There is an event scheduled in August, 2004 at San José State university, San José, CA.

Teachers and Affiliation Activities:

On-going training and individual correspondence course. Arrangement of seminars, workshops, and personal training sessions. Tai-chi Monkey Certification Program.

Testing:

There are no scheduled tests at this time. Please check back for updates.

Exhange Program:

More information to come.

19th Annual Chinese American Athletic Tournament - Cupertino, CA, USA - July 20, 2003

The De Anza College gymnasium was once again the setting for the Wushu events of the massive annual Chinese-American Athletic Tournament. Over 200 national and international martial artists competed in 4 major categories: Contemporary Wushu, Traditional Wushu, Shuai-chiao, and Tai Chi Chuan. The electrifying Masters’demonstrations included a thrilling group broadsword and shield routine by the USA O-Mei Kung Fu Academy (who have performed for the 49ers and others). Dao-yun Chen (a multiple time Wushu champion in China) and her demo team dazzled as they perform the international compulsory Wushu routines (these routines have been used in the Asian Olympic games since 1990). And Qigong Master Jin-sheng Tu exhibited his amazing qigong abilities as he broke blocks of ice with his bare hands. This year will also saw the debut of the Cardio Tai-Chi group competition. Cardio Tai-Chi made a spectacular international debut last April in Rio de Janiero, Brazil and has returned to the States to make a similar effect on the American martial arts community.

The Great Lakes National Kung Fu Shuai Chiao Tournament - Euclid, Ohio, USA - April 25th and 26th, 2003

The Great Lakes National Kung-Fu Tournament held in Euclid Ohio April 25th, and 26th was again a huge success to both participants and spectators. Competitors in Shuai-chiao, San-shou, Northern and Southern Shaolin, and in Tai-Chi, as well as weapons had ample room to operate in the spacious Euclid Sports Plant. The sports plant located just fifteen minutes from downtown Cleveland was large enough to operate several rings at one time including a children's Shuai-chiao division with over fifty contestants! Parents were pleased to see their children competing in a safe and well judged environment. Tournament arbitrator and Chief San-shou official Dr. Daniel Weng presided over the event and was satisfied that all of the judges had been certified before the event and showed good judgment and a full knowledge of the rules.

The tournament was also the backdrop for Black Belt promotions in Shuai-chiao and for a seminar by the late Grandmaster Ch'ang Tung-Sheng's grandson David Ch'ang. On Sunday morning Master Ch'ang taught an excited group of Shuai-chiao practitioners from gathered from all around the United States just to train with him. Seminar participants included fourth, fifth, and sixth degree black belts all of whom were receptive and grateful to be learning from Ch'ang Tung-Sheng's descendant and heir apparent to Ch'ang Family Shuai-chiao. Tournament promoter Sifu John Ervin was in charge of every detail from start to finish and was truly "hands on" throughout the entire three-day event.

This years Great Lakes Kung-Fu Tournament had more variety of competitors from a larger number of locations than ever before. The overall mood of the event was extremely positive as judges, masters, students, and spectators were all hospitable and respectful of each others different backgrounds and purposes in attending.
--
by Matt Mollica.

2003 Pan American Shuai Chiao Federation International Tournament - Sao Goncalo, Brazil - April 5th and 6th, 2003

More than 400 martial artists gathered in the city of Sao Goncalo, (in the county of Rio de Janeiro) Brazil to compete in the 2003 Pan-American Kung Fu Shuai Chiao Championships. Athletes came from Brazil, Argentina, the United States, Japan, Taiwan, and Indonesia.

The Championships were cosponsored by the Pan-American Shuai Chiao Federation (PASF) and the City of Rio de Janeiro. Sao Goncalo, only 30 minutes from the famous beaches of Rio, offered an excellent outdoor venue void of the crowds and traffic of Rio.

The US team, led by Dr. Daniel Weng, arrived in Brazil a few days early to enjoy the foreign atmosphere. Staying right on Rio’s famous Copacabana Beach, the team managed to both train and relax while taking in such famous sights as Corcovado (the Christ statue overlooking Rio).

Two days prior to the competition, the team moved to the SESC hotel in Rio where they could focus more on the Championships than on the beaches. It was there that Dr. Weng got a first look at the Portuguese translation of his 1984 text, Fundamentals of Shuai-Chiao. The author, Arthur De Sa Ferreira, M.Sc., included some additional information about tournament rules and added new photographs of techniques performed by Master Lee Wing Kay of Sao Paulo. This new translation is a milestone in the dissemination of information regarding Shuai-chiao. Dr. Weng, as President of the PASF, expressed his appreciation and his sincere hope that more texts will follow in order to promote a greater knowledge and understanding of Shuai-chiao in South America and around the world.

In the opening celebration on Friday night, there were exciting displays of lion dancing and a variety of kung fu demonstrations interspersed with short speeches from the organizing committee and other local VIPs. The night concluded with some spectacular modified Sanshou matches (no gear but gloves and knees were allowed) that kept the crowd roaring.

The next morning, the Championships began out with an impressive new group event built on Dr. Weng’s Cardio Tai-Chi program. Although the Brazilian group gave a remarkable samba-influenced performance, the US team edged them out for the gold. A plentiful crowd managed to brave the heat and cheer on their favorite athletes in the Sanshou and Shuai-chiao matches that followed. Each country made a strong showing as was evident by Brazil, Japan, Indonesia, and the USA each taking home gold in Shuai-chiao.

The US team would like to thank Dr. Daniel Weng for organizing our trip to Brazil and Master Lee Wing Kay for being our gracious host in Rio de Janeiro. Thanks also go to Ann Ly for her spectacular work videotaping and photographing the trip and event.



Tai-Chi Monkey News Archive