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Published May 6, 2018 at 10:41PM
Bend tai chi school’s trip to China part homecoming, part lesson, part competition
Oregon Tai Chi Wushu visits seven Chinese cities on 18-day trip
VICTORIA JACOBSEN
THE BULLETIN
@Vicky_Jacobsen
JianFeng Chen was 11 years old when he left his home in Zhangzhou, China, to study wushu — Chinese martial arts — with the Fujian provincial team in the capital of Fuzhou. When he traveled back home to visit his family, he would usually be met at the city bus station by his mother or father, but sometimes he would hop on a bicycle cab (taxis were not yet common in Zhangzhou in the early 1990s) and arrive on his parents’ doorstep as a surprise.
So when Chen, now 39 and the owner of Oregon Tai Chi Wushu in Bend, took 18 of his American students and their family members on a tour of China last month, that was how he wanted to introduce them to his hometown: with a fleet of bicycle cabs to pedal them to his parents’ home, where dinner and an eager family were waiting for them.
“I don’t go home often, but I can feel my childhood,” Chen said of the trip through the streets of Zhangzhou. “That’s a good memory.”
But the visit to Chen’s hometown was just one stop on the seven-city, 18-day tour, which also featured sightseeing at historic temples, training sessions with four different Chinese wushu teams and schools and the Dekun Taiji Cup, a tournament that included more than 350 competitors from China, the United States and Canada.
The trip gave the Bend students a chance to see and practice tai chi and wushu with elite practitioners, but, perhaps more important, Chen also wanted them to see how tai chi fits into everyday life in China and get to know some of the students and teachers personally.
Several of the Oregon students said they were excited to see locals practicing tai chi — still a niche activity here in Bend — as a common form of exercise in Chinese parks, as common as runners or cyclists in the U.S.
“I loved how all the parks, they would have coat racks in the park where you hang up your coat and dance or do tai chi in the park,” said Lalana Tran, a 14-year-old Oregon Tai Chi Wushu student. “It was amazing.”
Tai chi is typically slow-paced, which makes it attractive to all ages, but all movements are based on historical hand-to-hand combat. Hand-held weapons, such as swords and whips, can be incorporated into the movements. There are five main styles of tai chi, each attributed to a historical master of the martial art, and countless different offshoots and varieties from there, but most practitioners are familiar with at least a few of the most popular forms, or tai chi sequences.
“Tai chi was barrier-breaking,” said Allen Groh, 60, another of the Bend students. “Everyone, no matter the language, can step in. You know tai chi? I know tai chi. Let’s do tai chi together.”
Groh said he went on a walk on his own early during the trip and spotted an older man doing tai chi. When Groh recognized the form, he joined in.
“He had a big smile, double thumbs up,” after they finished, Groh recounted. “And I went, ‘my trip is made.’”
The Bend group also visited a number of schools that teach tai chi and wushu in the same sort of structured environment that Chen learned in. In Taizhou, Zhejiang, a city of nearly 6 million on the East China Sea, the Bend students stayed in the dorms at the Taizhou International Culture and Wushu School, home to 2,500 students who focus on southern-style tai chi.
“They wash their own clothes,” Ian Stuehling, 9, said of the Taizhou students, many of whom are just a few years older than him. “I’m not used to hand washing. It’s difficult.”
Tran said Master Chen often tells her classes about how strict his teachers were when he was a student, but she said she was still impressed by the precision of a typical practice at the schools they visited.
“We’re a pretty goofy bunch of people because we’re all really comfortable with each other, but (the Chinese students) were so focused when they were practicing; they were just so clear and sharp,” Tran said. “And then as soon as class was over, they were running around, screaming and being total goofs. Even after just seeing them, I was practicing better. I improved by watching them, and that’s amazing.”
Unlike other forms of martial arts, such as karate or taekwondo, which feature sparring between practitioners, tai chi and wushu are often performed solo. (Although wushu can be used to describe all martial arts in China, in the U.S. it typically refers to a more energetic or “external” performance, while tai chi is slower and more meditative.) In competition, practitioners are judged on their form in much the same way gymnasts or ice skaters are, with points awarded or deducted based on the placement of fingers and where toes are pointed or how low a competitor sinks into a crouch.
