Tai Chi, Wushu & Qigong in Today’s World Conference 2015

Macquarie University Sydney Australia The new Wushu Herald which replaces Wushu News is our contribution to the Wushu community in Australia.

We hope that it will continue to be the source of information and education about Wushu, in all its forms. As a platform for sharing thoughts, ideas, experiences and achievements we hope it will foster open discussion, facilitate the finding of common ground and help us all grow stronger together.

The ancient art of Wushu

that translates as “Martial

Arts”, is being practised in Full report from the Conference 2015 on pages 2-7

all its forms such as Tai Chi,

Traditional and Competitive

Wushu, Qigong, Bagua, Xing

Yi, Weapons Play (Sword,

Broadsword, Sabre, Cudgel,

Spear etc.) and many others. 2

FROM EDITORIAL Tai Chi, Wushu & Qigong BOARD in Today’s World

This issue is almost fully Conference 2015 dedicated to the conference held at Macquarie University - Highlights “Tai Chi, Wushu & Qigong in This inaugural event was a resounding success and Today’s World”. Yagiz Aksoy, PhD the first ever scientific conference on these three (Neuroscience, Macquarie University)

disciplines in Australia. presenting We also covered important “Overview of the Australian Macquarie University Wushu & Tai Chi Club and Overseas Research international events related to President, Yagiz Aksoy, PhD (Neuroscience), and a on the Effects of Tai Wushu, Tai Chi and Qigong. world-class practitioner and internationally Chi and Qigong on Various Ailments recognized coach and judge Dr Larissa Koroleva masterminded a platform that showcased traditional and As always, we encourage more Chinese medicine and martial arts from a western Conditions”. people to join our state scientific standpoint. associations so we can continue Lectures on Tai Chi and Qigong ran the gamut from to grow through competitions, medicine to music and from molecular biology to workshops, lectures and sports, delving extensively into how Eastern medicine meets Western science. The Conference participation in community was supported by the Wushu Council Australia and activities. its State Member Association - Wushu & Tai Chi NSW.

Our editorial team is very keen to Guest Speakers included: hear your stories and share them with the entire community, Prof Chris Zaslawski, PhD especially in this dynamic Year of (Associate Professor, Associate Head of School for the School of Medical and Molecular the Horse. It is your publication Biosciences at the University of Technology and we greatly value all your Sydney) presenting “The Effect of 12 Weeks of Tai Chi Practice contributions. So please contact on Anxiety in Healthy but Stressed People us or simply send in your Compared to Exercise and Wait-list Comparison Groups: A Randomized contributions and photos to Controlled Trial”. [email protected].

Watch this space! On behalf of the Editorial Board, John Dolic (Graduate of the Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Teacher at

the Endeavour College of Natural Health) elucidating “Qigong Demystified”.

Dr Khoo Cheng Choo Dr Byeongsang Oh, PhD Brent Keogh, PhD (Clinical Associate Professor, Sydney Medical School – (Lecturer at Dept of Media, Music, Communication & University of Sydney, Principle Research Fellow, Dept of Cultural Studies Macquarie University) presenting Radiation Oncology – Royal North Shore Hospital, “Sounds, Swords and Forests: Research Fellow, Harvard Medical School – Harvard an Exploration into

University USA) presenting the Representations of Music and Martial Arts in “Qigong Medicine in Cancer Care”. Contemporary Kung Fu Films”. This study utilised and harnessed Qigong in the treatment of elderly patients in terms of mood swings and other health Helen Rivett conditions they had. One of the most significant findings of (Board of Directors of the Wushu Council Australia), the study was that Qigong "has potential to improve introducing Wushu Council Australia - survival time" of patients. Its vision, mission, achievements during its three years of operation and future perspectives 3

