CMA 21-03 26th August 2021
Training in lockdown
We should be glad that we had a good number of seminars and a successful tournament before we have to lockdown to battle the latest Covid-19 delta variant outbreak. Having the experience from the previous lockdowns should give us confidence that our efforts will work in stamping out this current outbreak. We also know what to do to keep safe and sustain our training. The Zoom sessions for students and instructors have already begun to give direction to training over the next few weeks.
Zoom sessions
When joining a class please display your FULL NAME. If you join with a display name that does not match our list you may be kicked off the Zoom meeting.
When classes start, we will mute your microphone, if there is a question time we will ask members to raise a hand so we can unmute you.
Schedule:
Tuesday: Kung Fu (5:30pm), Tai Chi (6:30pm)
Wednesday: Tai Chi (12 noon)
Thursday: Kung Fu (5:30pm), Tai Chi (6:30pm)
Friday: Tai Chi Assistant Instructors (5:30pm), Blackbelts (6:30pm)
To join please send us a message so we can give you the link.
If you attend an online class, we ask that you continue your student fees to your branch if possible.
If you attend the TC Instructors or Blackbelt class please make a $10 per class payment to HQ. 03 0866 0381094 00 Chans Martial Arts.
Self-training
You should spend a few minutes going through your stretching and breathing exercises daily. Practice your top forms carefully half a dozen times, and if you have more time practice all your forms. Remember that it is most important to have focus, stability, control and natural movement, rather than speed or power. Do concentrate on the points you picked up in the Zoom sessions.
Sijo James DeMile
I am very sad to inform you that Sijo James DeMile passed away at 7:15 am on the 16th of August. Some of you will fondly remember his seminar tours in New Zealand. I was also invited to visit him in Seattle where he took me to visit Bruce Lee’s and Brandon Lee’s graves. He showed me all the old locations where they trained and also introduced me to Tacky Kimura who also passed away recently. James DeMile was a very wise and kind person besides being a very skilled and dangerous martial artist. He generously shared his deep knowledge of the ‘floating punch,’ speed, ‘Chi Sau’ and the insider information of Bruce Lee with me. His influence changed my ideas about the usefulness of ‘free sparring’ in training forever.
However, the most valuable thing I learnt from him was not about fighting but philosophy. What he taught helped me navigate through some of the most difficult and stressful times of my life. I will always be indebted to this wonderful and innovative man.
Events and cancellations
The Sydney seminar was again cancelled. Hopefully, it will be all good for next year when we will be back with a vengeance.
Unfortunately, the Annual Camp to be held this weekend in Greymouth had to be cancelled too. We have refunded camp fees to those who wanted that option, and the others are deferring it to the substitute Camp at HQ on the 1st, 2nd & 3rd of October. We are hopeful that it will work and we do not miss having a camp this year. We have not missed a camp for probably forty years.
The Sing Ong Tai Chi seminar in Christchurch is scheduled on the 18th and 19th of September. Gradings for the Canterbury students starts on Friday at 6 pm and outstation students will be on Saturday at 9 am. Tai Shi told me that he has written a third of the essay when I saw him a week and a half ago. I certainly look forward to his gems of information at the seminar.
We also have Michael ShiYe and me visiting the branches in Nelson on the 20th, Motueka on the 21st and Blenheim on the 23rd of September.
Whether these events are to go ahead will depend on the alert levels in a couple of weeks leading to them.
Black Belt Grading
The following are invited to grade at this year’s Black Belt grading.
1st degree:
Rudy Rupp HQ
James Neville HQ
Reuben Clarkson HQ
James Luxon HQ
Dylan Blundell HQ
Helen Wallace Lincoln
Becky Mingard Lincoln
Charlene Wells Ponsonby
Evan Wills Papanui
Dougal Gilroy Papanui
2nd degree:
Mike Soper
Anthony Pyers
Alan Speck
Theuns Verwoerd
Joseph Van Zoomeran
4th degree:
Wai Hoe Chan
Kirk Maxwell
Craig Allan
Keeping safe
Although everyone is aware of hand washing and sanitising, it is important to note that the Covid-19 delta variant can be transmitted through the air and wearing a suitable face mask is useful to stop the spread whenever there are other people in close vicinity.
Everyone over the age of 30 should be able to book for the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine by today. The vaccine will not prevent you from catching Covid-19 but it does reduce the need for hospitalisation or worse.
You can also boost your immune system by eating more fruits & vegetables, sleeping well, getting massaged (stretching is a great substitute) and doing healthy exercise (training). Do keep in contact with family and friends as the ‘feel good’ factor from it has a positive benefit on the immune system too.
It is also mandatory to scan to QR Covid-19 tracking code wherever we go. Please make sure you do that and sign in as well, when it is safe for normal classes to resume.
Keep safe, train well & may Qi be with you,
Grandmaster SC Chan