Ten Oregon Tai Chi Wushu students competed at the Dekun Taiji Cup in Hangzhou on March 31, and Tran was named grand champion for her snake-style wushu and taiji sword performances. Tran took the top spot over a Chinese competitor, beating her by such a slim margin that for several minutes there was confusion as to who had actually won.
“She let me borrow her straight sword, because we weren’t allowed to bring weapons (on the plane),” Tran said of her closest competitor. “So if she hadn’t let me borrow her straight sword, then I might not have been able to do that.”
As grand champion, Tran was awarded a trophy and prize money by Grandmaster Wu Bin, a legendary coach who has trained numerous wushu champions in China. On this side of the Pacific, however, he is probably best known as the teacher of action-*movie star Jet Li.
And the interaction will likely not be a one-off meeting. Since Chen and his wife, Karin, and their students returned to Oregon, they received a message from Wu Bin, asking if they are going to compete at the Tiger Claw Elite Championships in San Jose, California, later this month, as he would be in attendance. (They will.)
And that is the world of wushu that Master Chen wished to share with his students on their trip to China: It is much wider than their school in Bend and the West Coast-based competitions they regularly attend but still interconnected and supportive, like a family you do not get to see as often as you wish you could.
“This is a school, but if you have a great community it’s a family. We’re lucky; a lot of students come here to feel the community,” Chen said. “It feels warm. This is a martial art, this is a sport, this is a business. But in the meantime, it’s a family.”
—Reporter: 541-383-0305, vjacobsen@bendbulletin.com
Coach Wu Bin should be here at KFTC HQ in a few hours.
Competition Schedule & Ring Assignments
The Competition Schedule & Ring Assignments for the 10th Tiger Claw Elite KungFuMagazine.com Championship are now posted here.
You have our gratitude
The 2018 Tiger Claw Elite Championships were very successful. Thank you to all who participated and supported this event. I’ll have photos, results and more - coming soon!
This is a little late but it was my favorite of the press buzz
The best of what to eat, see and do on the SF Peninsula.
May 17·7 min read
33 epically awesome things to do on the Peninsula this weekend
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Picks of the Week:
RememberThere are but two powers in the world, the sword and the mind. (Photo via KungFuMagazine.com)
Observe the foot-fist fury of Kung Fu Magazines championship tournament
In yet another Silicon Valley event celebrating a tenth anniversary, Kung Fu Magazine is hosting their annual Tiger Claw Elite martial arts tournament in San Jose, showcasing a wide cross section of stylesfrom tai chi to Taekwondocompeting across various age groups throughout the weekend.
The events VIP martial artist guest list is long, prestigious and features the likes of Shaolin Monk Shi Yanyue and Grandmaster Chiu Chi Lin (akathe 650’s favorite actor from Kung Fu Hustle). Also, make sure to check out the authentic antique Chinese weapons exhibit on Day 2, with swords from the era of Genghis Khan.
May 1920 // McEnery Convention Center (South Hall) 435 South Market St, San Jose
More pre-event buzz
I meant to post this last week but got overwhelmed with prep.
Dr. Yang and Students Participate at 10th Annual Tiger Claw Elite Kung Fu Magazine Event
May 18, 2018
The 10th Annual Tiger Claw Elite KungFuMagazine.com Championship will be held on May 19-20, 2019 in San Jose, California. It will be held once again in the spacious South Hall of San Jose’s McEnery Convention Center.
“This year marks crossing the decade-long milestone,” said Gene Ching, publisher of Kung Fu Tai Chi Magazine. “It will be a landmark event that will offer lots of new and exciting improvements. And we are always looking for volunteers and sponsors.”
Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming and students from YMAA Retreat Center will be participating in some of the following events.
