V O L . 02 NO. 02 APRIL QUARTERLY MAY JOURNAL OF WUSHU JUNE IN AUSTRALIA Wushu Herald 2014 ISSN 2202-8137 (Print) ISSN 2203-6067 (Online) What’s inside Australian Our community news Wushu Calendar events Community From the Board Portal World news The Wushu Herald is our Movement by Larissa Smagarinsky contribution to the Wushu community in Australia. We hope that it will continue to be the source of information Wushu * Tai Chi * Kung Fu * Qigong and education about Wushu, in all its forms. As a platform for Dear Wushu and Tai Chi practitioners, sharing thoughts, ideas, Welcome to the fourth edition of our new Australian Now let’s turn our attention to our health as winter experiences and achievements Wushu publication! peaks in Australia. We need to be mindful of how it impacts our health. It is perhaps time to consider it will foster open discussion, We have received an official registration for the the practice of Tai Chi and Qigong which will help online publication which you will see now on the us to align our mind, body and breath for medical facilitate the finding of common website: www.wushu-council.com.au. benefits. For veteran Wushu, Tai Chi and Qigong ground and help us all grow It is available to members and printed copies can practitioners the great benefits of Qigong or “life be purchased. energy” is an absolute blessing. Even for the stronger together. novice, the benefits of Qigong practice cannot be By joining as members and subscribing you will be underestimated. helping the non-for-profit organisation and contributing to the publication of this journal. There are many types of Qigong ranging from the softer and more languid movements to the more Although Wushu Herald is relatively young, we physical martial art type training. The slow flowing have grown quite rapidly as many readers have movements and rhythmic breathing enable offered to contribute and write about their Wushu, practitioners to attain a level of meditative Tai Chi and Qigong experiences. Others are simply calmness, self awareness and a sense of well- pleased to be finally able to access relevant and being. Practised for recreation, self healing, illuminating Wushu and Tai Chi information. exercise as well as preventative medicine, Qigong together with Tai Chi has gained Here are some readers’ comments about the 3rd universal popularity amongst the young and the old issue of Wushu Herald: in various communities world-wide. The 3rd Wushu Herald looks awesome! Wushu Herald aims to share with you the most current Qigong, Wushu and Tai Chi news and Thanks for the Wushu Herald I received today. A practices in Australia and abroad good read. In this edition, we would like to showcase and turn Please convey my congratulations to everyone the spot-light on the amazing ancient practice of concerned with the Wushu Herald on an Qigong as well as the scientific affirmation of the informative and professional publication. benefits of Tai Chi and Wushu. I feel that promoting our arts is imperative, and Finally, our Editorial team is always in pursuit of The ancient art of Wushu urge all enthusiasts to do what they can to bring interesting Wushu, Qigong and Tai Chi stories and their chosen forms to the community. The Wushu experiences. So please contact us or simply send that translates as “Martial Herald is leading the way and again I offer my in your contributions and photos to congratulations and wish the team every success. Arts”, is being practised in [email protected]. I congratulate you again on a wonderful all its forms such as Tai Chi, contribution to Wushu Australia. Watch this space! Traditional and Competitive On behalf of the Editorial Board, Yes, I think the Herald is heading in the right Wushu, Qigong, Bagua, Xing direction… Cheers and thanks again, much appreciated. Yi, Weapons Play (Sword, We are indeed grateful for the support and Broadsword, Sabre, Cudgel, encouragement from our readers. Dr Khoo Cheng Choo Spear etc.) and many others. 2 INTERESTING TO KNOW The last Saturday of April each year (at 10 am local time) in 100s of cities, spanning over 80 nations, people come together, to breathe together, providing a healing vision for our world. World Tai Chi & Qigong Day was founded by Bill Douglas and Tai Chi ... might well be called "medication in motion." There is growing evidence that Angela Wong Douglas, authors this mind-body practice ...has value in treating or preventing many health problems. of "The Complete Idiot's Guide -- Harvard Medical School's Harvard Health Publication, May, 2009 to Tai Chi & Qigong" (Penguin/Alpha Books). Bill Douglas teaches Tai Chi Meditation for the University of Kansas Hospital's Turning Point program, and for Kansas University Medical Center, offering Tai Chi for people dealing with many chronic illnesses. Wushu & Tai Chi NSW Bill has worked