INTERESTING Dr Larissa Koroleva Dr Regina Leung, PhD, BAppSc TO KNOW (6th Duan Wei Level, International Wushu Coach , (Project Coordinator Support Trial, University of Sydney, International Qigong Judge, Former International Wushu Faculty of Health Science) talking about the results of a Judge and Member of Traditional Wushu Committee of the collaborative project International Wushu Federation) explaining “Tai Chi in People with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary The very first Conference “Duan Wei System as a Basis of Standardising Disease”. under this name organized by Qualifications in Wushu, Tai Chi and Qigong”. This speaker researched into the use of short form Sun style Tai Chi with patients with Chronic Obstructive Wushu & Tai Chi NSW was Pulmonary Disease (COPD). This 21 form Tai Chi routine Master Fong Lee held in 2010 at Macquarie (a long-time enthusiast of Wushu, regular author of The is simple and takes about 8-10 mins to practise. It has less University, Sydney as a pilot Wushu Herald) elaborating knee bending than other styles which suits COPD patients “On Wushu in General and its Place in Today’s World”. better. project.

*** A small group of Wushu, Tai Chi and Qigong enthusiasts

was keen to exchange their

One of the most ideas, experiences and important research results. outcomes of the Conference was establishment of a platform for communication between medical practitioners, academic researchers and Tai Chi, Wushu and Qigong coaches and students. The round-table discussions facilitated by Yagiz Aksoy provided opportunity to elaborate on various approaches and possible ways of future collaborative projects, promotion, education and lobbying the Government agencies to secure appropriate funding and support. The ideas suggested by participants will serve as a basis for united strategy of achieving these goals.

As a whole, the organisers put together an awesome Conference that called in the experts from the Wushu & Tai Chi fields as well as medical professionals with research background who reported their research on the validity and benefits of Tai Chi and Qigong therapies in medical treatment.

The audience included passionate Tai Chi practitioners interested in listening to new developments in the applications of Tai Chi and Qigong Among presenters were Dr practices. They interacted actively with the speakers Verna Rieschild from by asking interesting and probing questions about their research methodologies that involved Tai Chi and Macquarie University, Dr Alex Qigong practices . Shamin, Terri Shilston and

The demonstrations of the different Tai Chi styles such others. Topics ranged from as Yang, Chen, Wu by the respective Masters and personal experience in Tai exponents were mesmerising. The Bagua demonstration was very well received & the energetic yet graceful Chen Chi, Bagua and Wushu to style Tai Chi Fan by Tara Dai was a special treat to Tai Chi interpretation of Bagua Fan players at the Conference. symbols.

The hands-on workshops were also very popular and, hopefully, they will be a part of the future conferences. For some time, the

Conference organisers’ The 2015 Wushu, Tai Chi & Qigong Dr Samuel Fitzgibbons efforts on constructive Conference was a gem, especially to those (Macquarie University, Chiropractic Clinics; Acupuncture engagement of Wushu, Tai specialist) presenting practitioners seeking greater understanding “Qi and Physiology”. of the relevance, validity and actual benefits Chi and Qigong practitioners The talk was focussed on defining and explaining the of Tai Chi and Qigong practice. The 2016 seemed to be lost... concept of Yin - Yang balance in traditional Chinese Conference will extend ideas and present medicine. In Samuel’s practice, he found that when the Yin further updates of developments in the - Yang concept of balance is applied in acupuncture They weren’t. Now the treatment it improved the circulation of Qi in his patients. practice of Tai Chi and Qigong and will therefore be highly anticipated. Conference is back.

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OUR SPECIAL Development of training process methods in pre- THANKS competitive mesocycle of young athletes practicing modern Wushu TO Anna Smolina Wushu Coach PhD Candidate Tomsk State Pedagogical University, Russia Macquarie University Wushu & Tai Chi Club Modern Wushu is a high precision sport based on a system of ancient Chinese gymnastics, for being one of the driving including elements of boxing, different kinds of forces behind the Conference traditional acrobatics, and 2015 “Tai Chi, Wushu & exercises with various kinds of weapons. The Qigong in Today’s World”. popularity of this sport is growing, as a result of which, the level of competition increases at differently ranked events, which leads to a demand in searching for new ways to achieve results.