On Saturday, May 19, it will be paired with the Tiger Claw Elite Taekwondo Championships and the External Divisions will compete. There will be a new external division dedicated exclusively to Songshan Shaolin – the Kung Fu directly from Shaolin Temple. On Saturday evening, there will be an Overall Grand Champion Finale where all ages of the Advanced Division Champions of Traditional Kung Fu, Songshan Shaolin and Modern Wushu compete on stage for the Grand Prize.
On Sunday, May 20 there will be the 7th Annual KUNG FU TAI CHI DAY alongside our Internal Divisions. There will be three Showcase Championships on stage, the WildAid Tiger Claw Championship, the Year of the Dog – Top Dog Championship, and the Ku Yu-Cheung Bak Sil Lum Championship. All Showcase Champions receive unique prizes and special attention in our post Championship coverage.
The 10th Annual Tiger Claw Elite KungFuMagazine.com Championship will receive coverage in Kung Fu Tai Chi and KungFuMagazine.com and there will be a limited-edition DVDs of the event.
First 30 photos
TCE KungFuMagazine.com Championship X Photos by Kevin Ho
This first batch is WildAid & Ku Yu Cheung Bak Sil Lum Championship competitors.
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10th Tiger Claw Elite KungFuMagazine.com Championship - May 19-20 2018, San Jose CA
WildAid Tiger Claw Championship
Ku Yu Cheung Bak Sil Lum Championship
Sing Tao coverage
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Kung Fu Tai Chi Day More Than 300 People Competing
May 21, 2018 05:49 Bay Area Kung Fu Tai Chi Day More Than 300 People Competing
Master Wu Bing (Li Lianjie, Master Wu Jing, 2nd from left) led more than 300 Tai Chi enthusiasts to practice Tai Chi 24. Reporter Wang Qingwei
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Kung Fu Tai Chi Day was held in San Jose yesterday. Guests from all walks of life hosted the opening cut.
The 7th Kung Fu Tai Chi Day was held at the South Hall of the San Jose Convention Center yesterday. More than 300 Tai Chi groupers from various parts of the Bay Area participated in the opening ceremony. After the opening ceremony of guests’ ribbon-cutting, Wu Bin, the famous martial arts master, was the master of the martial arts, Jet Li and Master Wu Jing. Under the leadership of ), they practiced Taijiquan 24 styles. There will also be a Tai Chi/ Nei Family Fighting Competition and Tai Chi Martial Arts Teaching Lecture. Attend the guests include: Consul of the Chinese Consulate Wang Shi, Zhao Ming, Wu Jing, Vice Chairman of the Chinese Wushu Association from Beijing, and Xiao Yujing and Zhu Zhihua, Sun-style Tai Chiquan representatives from Zhenjiang. Nanwan Wudang Zhao Bao Tai Chi 12th generation authentic descendant Peng Wen, South Bay Silicon Valley Kung Fu College President Cheng Shengwei and many martial arts teachers.
The groups that participated in the practice of Tai Chi yesterday included: San Francisco Jingcai Tai Chi, San Francisco Fitness Tai Chi, Ming Kong Tai Chi Health Association, Yan Xue Yuan, Jin Heng International Wushu Taiji, Nansanyi Taiji Youyuan. People, East Bay Tai Chi, Oakland YMCA, SF Recreation club, Oregon Tai Chi Wushu team and other groups.
When the consular officer of the Chinese Consulate General Zhao Ming addressed the speech, he and his consul Wang Shi represented Ambassador Luo Linquan and congratulated the Chinese consulate on the congratulations on the occasion and welcomed visitors from all over the world, especially the domestic guests. She stated that martial arts and Tai Chi are treasures of Chinese traditional culture, which have a long history and rich connotations. Kung Fu Taiji Magazine organized seven Kung Fu Tai Chi days, all of which were successful. They formed a brand effect and provided martial arts enthusiasts with a stage for displaying talents. They also made active efforts to promote Sino-US cultural exchanges.
