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