for 2 decades to organised several events including the session on the expand Tai Chi and Qigong into grounds of Macquarie modern healthcare at all levels, University hosted by presenting for the American Macquarie University Wushu Heart Association; the National & Tai Chi Club and the session Parkinson's Foundation; and the at Enmore Park, Marrickville, National Council on Aging. hosted by Sydney Vision Tai Chi, Qigong, Health and “At times, as Angela watched in Harmony Centre. impending financial horror as Bill's 18 Tai Chi classes per week, fell to 6, 5, 4 ... Bill seemed about as rational as Richard Dreyfus's character in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," who neglected his career as he rushed to fill his house with shrubs and dirt, trying to form a vision that was just on the tip of his mind's tongue. It drove him, he felt it, and it seemed irrational. But today, because Bill and Angela walked through fear, breathed through fear, they were able to partner with tens of thousands worldwide who were ready for such a vision that would educate millions about For many people, Every Day of the health, healing, and mind expansion tools that could help year is the World Tai Chi and our world profoundly.” Qigong Day… They practise alone and they practise in groups… Visit Some countries cannot pro- http://www.worldtaichiday.org for more information on the vide too much space for indi- World Tai Chi & Qigong Day vidual Tai Chi practice... and free resources 3 World Tai Chi & their wonderful health improvement. Qigong Day: Happy Tai Chi-ing! I have organised annual WTCQD events for many years with the Australian Archive by Cheryl Player support of Newcastle City Council and Lake Macquarie Council for the local Australian Tai Chi Institute, Newcastle NSW community, and have had visitors Wushu & Tai Chi NSW travelling from North and South of Sydney NSW 2012 NSW to attend. I invite everyone to I have been involved in the world of the Hunter region for m participate in the movements, with a Tai Chi/ Qigong for over 25 years and any years doing seminars for Diabetes short demonstration at the end. during that time have travelled Australia and have had two of my extensively promoting the amazing students represented in their National WTCQD is an inspired idea and I love health benefits. I travelled throughout Magazine ‘Connect’ with stories of the thought of our planet being wrapped in a positive healing energy Central Coast Tai Chi Club provided by peoples from all nations Gosford NSW 2012 and walks of life. I was invited to be an Ambassador for World Tai Chi Qigong Day by the Organiser Bill Douglas in 2011. Bill was very supportive of my commitment to spread the WTCQD word Nationally, which I had been doing for years. I have also worked Internationally with people in Bangkok, Singapore, Paris, Vanuatu and Norfolk Island. Norfolk Island was amazing as it Allan Kelson started with a cup of coffee. I went to a Adelaide SA 2011 Café at the top of the island which was closed, and a lady came to the door and said, ‘we’re closed, but as you’ve come so far out here, I will make you a cup of coffee’. We started chatting and I said ‘This is a beautiful place to do Tai Chi does anyone do it here?’ she said ‘No’, and that was my opportunity! Cheryl Lee Player Vanuatu 2009 I spoke to the local media and talked about celebrating WTCQD. Two days later, there I was with a group of wonderful locals doing Tai Chi in a spectacular location. It happens to me often, and I love it! My students from the Australian Tai Chi Institute have followed me to World Tai Chi & Qigong Day 2014 in Queenslandthe event was held at Kings Beach Caloun- Darling Harbour, Hunter Valley dra and attended by special guest Master Paul Li, Niu Chunming Tai Chi groups from Gardens and numerous Parks and Alex Galvan Caloundra and Currimundi, Chen Tai Chi Yandina, Tai Chi for Health Wurtulla, Tai Chi and Beaches around the Newcastle area Hazelbrook NSW 2006 Chi Gong Centre Maleny, Yang Tai Chi Moffat Beach, Black Swan Tai Chi Maroochydore. for our own Annual Celebrations, and we are always joined by community members who have never done Tai Chi/Qigong and are invited by my media outlets to join me for a ‘Tai Chi Experience’. I recommend everyone join together in this Day of International Celebration. Dragon River Tai Chi Hobart TAS 2006 Cheryl Lee Player. Owner/Director Australian Tai Chi Institute. Australia can Newcastle NSW Australia. ! www.australiantaichiinstitute.com.au 4 EYE ON IT Upcoming events in Australia Wushu & Tai Chi Practitioners Australia (WTPA) Amazing Journey into the World of Xing Yi Quan by Fong Lee Xing Yi Quan, like the other Wushu often wondered if it had been just taught myself the Wushu I was styles that I have taught myself and fate and destiny that had nurtured practising.