News 26th - 28th September 2009

The Irish WingTsun Organisation (IEWTO) celebrated its tenth anniversary on the weekend of September 26th. Dai-Sifu Rainer Tausend who is the national instructor for Ireland held a series of three-day seminars for the Irish students and instructors. He was joined by Sifu Dominique Brizin and Sifu Stefan Weber who provided Chi-Kung and Escrima seminars respectively. The seminars were organised and hosted by Sifu Aidan Canavan who is Sifu Tausend’s main representative in Ireland. Also in attendance was Si-Hing Michael O’Leary who runs a school in Blanchardstown, Si-Hing Nicolas Maraite who teaches WingTsun in Google Ireland, Si-Hing Martin Krause who has recently opened a school in Finglas and Si-Hing James Mc Quaid who teaches in Larne.

The venue for the seminars was the Sands Hotel in the picturesque seaside village of Portmarnock on the northside of Dublin. Students began to arrive from 10.30am with attendees travelling from as far as Belfast, Sligo, Mayo and Athlone. The WingTsun seminar began shortly after 11am with Sifu Tausend supervising the student’s Siu Nim Tau and Cham – Kiu forms. Following this was a short session where Sifu Tausend would answer any questions on the forms. One of the questions related to the use of the Gwat-Sau movement and its function. Sifu Tausend explains that the purpose of the Gwat-Sau is to fill up any potential empty space between the WingTsun practitioner’s body and their opponent’s limb. He explained that the Gwat-Sau is not a blocking movement as the arm is too weak to defend against an opponent’s leg. The WingTsun defence against a straight kick follows the principle of the matador and a bull by side stepping out of the way while the Gwat-Sau is just an additional covering movement. Following this, the students then working on many practical examples of the theory and before they knew it the three hours was up.

Following an hours break during which the hotel provided soup and sandwiches, Sifu Stefan Weber gave a 90 minute Escrima class. Following a brief warm up, Sifu Weber taught a mixture of defences and counter attacks against a single stick. Then Sifu Dominique Brizin gave a 90 minute class on WingTsun Chi-Kung. The late Grandmaster Yip Man had a knowledge of Chi-Kung and while he felt it was impractical for fighting, he found it beneficial for pain relief and general health. Si-Jo Leung Ting expanded on this field of study some years ago and the European WingTsun Organisation (EWTO) has been teaching WingTsun Chi-Kung for some time now. Sifu Brizin gave a brief introduction on the theory of Chi-Kung before leading the class through a set of stretching and strengthening exercises which left the participants invigorated after the previous four and a half hours training. The first day finished at 6pm and everyone left to get ready for the evenings celebrations.

People started to arrive in the bar at about 7.30 and enjoyed many well deserved Guinness before the evening meal. Family and friends were also invited making the occasion a more enjoyable affair. A magician entertained the crowd with some tricks and following this Sifu Canavan presented Dai-Sifu Tausend with a cake to celebrate both ten years of the IEWTO and also to celebrate Dai-Sifu’s birthday which took place the day before. After this the DJ came on and everyone took to the dance floor with a mixture of moves not seen since 1985. Sumo fat-suits were also provided and with a mixture of alcohol, music, 6 hours training and on-looking girlfriends to impress, there was a steady queue of participants.

There were a few sore heads the next day so Sifu Tausend started the WingTsun training a little more gently. While Sifu Weber taught another Escrima class, Sifu Tausend tested each student for their grades and Si-Hing O’Leary assisted with the lower grades. Following another session of WT Chi-Kung, Sifu Tausend ended the 2nd day by presenting the students with their grades. Special congratulations must go to a number of students who qualified for their Technician (Blackbelt) Grades.