Newsletter 2026-2

Chans Martial Arts News

CMA 26-02 16th June 2026 

We had a very busy few months with a very informative March Sing Ong Tai Chi Camp in Auckland, and a good follow up at Christchurch seminar in May. Tai Shi was in the best shape he has ever been for the past few years. He was very happy to see the progress in the students at the gradings, even though he pointed out a major weakness in most students.

As for Shao Chi Chuan, we had a special seminar in Chin Na by Mr WaiHoe Chan to improve the development of skills and safety in practicing. This protocol is borrowed from the legendary Professor Dave Castoldi of Small Circle Jujitsu.

Besides the Canterbury gradings at HQ, we had regional seminars in Nelson, Invercargill, Wellington and Auckland. Grandmaster Chan also travelled to Greymouth branch with Master Bruce Lord for their grading.

At the end of May, we had our Annual Seminars at HQ.

Tai Chi Chuan

The Tai Chi seminars reviewed the meaning of ‘Dao’ & ‘Ji’, which in brevity: Mind & Techniques.

I elaborated on five of the ten points of Tai Chi Chuan covered by Tai Shi and ShiYe this year. Hopefully, this will help students understand how to work with these points. This was followed up with the rest of the ten points, so that students will have a heads up, and will be able to follow Tai Shi’s explanations a lot better when they are discussed. I also related the ten points to the problem of ‘Placing Moves’.

We also worked on the 42 Form, Fixed and Free Pushing Hands.

Shao Chi Chuan

We continued with last year's explanation of - Mind, Body & Technique. It is obvious that understanding the theory is not sufficient. Therefore, we will just narrow it down to just focusing on the eyes for the mind, and the legs for the body. We discussed how to train the eyes for the mind and the legs for stability, agility and power. These will be closely scrutinised at all levels this year.

Mr WaiHoe Chan reviewed the protocols for ChinNa training so that every instructor became clear about them.

At the Black Belt seminar we discussed how ‘slow is fast’ and other Tai Chi principles. We worked on the Concept Forms, Labyrinth, Circle Forms and pushing hands with these principles.

Tournament

We were very lucky to have great weather on tournament day. We had a wide range of participants from all over the country and many supporters. Everyone who competed had already shown considerable courage to sign up for it. They demonstrated good Kung Fu spirit and discipline. We should be proud of them and their instructors, who had instilled the right attitude in them. The organisation went like clock-work. We are very proud and grateful for all the officials who contributed to the success of the event. We already have plans to improve the competition for next year.

Children Forms:

Champion: Zlata Tatarchuk Lincoln

Second: Vitalii Smetanin Lincoln

Third: David Tiong HQ

Intermediate Forms:

Champion: Simon Schack HQ

Second: Ed Schuelter Lincoln

Third: Cathie Martin HQ

Advanced Forms:

Champion: Torrin Squires HQ

Second: Lauren Howell HQ

Third: Emily Toase HQ

Back Belt:

Champion: Reuben Clarkson HQ

Second: Scott Goodsir Nth Canterbury

Kids <10yrs <28kg:

Champion: Sebastian Cooper Cashmere

Second: Hunter Culling Greymouth

Kids <10yrs <58kg:

Champion: Jack Cronin Lincoln

Second: Ruby Seinafo HQ

Kids <11yrs <39kg:

Champion: Indiana Chapman Lincoln

Second: Felix Rollinson Lincoln

Third: Paulo Jr Saul Cashmere

Plate: Daniel Colbran Cashmere

Kids <11yrs <46kg:

Champion: Issac Lim Remuera

Second: Mia Straker HQ

Third: Zeppelin Trotter Cashmere

Kids <13yrs <38kg:

Champion: Grace McPherson Lincoln

Second: Sebastian Priestley HQ

Kids <14yrs <41kg:

Champion: Alexandria Saul Cashmere

Second: Mackenzie Montagu Cashmere

Kids <14yrs <45kg:

Champion: Adam Lim Remuera

Second: Dan Tanner Invercargill

Girls <14yrs <66kg:

Champion: Kaitiana Speck Blenheim

Second: Zlata Tatarchuk Lincoln

Youth <15yrs <61kg:

Champion: Noah Dillworth Lincoln

Second: Cody Kingsley Lincoln

Youth <15yrs <74kg:

Champion: Charlie Cronin Lincoln

Second: Henry Wilson Blenheim

Youth <15yrs <61kg:

Champion: Noah Dillworth Lincoln

Second: Cody Kingsley Lincoln

Youth <17yrs <87kg:

Champion: Gabriel McGrody Lincoln

Second: Oliver Seifert Lincoln

Men Int. Middle Wt <84kg:

Champion: Simon Schack HQ

Second: Ed Schuelter Lincoln

Third: Daniel Lavelle Nth Shore

Men Heavy Wt:

Champion: Rio Dobbs Lincoln

Second: Ariel Rodgers West Melton

Men <78kg:

Champion: Lucas Faulkner Lincoln

Second: Torrin Squires HQ

Third: Michael Scoltock Greymouth

Advanced Women <65kg:

Champion: Caitlyn Norriss Lincoln

Second: Anamika Speck Blenheim

Advanced Women <84kg:

Champion: Emily Toase HQ

Second: Barbara Harpur West Melton

Advanced Men <88kg:

Champion: Pierre Broome Hornby

Second: Mike Smith HQ

Black Belt:

