12 February 2009

Wellington Tai Chi and Wushu Festival 2009 at IPC Recreation Centre

The gathering of Tai Chi and Wushu Clubs from Wellington and Palmerston North

By Shirley Ghozalli. Edited by Moira Blake and Leslie Kentfield.

A Wushu demonstration using swords, led by the Qigong and Tai Chi instructor from Wellington, Raymond Poy

A Kung-Fu demonstration using swords led by the Tai Chi and Kung-Fu instructor from Palmerston North, Hui Min

While it was still the season of the Chinese Lunar New Year, the Taichi and Wushu clubs from Wellington and Palmerston North held their annual festival on Saturday, 7th February in the IPC Recreation Centre. The festival was started as a way of bringing together the Taichi and Wushu clubs from both cities so that they could share their knowledge.

This event organizer Raymond Poy said "We have held the festival in Wellington for the past three years. This is our first time to hold it in Palmerston North." Raymond is a Qigong and Tai Chi instructor from Wellington and a member of the New Zealand Kung-Fu Wushu Federation Inc.

Wushu is a Chinese martial art and Kung-Fu is a part of Wushu, while Tai Chi is a form of Qigong, an aspect of Chinese traditional medicine. Tai Chi practice is a set of movements called 'forms'. There are several differing forms, the most well known being Yang, Chen, Wu and Sun styles, and there are also some competition forms. The main styles were named after the families that founded them. For example, a basic set of movements in Yang Style contains 13 movements and it's called 13 Forms. All the movements look beautiful like dance movements but powerful at the same time. Focus and harmony of Mind, Body and Spirit are required. It can take quite some time before one can master all the movements.

The public were welcome to participate in the festival without having to pay. This meant that everyone, young and old, could join in the Qigong and Tai Chi forms performed on the floor, no matter how familiar they were with the movements. This kind of involvement made the atmosphere in the festival spontaneous and informal. "In Bejing, people go to the park to practice Tai Chi in the early morning with their Master. Anyone can join in and follow the slow, gentle movements of the tutor" said Leslie Kentfield, Tai Chi and Qigong instructor.

The Festival began with a stretching section, which was followed by various Qigong and Tai Chi forms and several Wushu and Kung-Fu demonstrations using swords, long bamboo sticks, walking sticks, and fans. Most of the performances were accompanied by Chinese traditional instrumental music. The festival closed with a Qigong tutorial session where everyone was encouraged to join in and learn the movements. According to Leslie some of the Lung and Large Intestine Qigong exercises practiced are especially useful for those who suffer from Asthma.

"Anyone who is interested in learning Tai Chi and Wushu is welcome to join our club," said Hui Min, an instructor in a Tai Chi and Kung-Fu club in Palmerston North.

Wushu demonstrations with fans

Club members performing one of the Tai Chi forms

Local club members and non-members watching and participating in the performances

The closing Qigong tutorial session taught by Leslie Kentfield

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