Goal: The distribution of training intensity volume in the To develop methods for the training process of young The Macquarie University mesocycle (%). athletes who do modern Wushu in the precompetitive Wushu and Tai Chi Club aims mesocycle and to substantiate its effectiveness. to promote Wushu and Tai  To achieve the goal we were faced with the following Chi as a sport, recreational tasks: Develop a methodology for the training process of activity and a healthy way of young athletes doing modern Wushu in the precompetitive mesocycle; life for Macquarie University  Empirically determine the effectiveness of the The effectiveness of our developed methodology for the students, staff and the local methodology. training process was assessed during a pedagogical community. experiment and was determined based on the results of the performance scores received by the young athletes of both The group provides students Research methods: the control and experimental groups in competitions of with the opportunity to learn  The analysis and compilation of scientific, methodological different ranking. literature; In order to compare two independent samples, we used the and explore Tai Chi, Wushu  A controlled experiment; nonparametric U-test of Mann-Whitney. and Qigong. The techniques One of the primary criteria of effectiveness is considered to  A pedagogical experiment; be a successful performance of the athlete at the they study and learn develop  Methods based on mathematical statistics. competition. After the conclusion of the pedagogical strength, coordination and experiment, the athletes of the control and experimental both mental and physical groups performed in the Tomsk Region Championship. Study Design From the experimental group, four athletes became flexibility to help students The research was conducted at the sport complex medalists of modern Wushu in the Tomsk region. The community center of “Junior” in Tomsk (Russia), with young cope with the various average score of the athletes of the control group was 8.56 athletes practicing modern Wushu in the stages of initial (p>0.05), while the average score of athletes in the demands of academic life. training, and occurred from September 2014 to September experimental group was 8.77 (p>0.05). 2015. The subjects were 9-11 years old. The club encourages A majority of athletes in the experimental group felt The most optimal duration of the pre-competition mesocycle completely ready to perform the competitive exercises and students to participate in for young athletes at this age includes 6 microcycles. The noted that they were in good shape during the competition. both performances and components of the techniques of the training process are: Athletes in the control group performed in the Tomsk 1) Physical workouts, 2) the content (elements), 3) the scale Region Modern Wushu Championship and in the federal national, world and of the training load, 4) teaching methods, and 5) BPM level championship; only one of them became a medalist. international competitions in parameters (assesses the intensity) [3]. In the experimental planning of the precompetitive Wushu and Tai Chi. The club mesocycle for young athletes practicing modern wushu, Conclusion: members have already there is an emphasis on lowering the volume of the intensity  An experimental methodology was developed for the in the last microcycle before starting. training process of the precompetitive mesocycle for brought a number of medals The sum volume of the training intensity in the young athletes practicing modern Wushu; from competitions at all precompetitive mesocycle of athletes practicing modern  The effectiveness of the experimental methodology was Wushu in the experimental group is presented in the figure levels in Australia and proven. below: overseas. 5

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Duan Wei Workshops in Sydney

The Wushu Council Australia has adopted the guidelines of By Sergii Zavalii, Wushu & Tai Chi Instructor, Ukraine the Chinese Wushu Association and the Duan Wei grading system as an indicator Many centuries ago, because of their way of life: physical Using the historical information on those devices and re- work, crafts, military training, hunting skills, merrymaking sults of modern scientific research, we have developed a of the professional level of all and fun people had excellent physical and energetic modern static simulator Pravilo and a multi-level system of Wushu and Tai Chi health. Families were healthy and strong, people honoured exercises - Pravilo Quadro System (PQS) to strengthen the the traditions of their ancestors, their land and community. health and vitality of man. practitioners in Australia. WCA