Wu Bin said hello to everyone in his speech. He said that more than 300 Tai Chi enthusiasts participated in Kung Fu Tai Chi Day and they practiced Tai Chi together. "Tai Chi is a very good boxing among our Chinese martial arts culture. It has a history of over a thousand years and is inherited today. Everyone can think of it as a project of physical fitness, healthy longevity, and so many people participate in the event. Today’s event is an example.” Wu Bin pointed out that Kung Fu Tai Chi Day was very successful for seven years. Everyone must pass this on.
Kung Fu, the founder of Kungfu Taiji Magazine, stated that Kung Fu Tai Chi Day was first unveiled in 2012 at the then San Jose Councillor Zhu Sensheng and it has come to the seventh. The purpose of this activity is to bring China’s long-established traditional Wushu fitness culture to the local community, and even to mainstream societies around the world, and to teach the public to use Tai Chi and Wushu exercises to achieve physical fitness, prevent diseases, and cultivate mind and body.
After Kung Fu Tai Chi Day was ribbon-cutting, Wu Bin led more than 300 people to practice Tai Chi 24 together, followed by a Tai Chi/Nei Jia boxing competition and two lectures taught by a Tai Chi martial arts master: 1. Prof. Yang Junmin’s Tai Chi capture Second, Professor Weng Qixiu’s Tai Chi technique is used to fall down to the safety of falling. (Reporter Wang Qingwei’s San Jose report)
More to come
50 more photos
TCKFMC 2018 Videos Coming Soon!
Champions
OVERALL EXTERNAL GRAND CHAMPIONS ()
7-8: Lucas Dong - Elite Kung Fu, Fremont CA MODERN WUSHU
9-10: Audrey Young - Shaolin Shaolin Martial Arts, Cupertino CA SONGSHAN SHAOLIN
11-13: Howard Kam - Elite Kung Fu, Fremont CA MODERN WUSHU
14-17: Braydan Tomizaki - Tomizaki Champions, Concord CA TRADITIONAL KUNG FU
18 & Over: Pan Meng Yang - Shaolin Kungfu Chan Academy LA, Arcadia CA SONGSHAN SHAOLIN
TRADITIONAL KUNG FU GRAND CHAMPIONS ()
7-8: Intermediate: Lim Jun Le - Fei Si Fu Kung Fu Academy, San Jose CA
9-10: Advanced Female: Jennifer Liu - Tat Wong Kung Fu Academy, San Francisco CA
11-13: Intermediate: Nikki St Charles - Newbury Park CA
Advanced Female: Elena Hung - Lily Lau Eagle Claw, San Francisco CA
Advanced Male: Brandon Liu - Tat Wong Kung Fu Academy, San Francisco CA
14-17: Intermediate: Jed Chan - Northern Shaolim Kung Fu Association, Cerritos CA
Advanced Male: Braydan Tomizaki - Tomizaki Champions, Concord CA
18 & Over: Advanced Female: Courtney Randolph - American Wushu Academy, Chandler AZ
Advanced Male: Thomas So - Tat Wong Kung Fu Academy, San Francisco CA
SONGSHAN SHAOLIN GRAND CHAMPIONS ()
7-8: Intermediate: Annabelle Cu - Shaolin Shaolin Martial Arts, Cupertino CA
Advanced Female: Maya Young - Shaolin Shaolin Martial Arts Cupertino CA
9-10: Intermediate: Neo Chang - Shaolin Shaolin Martial Arts, Cupertino CA
Advanced Female: Audrey Young - Shaolin Shaolin Martial Arts, Cupertino CA
Advanced Male: Ashton Wu - Shaolin Shaolin Martial Arts, Cupertino CA
11-13: Intermediate: Preston Chiu - Kung Fu Dragon USA, Pleasanton CA
Advanced Female: Elyse Nguyen - Dragon Rhythm Shaolin Kung Fu, Fremont CA
Advanced Male: Max Lwin - Kung Fu Dragon USA, Pleasanton CA
14-17: Intermediate: Alan Tong - Shaolin Temple USA, San Francisco CA
Advanced Female: Kaitlyn Tran - Shaolin Temple USA, San Francisco CA
Advanced Male: Ryan Wong - Shaolin Shaolin Martial Arts, Cupertino CA
18 & Over: Intermediate: Jason Parker - Shaolin Temple Kung Fu Zen Academy, Sacramento CA
