#StandWithTaiwan

Taiwan is undergoing a difficult time at the moment, due to China's threats to annex the island. The current lineage holder of our school, Luo Dexiu, is Taiwanese and currently teaches his class in Taipei. If China were to take control of Taiwan, it would not be good for our school. Not only would Luo Laoshi no longer be able to travel to teach his invaluable seminars around the world. But also, China is attempting to standardise chinese martial arts under the banner of Wushu.

Taiwan is of great strategic importance and internationally, the strong desire is that Taiwan remains independent. However, the recent withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan is a display of weakness that has emboldened China. Chinese ships and planes of war are regularly impinging on Taiwanese space and things are very tense, diplomatically.

However, this could end badly for China. Support for Taiwan is growing and becoming more vocal. Even Anonymous have let their feelings on the matter be known.

Sounds like the plot for a chop-sockey movie...

Full original article at: The Taipei Times




Master fights to earn name for feeding crane combat



By Huang Hsu-lei and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporter, with staff writer


Martial arts master and special forces combat trainer Liu Chang-i (劉長益) said he hopes to introduce the feeding crane style to the world as Taiwan’s distinctive martial arts form.
Liu, 55, has mastered the style and is a combat instructor for the army’s, marines’ and military police’s special service companies.


The companies last year jointly demonstrated their feeding crane-inspired hand-to-hand combat techniques at the Double Ten National Day ceremony, which Liu said made him proud.



The style’s emphasis on fast and deadly blows makes it suitable for military applications, where soldiers have to defeat the enemy quickly, Liu said.



“It was originally a fighting style for women. The point is to defeat the opponent immediately by using explosive power and striking at vital points, as women cannot win protracted struggles with men,” he said.



The style is said to have been created 400 years ago by Fang Qiniang (方七娘), who modified the Chinese white crane style for women’s self-defense, Liu said.



Fang’s system has four main traditions — the flying crane, singing crane, resting crane and feeding crane styles, the last of which was brought to Taiwan by Master Lin Te-shun (林德順) in 1927, he said.



Lin taught the feeding crane style to Liu’s grandfather and after that the title of the master passed from father to son, he said.



Learning the style at a young age, Liu said he began helping his father with teaching it from the age of 14 and started teaching his own classes when he was 21.



At the age of 32, Liu established a feeding crane style school in the US and he has since opened schools in Romania, Germany, Spain and France, he said, adding that he travels the world to teach the style.



Every Asian nation and culture around Taiwan has laid claim to a signature martial art, such as taichi, wing chun, karate, taekwondo, Muay Thai and escrima, he said.
“It is a shame that Taiwan does not have a representative martial art,” he said. “I want to leave behind something for the nation. I have vowed that I will travel to make the feeding crane style thrive all over the world,” he said.

News: Sumo competition will celebrate 130 years of Thai-Japanese relations

Original article: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Sumo-competition-will-celebrate-130-years-of-Thai--30297227.html








JAPAN will hold a full-scale sumo tournament in Thailand next year as part of the celebrations of 130 years of bilateral ties between the countries, Deputy Prime Minister Tanasak Patimapragorn said yesterday.



It would be the first such event in Asia outside Japan, Tanasak said, adding that the Japanese |had rarely held sumo competitions outside of their country.

"Thanks to Japan's good ties with Thailand, they will bring this sport that reflects the Japanese culture here for the Thai people to watch," Tanasak said, adding that preparations were already under way.




Tanasak, who is in charge of tourism among his other areas of responsibility, also said that Thailand and Japan had worked together in efforts to boost tourism in their respective countries.




On Friday, a group of Japanese sumo wrestlers called on Tanasak at his office inside Government House. The team was accompanied by Yuthasak Supasorn, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

News: May Thai fight

The Advertiser: Young warriors ready to set off Fury fireworks. http://google.com/newsstand/s/CBIwk6uz_SQ

Women working for MMA acceptance

Originally reported at: http://www.topix.com/martial-arts/2014/04/women-push-to-legalize-mixed-martial-artsvisit-blogpost-1325178-mobile-home-category-body-6391-2



Women push to legalize mixed martial 17 hrs ago | Posted by: roboblogger | Full story: Albany Times Union

Chelsie Dessingue doesn't want to hear that mixed martial arts is anti-woman. The 15-year-old Hoosick Valley High School freshman who trains at Tigon Academy in Watervliet says the discipline and community supplied by her three years of training have only made her stronger.