encourages everyone to get What has changed since then? Why do so many modern In Pravilo Quadro System, you will: familiarized with this system people have poor health, often are sick, experience chronic  Straighten your body and posture, restore the joints, free fatigue, weakness, depression? Why do almost all have a spine from pain - osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, kyphosis, and encourages readers to scoliosis, bad posture, pain in the neck, back, waist and sciatica, scoliosis, intervertebral hernia and protrusions related injuries of the musculoskeletal system, diseases of attend the following workshops (without surgery), heel spurs, and much more. internal organs, which leads to the destructive work of all in 2016: systems of the body?  Improve blood circulation, release the clamped nerve endings. Duan Wei Yang and The answer is simple! Modern man has ceased to actively  Strengthen tendons, restore the symmetry of the body Chen Style Tai Chi move, to work and to develop physically his body according and the natural lordosis. to the physiology and the rules of nature. Mankind has  Raise the level of consciousness; Level 1-3 invented the fitness industry: gyms, fitness clubs, sports shops, ubiquitous supplements containing harmful chemi-  Synchronize the hemispheres of the brain. Single and Dual cals. Routines A 40-minute workout on the PQS is equivalent to 2-hour Modern sports industry, for the most part, it is far from the session in the gym, but you do not overload and damage Saturday, 23 January true understanding of the nature of human health. your joints and connective tissues and all groups of mus- Saturday, 20 February The simulator Pravilo came to us from distant Old Slavon- cles. Pravilo is the only simulator which strengthens the Saturday, 5 March ic era when people were healthy and strong. In those days, tendons and connective tissues using static / isometric Saturday, 30 April children and the elderly, men and women were able to exercises. With regular training, system PQS will improve strengthen their body and mind being assisted by some functioning of the internal organs and all body systems. Sunday, 8 May devices. Saturday, 18 June Currently, this system is undergoing clinical testing. Sunday, 24 July Saturday, 20 August Saturday, 10 September Saturday, 8 October Saturday, 5 November Saturday, 10 December between 2.00 pm - 6.00 pm All dates and times are tentative. For further information and cost please visit www.auswushu.com.au.

Bookings essential ! 6

CONFERENCE Sounds, Swords and Forests: FEEDBACK an Exploration into the Representations of Music and Martial Arts The conference was so good in Contemporary Kung Fu Films today, thanks to the presenters and the organizers.

***

Fong Lee, thanks for your Brent Keogh demonstration with the 'xingyi'. [email protected] It will take me ages to learn it Department of Media, Music, properly but good to know the Communications and Cultural Studies, different styles of Tai Chi! Macquarie University

*** Abstract significant number featured in the I Ching, whose articulation of the Five Elements (Fire, Metal, Wood, Water In the Wu Xia film Hero (Yimou, 2002), Jet Li’s character Great conference! and Earth) can be found throughout traditional Chinese Nameless ponders mid-combat the connection between the medicine, cosmology, and martial arts. One such martial arts and music, stating that both wrestle with *** articulation expects the cultured martial artist to be ‘complex chords and rare melodies’. There have been competent in the disciplines of calligraphy, music, healing various articulations of the Chinese equivalents to the Very interesting indeed! Never (acupuncture, Chinese medicine), cosmology, and of Medieval Quadrivium, whereby the cultured person is a dull moment during the full course, kung fu. My interest in this article is to explore the expected to be competent in a select number of artistic and day! ways in which the philosophical connections between music intellectual disciplines. Rather than the four disciplines of and martial arts have been represented and articulated in this particularly western approach, several Chinese *** contemporary kung fu films. equivalents have been based on the number five, a Yesterday was very entertaining and informative. I enjoyed the day and felt like a

big family gathering! Hope Kylie Chan is an Australian who married a Hong Kong national and lived in Hong Kong today is even better. for ten years. She learnt a great deal about Chinese culture both in Australia and Hong Kong. In 2003 she moved back to Australia and decided to use her knowledge of Chinese mythology, culture, and martial arts to weave together a story that would appeal to a wide audience. *** Kylie has studied Martial Arts including Tai Chi and Southern styles of Wushu. She has also done intensive research on Buddhist and Taoist philosophy and has brought all of these together in her storytelling. Great demonstrations. We met Kylie first while she was in Sydney last year for signings and her regular meetings with Learnt a lot. readers. The interview with her was published in The Wushu Herald Vol 2 No 4 (2014) and now, while she was not able to attend the conference in person, here is her message:

***

I originally started writing wuxia because The arts, and the associated philosophies, Wow! Most enjoyable and memorable day! martial arts have always been “cool”, and have inspired my readers to take control of stories with really authentic martial arts their lives, learn discipline and awareness, *** aren’t common. But I’ve found, in and to look beyond the everyday to interacting with my fans, is that the meaning discover strength and peace from within What a blast of excitement. goes far beyond just “cool”. People have themselves. The arts go far beyond Thanks for the opportunity to read my books, and then gone on to physical exercise; by teaching them we are attend and present, it was quite investigate the arts, or the Buddhist and actively helping people to make their lives an intense and interesting Taoist philosophies of self-awareness, self- better, and the world a better place. conference. I look forward to actualisation, and self-cultivation with the joining next year and seeing goals of making each of us better people. what else I can learn from the qigong, tai chi, and wushu community!