Champion: Lance Curtis Lincoln

Second: Rudy Rupp HQ

May Qi be with you, 

Grandmaster Chan

Chans Martial Arts

Upcoming events:

Sydney Tai Chi seminar - 27th June

Sydney Kung Fu seminar - 28th June

Ladies Self defense seminar - 18th July

Annual Canterbury Quiz Night - 23rd August

Annual Kung Fu Camp (Blenheim) - 29-30th August

Auckland SOTC Seminar - 26-27th September

Christchurch SOTC Inst. Camp - 7-8th November

Annual Instructor Meeting - 27th November

Annual Blackbelt Grading and Awards - 28th November

Newsletter 2026-1

Chans Martial Arts News

CMA 26-01 8th January 2026 

Happy New Year! We had a great year in 2025 with the very memorable celebrations of the 30th Anniversary of Sing Ong Tai Chi, and the 50th Jubilee year for Chans Martial Arts being the highlights. The publication of the 50th Anniversary book was another extra special achievement.

Even though there were many challenges throughout the year, we made some good technical progress, as well as growing the membership. This should set us up for a strong 2026.

Shao Chi Chuan

To improve our overall standard this year, we should focus our Shao Chi Chuan training on improving the three areas discussed at camp. Namely: Mind, Body & Technique. The Mind should be focused with clear intent, but also being patient in overcoming challenges. The Body should be upright, centred and rounded with clear directional orientation. As for Technique, we should have stable stances, with correct body positioning, accurate target alignment, and efficient power generation. Achieving this should improve everyone’s kung fu immensely. Students need to understand what this means, and commit to training regularly. Remember that it is not about flexibility and athleticism, but careful rehearsal of accurate, balanced and natural movement. 

Tai Chi Chuan

As for improving our Tai Chi Chuan training this year, think of balancing body, and the fine tuning the nervous system. It is also very important to work on mental calmness to deal with both physical and psychological pressure. The forms and exercises should be very enjoyable, health enhancing, and improving Tai Chi Chuan skills. The more advanced student should work on Qi development and control its flow. The fixed and free pushing hands training should give us feedback on how calm, relaxed, balanced and accurate we are. They also point out what deficiencies we need to work on. Every engagement is an opportunity to cultivate more sensitivity, and explore more freedom of movement, instead of focusing on winning or losing.

Jian Course

We are running the Tai Chi Jian course again this year. It starts on the 20th of January, and will be conducted at HQ on Tuesday nights from 7:00pm to 8:30pm, over 40 sessions. (Some Tuesdays will be reserved for Tai Chi Exercise Gradings). The first two sessions will be on the fundamentals of Tai Chi Jian. A section of the form will be completed in every six sessions, with all six sessions being completed within 38 sessions. The two final sessions will be for reviewing the whole form and the finer points about Tai Chi Jian. 

Training: HQ on Tuesday nights from 7:00pm to 8:30pm

Eligibility: Those who have completed the 1st section of the 42 Form. 

A) Whole Course Fee: $240 

B) Pay per part: $60/part (6 parts in all)

C) Zoom Whole Course fee: $120

Bring your own Jian if you have a suitable one. HQ has a few spare ones you can use. We can help you order one later on, if you wish to acquire a suitable sword.

Please enrol as soon as possible as places are limited. Please send an email or text and pay through CMA account 03-0866-0381094-00 stating name and options. 

Those who are not available on the Tuesday evenings can join the Sydney Zoom Jian classes if possible. Please contact Suyi Laoshi at: suyi.chansmartialarts@gmail.com

Reviewing Training Objectives 

This is a good time of the year to think about our training objectives. 

A good student should train to be as good an exponent, as he/she can possibly be. Therefore, we must look at how well are we performing the various skills in our syllabus, and enjoying the challenge to improve. It is not sufficient to just know all the techniques and drills in the syllabus. The higher the grade of the student, the higher the level of skills ought to be. 

Developing skills takes hard work, sustained over long periods of time. However, just hard work and time does not always guarantee the desired results. A good student with a mature view of training should appreciate this. 

The development of skills needs the correct understanding of the techniques, and careful, patient and sustained training to acquire the coordination, timing and feel. This is not as simple as it sounds, as even with the most detailed explanations, many students often struggle to grasp the concepts clearly. This is not a matter of intelligence, because it involves the body’s spatial awareness, which differs from person to person, regardless of their intellect. The differences in body structure, flexibility, and neurological patterns, are also major factors determining overall uptake in learning and training. 

However, proper instruction and training can gradually equalise almost all of the possible shortcomings, if both the student and instructor are patient enough. Therefore, the syllabus and estimated/recommended time allocation for each rank should only be a rough guide for the minimum requirements. The ability and skill of the student should be the main determinant for rank advancement, besides showing the embodiment of conduct, discipline, knowledge and confidence appropriate for that level. 

As our objective in training is to be as good an exponent as  possible, we should simply enjoy the challenge of improving ourselves in our training. Gradings should be just a by-product of good training and not the main objective. This is the most logical way to prepare us to have real substance in defending ourselves, if the need arises.

Students who are just looking at gradings as motivation for training, miss the true spirit of martial arts, and are mostly found in what the critics label ‘McDojos.’

Best wishes in your training in 2026, 

May Qi be with you, 

Grandmaster Chan

Chans Martial Arts