Advanced Female: Alice Cheung - Shaolin Temple USA, San Francisco CA
Advanced Male: Pan Meng Yang - Shaolin Kungfu Chan Academy LA, Arcadia CA
MODERN WUSHU GRAND CHAMPIONS ()
7-8: Intermediate: Sophia Bartlemay - Oregon Tai Chi Wushu, Bend OR
Advanced Male: Lucas Dong - Elite Kung Fu, Fremont CA
9-10: Intermediate: Chloe Shinn - Kung Fu Dragon USA, Pleasanton CA
Advanced Male: Shaun Chen - Zhang Kung Fu Institute, San Leandro CA
Intermediate: Arjun Kasthuri - Kung Fu Dragon USA, Pleasanton CA
11-13: Advanced Female: Lisa Oshiba - Elite Kung Fu, Fremont CA
Advanced Male: Howard Kam - Elite Kung Fu, Fremont CA
14-17: Intermediate: Qi Lin - Honor Kungfu Academy, Sacramento CA
Advanced Female: Ashley Oshiba - Elite Kung Fu, Fremont CA
Advanced Male: Naoki Tang - Elite Kung Fu, Fremont CA
18 & Over: Intermediate: Candace Saults - National Martial Arts Academy, Loveland CO
Advanced Female: Jacqueline Wong - Elite Kung Fu, Fremont CA
Advanced Male: Spencer Kwong - Honor Kungfu Academy, Sacramento CA
TAI CHI / INTERNAL GRAND CHAMPIONS (/)
12 & Under: Advanced Male: Aj Stuehling - Oregon Tai Chi Wushu, Bend OR
13-18: Intermediate: Audrey Yung - Legend Kung Fu Academy, Fremont CA
Advanced Male: Wallace Lim - Legend Kung Fu Academy, Fremont CA
19-45: Advanced Female: Xu Xiaoqio - Jin Heng International Wushu Taiji Group, San Francisco CA
Advanced Male: Glen Bunting - Kung Fu Dragon USA, Pleasanton CA
46 & Over: Intermediate: Jordan Jansen - Tien Shan Tzi, El Paso TX
Advanced Female: Ruilan Alice Yu - Jin Heng International Wushu Taiji Group, San Francisco CA
Advanced Male: Pete Rincon - Tien Shan Tzi, El Paso TX
GROUP COMPETITION CHAMPIONS ()
External Forms Intermediate: Omei Academy, Cupertino CA
Internal Forms Intermediate: Shaolin Kungfu Zen, San Jose CA
Internal Forms Advanced: SF Jianti Tai Chi, San Francisco CA
DUILIAN CHAMPIONS ()
External Forms Beginner: Oregon Tai Chi Wushu C Team, Bend OR
External Forms Advanced: Oregon Tai Chi Wushu A Team, Bend OR
Internal Forms Beginner: CK Tai Chi
WILDAID TIGER CLAW CHAMPIONS ()
Tiger Claw Champion: Lei Fan - Kung Fu Dragon USA, Pleasanton CA
Teen Tiger Champion: Naoki Tang - Elite Kung Fu, Fremont CA
Tiger Cub Champion: Mariella Brayton - US Wushu Center, Portland OR
YEAR OF THE DOG - TOP DOG CHAMPION ()
Max Lwin - Kung Fu Dragon USA, Pleasanton CA
KU YU-CHEUNG BAK SIL LUM CHAMPION ()
Christopher Leung, Northern Shaolim Kung Fu Association, Hacienda Heights CA
Plum Publishing on TCEKFMCX & Sifu Wing Lam
Packing up over a hundred books and DVDs, we departed the Convention Center Sunday, about noon. The two-day spread of the TC Media Kung Fu tournament had allowed us to schmooze with a lot of teachers, students and fans. We felt like we’d been talking continually for two days, but then again, conversations spin off easily when the subject shared is close to heart. The activity was energetic: sifus such as Liang Shou Yu, Scott Jensen, Byron Brown, Yang Jwing Ming, Bryant Fong, William Dere, and Wu Bin criss-crossed the floor; students bumped into former teachers, colleagues engaged in catch-up; we even got to meet up with a few of our own former students. The ear-assaulting booming music compelled an intimacy, where listener and speaker leaned in closer while recounting their tales. And of course, many numerous folk stopped by us to commiserate on the loss of Kwong Wing Lam, commenting on how much he had done promoting the martial arts community.