***

An amazing informative day with experienced & knowledgeable speakers and discussions following. It was wonderful to be part of the hands-on workshops. A big thank-you to organisers and participants. 7

EYE ON IT

Upcoming Events in Australia

Wushu & Tai Chi NSW, a member of Wushu Council Australia, offers the following workshops in 2016:

Xing Yi Five Fist Linked Form • Traditional Sword and Techniques • Yang Style Traditional Broadsword and Basic Skills • Tai Chi Fan • Introduction to Bagua • Wushu Cudgel • Competition Routines • and more

Saturday, 23 January Saturday, 20 February Saturday, 5 March Saturday, 30 April Sunday, 8 May Saturday, 18 June Sunday, 24 July Saturday, 20 August Saturday, 10 September Saturday, 8 October Saturday, 5 November Saturday, 10 December

9.00 am - 6.00 pm

All dates and times are tentative.

For full training programme, further information and cost please visit Master Fong Lee www.auswushu.com.au.

Bookings essential ! 8

INTERESTING TO KNOW

New Directions for Chinese New Year Festival in Sydney

The City of Sydney has appointed a specialist curator for its Chinese New Year Festival for the first time in the festival’s 20- year history as well as a new advisory panel to strengthen relations between the City and During the 13th World Wushu Championships in Jakarta, Among many decisions that were apparently made at the Asian communities. Indonesia, The IWUF Congress met on November 13th for Congress, one deserves the special attention. It was Author, fashion designer and TV a new Executive Board election and to approve changes to decided to modify the preamble of the IWUF Constitution to the IWUF constitution, among other things. “Wushu, also referred to as kungfu…” The tather vague presenter, Claudia Chan Shaw, term Kung Fu is creeping into the official vocabulary, thanks will work with the City to develop In the Wushu Herald Issue 3 this year we published the to all Bruce Lee’s fans worldwide and the IWUF does not selected issues with the IWUF identified by its then Vice seem to protect the Wushu brand. The IWUF hopes that the overarching creative concept President Mr Glen Keith who was running for the position of including “Kung Fu” will attract more people to their and program of events for the the IWUF President. The issues, including the perceived competitions but it does not seem to understand that, conflict of interest regarding the current President Yu unless their restrictive policies requiring any applicants to 2016 Chinese New Year Zaiqing being also the President of the Chinese KarateDo obtain the approval of the countries’ bodies are changed, Festival. Association, financial management of the IWUF, the Wushu they will not have the participation increased. Grading System and others were analysed and commented Lord Mayor Clover Moore said on. Now we have the results. The IWUF Executive Board met twice during the Jakarta event. The former IWUF Executive Board met on 12 Ms Shaw and the new advisory President Yu Zaiqing has been unanimously November and the newly elected EB met on the 14 panel bring an exciting range of elected to another term for 2015 - 2019. November to discuss the Federation’s business plans. The Executive Board, among other decisions, renamed the skills to help develop the creative World Traditional Wushu Championships to the World Kung Several Executive Board members including Mr Glen Keith Fu Championships which only adds confusion! direction for the festival and who served on the IWUF’s Executive Board for 16 years

stepped down. boost tourism and local business.