Celebrity Black Belts

Originally reported at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/worldfolkandjazz/10794872/Willie-Nelson-gets-5th-degree-black-belt-at-81.html


Willie Nelson gets 5th-degree black belt at 81 Country music legend Willie Nelson earns his fifth-degree black belt in the martial art of Gong Kwon Yu Sul at the age of 81


Willie Nelson, who is 81 today, is certainly not letting the grass grow under his feet. The country singer has just received his fifth-degree black belt in the martial art of Gong Kwon Yu Sul.

"Honestly, I was surprised to be getting this degree," Nelson told AP. "I don't know what else is out there. I never thought about anything beyond second-degree black belt."

In a ceremony in Austin, Texas, watched by resident Lance Armstrong, Grand Master Sam Um, who has taught Nelson for two decades, handed him his belt and joked: "He has more stamina than I do."

Nelson added: "I'm pretty healthy at 81. I think a lot of it has to do with the exercise that you do. I think martial arts is one of the best exercises you can do. Mentally, spiritually, physically, everything. I'm sure that's helped."

At the weekend, Oscar winner and fellow Texan Matthew McConaughey inducted Nelson into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame at a blowout concert. He will be playing a special birthday concert at Austin's Backyard arena this evening.

Nelson has been interested in martial arts for some time, telling me in an interview in December 2012: "I have always been interested in keeping fit and doing boxing and wrestling. As a youngster, I loved Charles Atlas, Bruce Lee and Kung Fu. But when I lived in Nashville I switched to doing Taekwondo. Last year, at the age of 78, I got my second degree black belt. And singing is the best exercise – two hours a day will keep you in pretty good shape. I think it's very important to learn from your own body. It doesn't lie to you. If it feels good, do it. If it don't feel good, don't do it."

UFC Fight Night 38: Stormin' Norman Parke is ready for war in Brazil this weekend

Originally reported at: http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/mma/ufc-fight-night-38-stormin-3260989

UFC Fight Night 38: Stormin' Norman Parke is ready for war in Brazil this weekend Mar 19, 2014 15:49 By Mark Spence

This Sunday Norman Parke will take on Brazilian, Leonardo Santos in his own backyard. It's a tough task but one the Northern Irishman is relishing

GettyNorman Parke faces his toughest task yet in Brazil on Sunday Since coming to prominence on The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes, Norman Parke has firmly embedded himself as 'one to watch' in the lightweight division.

With a current UFC record of 3-0 this weekend's clash in front of the notoriously raucous Brazilian crowd will be his most arduous test yet.

Should he prevail over Santos though, Parke's stock will rise considerably and a bona fide assault on the lightweight division could be on alongside his former TUF coach Ross Pearson.

We caught up with with Stormin' Norman ahead of his crunch match.

How has your training been going so far? Great. I was in pretty good shape before I went to America for my camp, so I didn't have to push my body too hard. We have loads of guys training for fights at Alliance so everyone was pushing each other, it was a great environment to be in.

Will this be your first time in Brazil? Yes, this will be my first venture to Brazil. Brazil is a place I’ve always wanted to visit when I was younger, now the UFC has given me that opportunity and I can't wait to get there. Brazil is like the UK in some respects: it’s a fighting nation, it's in our blood.

How are you feeling about fighting a Brazilian in Brazil? Do you think Santos will have the hometown advantage? I asked to fight on this card in Brazil so I'm going to relish the moment. As for home advantage I don't think it will make a difference to my performance, at the end of the day it's just Santos and me in the Octagon.

GettyNorman ParkeParke's mixed martial arts record currently stands at 19-2 Do you like to study your opponents in depth? What do you see as his strengths and weaknesses? I’ve watched some of his fights and he's got good control on top. As for striking, he's tall and has a good range but it’s nothing that fazes me.

