.

Shao Chi Chuan

I have talked to the instructors about the need to work on the mental state for fighting. The ideal fighting mind is not going berserk or winding yourself up. We have to keep totally focused on the objectives while remaining calm and relaxed. 

This has to be practised in all our drills. In the solo drills, visualisation of the opponent’s position, targets and possible reactions is vital. In the partner drills, always pretend that your partner is not honourable, and will try to have a go at you whenever possible. This way you will train never to let your guard down and always return to the correct fighting range. Try to wean out all social exchanges during training. Everyone should wait till practice is over before engaging in the usual friendly socialising. 

Therefore, we have made some changes to the training protocol to improve mental conditioning in training.

Practice all techniques this way, until it becomes the only way we train. This strong habit will be very useful when we are in a stressful situation, such as fighting for real. The mental state for fighting will be well practised then, without having to think about keeping calm and switching to fight mode.

Sydney and Annual Camp

We are having Sydney Camp on the 2nd & 3rd of July after missing out for two years. 

For more information & enrolment please see:  https://forms.gle/KTNtkScDbMc1GUsx5

Annual Camp is in a great facility in Auckland on the 26th, 27th & 28th of August. Do get your transport and accommodation as soon as possible. We have a good list of people attending already. The Auckland students and instructors are very keen to host this event.

For more information please see: https://forms.gle/u6qr4G9NqffKwgPUA

Best wishes for your training and hope to see you at the seminars, tournament and annual camp.

Keep safe, train well & may Qi be with you,   

Grandmaster SC Chan