The decisions of the IWUF Executive Board are, as always, The festival provides a huge The new Executive Board elected by the not available to the public and we could only speculate on boost to the local economy each Congress for 2015 - 2019 now includes: them. Referring to Mr Glen Keith’s notes on the IWUF’s year and the panel will work to issues (see the Wushu Herald Vol 3 No 3) we understand President: Yu Zaiqing (China) this is not our problem - the senior IWUF management itself make the most of local business, does not have an access to the Minutes of the Congresses, Vice Presidents: retail and tourism opportunities. Executive Board Meetings, Financial documents etc. Now Anthony Goh (USA) we understand that those who voice their concerns about Ms Shaw said: “It will be the Year Fok Chun Wan (China) these issues might face an ultimate elimination. Despite our Gleb Muzrukov (Russia) criticism of Glen Keith, we reserve our respect for him and of the Monkey and this cheeky TBN (to be nominated from next African hope that he will find his inner strength to continue the character is the inspiration for a Wushu Federation Congress) battle for the better future for Wushu. vibrant, colourful and playful Secretary General: approach to the festival that will Liu Beijian (China) engage with both the young and Treasurer: the young at heart – and anyone Urs Krebs (Switzerland) who wants to enjoy what Sydney Members: Muraoka Kyuhei (Japan) in celebration can offer.” Kee Yong Wee (Malaysia) The new advisory panel has Mahdi Alinejad (Iran) Ang Mong Seng (Singapore) been engaged to help guide the Sunny Tang (Canada) festival’s direction as the city Petru Grindeanu (Romania) Paulo Araujo (Portugal) heads into a period of major Henk Verschuur (Netherlands) During the Championships in Jakarta, an international infrastructure changes in Daria Tarasova (Russia) movie star and Wushu Ambassador Jet Li gave an Supandi Kusuma (Indonesia) interview to Anthony Goh which is supposed to be released preparation for the NSW on WushuTV shortly. Once it is available, the Wushu Government’s light rail and the Herald” will comment on it.

City’s CBD transformation projects. 9

EYE ON IT Dates of Chinese New Year 2015 - 2026

2015 SHEEP

Thursday February 19

2016 MONKEY The 13th World Wushu Championships 2015 in Jakarta, coach expected: Indonesia was different from others. For the first time ever, Monday February 8 the event was streamed live online which gave thousands of Wushu enthusiasts worldwide an opportunity to watch it and experience that almost as if they were there 2017 ROOSTER themselves rather than rely on the reports and accounts of others.

Saturday January 28 Australia got the first ever gold medal in Wushu Taolu (Compulsory Nanquan). Our sincere congratulations to Elizabeth Lim from Perth! The commentators’ impression however was that for Unfortunately, Elizabeth’s performance was not consistent Muslim “it was just a day in the office”... 2018 DOG

Abdul Mahdawi from Melbourne was also knocked out in the middle of the second round against Ji Fu Zu (China). Friday February 16 Reginald Sudarsana and Bevan Chia from Perth and Amanda Cass from Cowra endured two rounds each with Bevan and Amanda having shown the most remarkable 2019 PIG performance which showed strength and determination. The commentators noted that while Australia is still not up to China, Vietnam, Korea and other countries with well- Tuesday February 5 established Sanda culture it still has a potential if it puts time and efforts into the proper training of its athletes and 2020 RAT the modern technology provides a platform to help with that. The comments were centred around lack of clear technique, not connecting with the opponent and “clashing Saturday January 25 rather than conflicting” of the styles. and, judging from the official results, she was not as In our opinion, Amanda Ann Cass was a gem within the 2021 OX successful in other events where she was placed second Australian team and she was indeed commended by the last. Her siblings / cousins who constituted four out of eight commentators as a sturdy and tough woman who was not Taolu team members, also showed inconsistent results - going down easily. However they did not see “clear Friday February 12 4th out of 11 (Joanna Lim, Women’s Shuangjian) together strategy” on her part comparing to her opponent Hoai Thu with the lowest score for Women’s Duel and the second last Nguyen (Vietnam). for Jessica Lim (Gunshu). 2022 TIGER Her post on Facebook reveals her background in Karate:

*** It is not surprising then that she was not really prepared for There also was the first ever Bronze medal for Australia’s Wushu Sanda. It is not even clear how she ended up Tuesday February 1 John Bennett from Lithgow, NSW in Men’s Sanda 90kg+. representing Australia in the World Wushu Championships. Our congratulations to John for standing on his feet for the Nevertheless, she did well and maybe she should consider whole 15 seconds in his fight with Kuan Abdyraimov 2023 RABBIT (Kyrgyzstan). It was not bad, considering that his teammate Sam Williams, also from Lithgow, was knocked out in just three Sunday January 22 seconds by Muslim Salikhov (Russia). This is what his

2024 DRAGON

Saturday February 10 switching to the Wushu Sanda and find a good coach - there are plenty of them in Australia by the way who could lead her to the victory in the next few years. 2025 SNAKE

See our full analysis of the Australian team’s Wednesday January 29 performance in the next issue of the Wushu Herald. 2026 HORSE

Tuesday February 17 10

WE RECOMMEND

The Chinese Wushu Duan Wei System is a hierarchical system which the Chinese Wushu Association formulated to evaluate the professional level of wushu players and learners.

