Winter Camp

There will be a winter camp for new students as well as students who haven't learned either the first or second staff forms. Ray will be teaching both forms. If you have the time it should be great. It will be February 9-13th. If you sign up before January 23rd it will be $800NT and after will be $1500NT so sign up as soon as possible!


It will be in the 人工湖 park (or man-made lake as it is called in Chinese).

Year-End Kung Fu Bash!!

We had our year-end party at the kung fu school. There were some old faces and some new faces as well as some tasty treats.
Here are a few photos in no particular order...

Eric (Chiu Ji Dsun who is living in Texas) and Jack (Bai Jong Bin) who is still in Hsinchu but too busy in grad school to make it to class regularly.

A woman's mother made these and they were so tasty! The outside is thin and soft and yummmy.

Jang Yongshi, Thomas, Carlos, Ray, Me, Alastair, Eric, Chu Jiun Hao
Peng Jiun Dso, Jack

Nick, Me, Sonya

Me, Chu Jiun Hao

Chu Jiun Hao, Gao Je Huai, Sonya, Nick, Me, Ray, Jeremy
Chris, Alastair, Carlos, and River.

I wish there were more photos but there was a lot of chatting to be done so... Sometimes that's just how it goes.
And for everyone who signed Ray's birthday card here it is in its completed state.




It is only a partially true story. Ray did flush his phone down the toilet, but there was no plumber brawl (that I know of)...

Until next time, happy kung fu-ing.

Chang Hong Bei 2008

Forecasts had been dismal, but December 7th, 2008, turned out to be a fine, sunny day in Taipei, Taiwan. Our annual competition and exposition, Chang Hong Bei, went as well as could be hoped for.

As part of the day's opening events, the greater Chang Hong Kung Fu group practices together. Here, the group practices Lian Bu Chuan, a Chang Chuan form and the first form learned.

Here, the group is practicing Gong Zi Fu Hu Chuan, the basic Tiger form, which is the first Hong Chuan form learned.

Instructor Ray Lu demonstrating Dragon style.

Pan Long Gwun (Coiling Dragon Staff)

Alastair competing with Kun Wu Jian (straight sword).

Tsai Yu-Hao competing with Chi Xing Dao (Seven Star Broadsword).

Nick, doing very well with Lian Bu Chuan (Linked-Step Fist).

Lily, Yi Lu Mai Fu (First Form of Ambush).

Sonya, focused on and determined with Lian Bu Chuan.

Little dude, competing with Gong Li Chuan (Power-Training Fist). Note the furrowed brow.

Jeremy, showing his Chi Xing Dao to the judges.

Brendan, who loves the challenge of competition, makes a good showing of Lian Bu Chuan.

Alastair launches forward with Hong Men Chiang (spear).

What the day is all about.

Lee Chiu-Ling demonstrating Shi Xing Hu (Ten-Forms Tiger).

Chen Yun-Nian demonstrates Lohan Zhang (Arhat Palm).

River Chen Chiu-Fong demonstrating Tsai Li Fo Chuan.

Kids group Pan Long Gwun.

Lian Bu Chuan group.

Chi Xing Dao group.

Big smiles at the end of a long day!

Sun-Link-Sea

In January, 2008, we went on a training trip up into the mountains with the whole Chang Hong Kung Fu group. We visited a place called San Lin Hsi, which translates into something like "Fir Woods Stream".

The place is known for its flowers and trees, many of which only grow at its elevation of 1600m.

On this trip, we focused on the practice and use of straightsword. Here, Master Chen demonstrates an application for the group.

Instructor Ray Lu practicing San Tsai Jian, or Three Powers Sword.

The group, practicing a southern sword form, Hong Men Jian.

River and Alastair, hard at work perfecting technique.

Our Hsinchu group, minus Paula (behind the camera).

At the end of the trip we stopped in Lugang, where Master Chen had grown up. He took some time to demonstrate a few movements with the straightsword.

Young Forest Temple

We took our first trip to the Shaolin Temple in the summer of 2002. Located within the Songshan Mountains in Henan, China, it's considered the birthplace of both Shaolin Kung Fu and Zen Buddhism. Regardless of how touristy it is these days, its ancient origins and remarkable history keep it a pilgrimage site for many modern-day kung fu practitioners from all over the world.

We stayed the night near the temple and heard shouts of training coming from the courtyard outside our hostel at 5 a.m. Thousands of young students train at not only the temple, but also at numerous schools located in the nearby town, Dengfeng.

When they asked for volunteers, Tsai Yu-Hsin and I could not resist. Here we are, failing at our attempt to pull the bowl from the young monk-in-training's abdomen. It seemed pretty impressive at the time, but there was, however, a bit of a trick involved....