Moreover, we were delighted by meeting people who had dealt with Plum over the years, enjoying the product, articles, videos, but also the reviews, even the humor of the site. We notched up our conversation by mixing stories of Jimmy Lee, Vince Black, Wong Jack Man, and a generation or two of unforgettable instructors.
The environment was appropriately festive; even with our table set up in a continual arctic wind pattern gushing from the exits, kids jumping to higher ground to spur their teammates on, back stage competitors trying one last time to master that special turn with their weapons. And never mind, here comes the New Guard with quivering swords, warbling thunder sounds, and young competitors caught in frozen moments during a daring leap or aerial kick as though they had been uprooted to free fly amidst hurricane winds.
Besides the demonstration of energetic forms, this convocation had at least two unique points. First, an entirely new division, unrecognized until now, of competition from SongShan Shaolin practitioners themselves. Added to that, a second Shaolin competition, based on Bak Siu Lum (Bei Shaolin) and its famous Iron Palm specialist, grand master Ku Yu Cheong (Gu Ru Zhang), this branch having detached itself a century ago from the SongShan branch, but maintaining the spirit and shape of Shaolin.
The competition in this smaller division, a direct lineage for us, was winner take all, second and third take places. The scores from the diversified judges were pretty flexible, but clear enough that a member of our Santa Cruz school, Nick Hancock, won second place with a well-received Shaolin #7 Plum Blossom Fist.
Teacher feelings: The youthful energy, the dedicated older teachers, the knowledgeable aficionados made this a fine experience. But one might have mixed feelings. On the one hand, you wish the best for all fellow students. On the other, you can only be aware that some portion of the teachings seems to be missing. There is a lack of depth which makes common what we so often encountered—“I USED to practice.” Yes, sure, partly due to age, but possibly, also, the obvious: that some ideas are missing or lost in the expression of what was once basic and common and understandable, a shared experience of inner exploration coupled with external restraint. The problem is, what to do? Train people honestly, thoroughly, deeply, instead of movie auditions; or face the fact that your contribution may now be unsupportable, unnecessary or just plain unwanted?
For me, personally, the proximity of Sifu Kwong Wing Lam’s passing and the rise of new Shaolin based branches can always be balanced by one thing: pracice. Sifu Wing Lam used to say, “It’s only the practice you miss that you will regret.”
And of course sometimes it is enough just to have helped that four foot tall warrior to find the stairs and mount the stage.
What Master Mancuso neglects to mention, likely out of his usual humility, is that Plum donated prizes to the Ku Yu-Cheung Bak Sil Lum Championship, including T’ai Chi Ch’uan by Gu Ru Zhang and four on Bak Sil Lum autographed by author Sifu Ted Mancuso: Staff: The Kung Fu Weapon of Skill, Kung Fu Saber: The Tiger Leaps, Kung Fu Spear: King of Weapons, and The Bandit Knife: Kung Fu’s Rebellious Weapon. He also served as one of the judges.
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10th Tiger Claw Elite KungFuMagazine.com Championship
R.I.P. Sifu Kwong Wing Lam
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These are in a new album: TCE KungFuMagazine.com Championship X Photos by Greg Lynch Jr.
The 2018 tckfmc teaser 2
TCKFMC 2018 Teaser Trailer 3
TCKFMC 2018: Wushu Highlights
TCKFMC 2018: Kung Fu Highlights
40 new photos