Based on the Duan Wei System, the Chinese Wushu Association published the Textbook Series. It consists of the following course books：

 3 theory textbooks including Wushu Ethics and Etiquette  The History of Chinese Wushu and Introduction to Wushu  Chinese Wushu Duan Wei System Examination: Problems and Solutions Wushu & Tai Chi NSW at MFEST-2015, Sydney  Textbooks covering various styles of Wushu.

This series was created after consulting more than 100 Wushu masters, scholars and experts under the guidance of the Wushu Research Institute of the General Administration of Sport of China. It is the result of their agreement on standards for all bare-hand and weapons routines. After being drafted by the experts and processed by publishing editors, the teaching videos were produced which accompany the books.

The work continues and while the books currently are available in Chinese only, the English edition is coming soon.

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WE RECOMMEND

Almost 40 years ago, young Jackie Chan starred in the film that secured his international fame and further career as well as established the eternal theme of the relationship between a martial arts master and his student.

DRUNKEN MASTER

Directed by Yuen Woo-Ping Produced by Ng See-Yuen Starring Jackie Chan, Yuen Siu-Tien Hwang Jang-Lee Dean Shek

Wong Fei Hong, played by Chan, is a 19th-century folk hero in Chinese culture and cinema, a Kung Fu master who fights injustice in the time of British colonialism. This character would later be portrayed by Jet Li in the more serious Once Upon a Time in China. Drunken Master finds The International Wushu Federation (IWUF) Executive Board held its 32nd meeting on November 14th, 2015 in Wong in his early years as a Jakarta, Indonesia. It was decided by the EB that the name of the World Traditional Wushu Championships will be troublesome youth who is sent officially changed to the World Kung Fu Championships, namely, the 7th World Kung Fu Championships for the to receive discipline and martial 2017 edition. arts instruction from his uncle This is a significant blow to genuine Wushu enthusiasts who worked hard to establish the Wushu brand worldwide (Siu Tien Yuen), the hard- resisting temptations to succumb to the pressure from Hong Kong and Hollywood film producers originated from well-intended but short-sighted idea of Bruce Lee to use the term “Kung Fu” which means any study, learning or drinking title character. Wong practice that requires patience, energy and time to complete. With the huge international success of Bruce Lee’s runs away, but runs afoul of movies came the recognition of “Kung Fu” as a valid replacement for “Wushu” and modern film producers don’t feel some local villains. Beaten strong enough to reverse the trend and even Chinese films are often released with subtitles using “Kung Fu” where badly, he returns to his uncle, “Wushu” was used originally. who trains him in "drunken- style" Kung Fu. The martial arts One of the recent examples of disregard for the original name of the Chinese Martial Arts that went even further is showcased by Chan in this film “Karate Kid” (2010), a remake of the 1984 original by the same name. While clearly featuring Wushu, masterfully are important in the displayed by Jackie Chan, the film retained the original title because the producers didn’t feel that even “Kung Fu’” development of his career; the let alone “Wushu” would have that name-brand recognition that Hollywood, in all their remake-frenzied enthusiasm, staggering, inebriated feeds on nowadays. techniques allow for a looser, more flowing style, but more It is indeed no wonder that Wushu was once again rejected its place in the Olympic Games. The sport that cannot importantly, they contribute to decide on its own name and stand for it does not deserve any serious consideration… not yet. the elaborate martial-arts slapstick that have become Chan's trademark and have made him an international star.

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Closing date for the next issue is 15 March 2016. Please send us your stories, your thoughts, share your information or concerns, or tell what you have achieved or are going to organise. Your contributions are welcome!

DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in this publication are those of the individual authors, and not necessarily the official views of the Wushu Council Australia or ausWushu.

Volume 3 Issue 4 October - December 2015 Visit us: www.wushu-council.com.au Like at Facebook