What about a prediction for the big night? I'm hoping we can stand and strike for a while, but I predict he’ll probably try to take me down. If I hurt him at any time, I’ll definitely be hunting hard for the finish.

What’s next for you after this fight? I never like to look too far ahead, but that being said I’ve already convinced myself that I’ve won the fight in my head. After this I'm hoping for someone in the top tier of the division.

The UFC have announced they will be back in Dublin in July, would you be interested in being on that card? Yes, of course I would love to fight in Dublin! In fact, I’ll email Joe Silva straight after this win! I want at least three fights this year, and my goal is to be ranked in the top 15 of my division by end of the year.

UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs Henderson 2 is live on BT Sport Sunday 23 March at 11pm

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/mma/ufc-fight-night-38-stormin-3260989#ixzz2wS8XB4A4 Follow us: @DailyMirror on Twitter | DailyMirror on Facebook

Is this the world's fastest knockout? MMA rookie hits the deck after ONE SECOND

Originally reported at: http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/mma/fastest-knockout-video-sam-heron-3256226

Is this the world's fastest knockout? MMA rookie hits the deck after ONE SECOND Mar 18, 2014 15:58 By Liam Prenderville

Welterweight Mike Garret connected perfectly with a kick after 1.13 seconds in London on Friday night to leave his opponent grounded and seeing stars

Getting off to a good start is everything in sport but MMA star Sam Heron obviously didn't read the manual.

After a lengthy build-up to his welterweight bout with Mike Garret, the 21-year-old was knocked out after just ONE SECOND.

Favourite Garret connected with a kick to devastating effect, leaving his opponent on the deck in the fastest-ever knockout - trouncing the previous five-second record.

Heron was still struggling to get his bearings back as he received treatment from medics, before shaking his head as the victor was announced.

In fairness to the battered and bruised fighter, he appeared considerably slighter than his rival pre-bout but nobody would have expected the outcome.

Something tells us he will be spending some time in the gym after this. http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/mma/fastest-knockout-video-sam-heron-3256226#ixzz2wS7fSFSi

Stockton martial arts instructor's sentence more than doubled

Originally posted: http://www.redtigerkarateclub.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=13&Itemid=17

Martial arts tutor Paul Monty, who was jailed for four and a half years for child sex offences, has had his sentence more than doubled by the Court of Appeal

A twisted martial arts instructor who subjected two schoolgirls to repeated sex attacks had his too soft sentence more than doubled by top judges.

Paul Monty, 54, of Elton, near Stockton, was originally jailed for four and a half years at Teesside Crown Court in December last year after he was convicted of a string of sex crimes against the teenagers.

Appeal Court judge, Lord Justice Davis, who today upped Monty’s sentence to 10 years, said he preyed on the girls during the 1980s.

Sitting with Mr Justice Jeremy Baker and Judge Simon Tonking, he said Monty’s victims had “idolised” him as a hero, but he repaid their “adoration” by repeated betrayals of trust.

The Solicitor-General, Oliver Heald QC, attacked Monty’s original sentence as far too light.

And Lord Justice Davis agreed, saying: “We don’t think the sentence of four and a half years begins to comprehend the gravity of all that happened here.

“We have no real doubt at all that this was an unduly lenient sentence.”

He added: “This was sustained and serious sexual offending which involved taking advantage of the hero worship of these two girls.”

Monty had “exploited the adoration they conferred on him”.

Although he did not use brute force to get his victims to comply, the judge said he never needed to because they were so in awe of him.

The women told jurors at Monty’s trial how he tied them to a bed before subjecting them to degrading sex acts.

The judge said Monty’s crimes had a clear element of “grooming” and that both victims were caused lasting “emotional and psychological harm”.

Probation reports disclosed that he had shown “no real remorse”.

Monty was found guilty of several counts of gross indecency, as well as a serious sexual assault, in relation to one of the girls.

The other victim suffered an attempted sexual assault and two offences of gross indecency at his hands.

Lord Justice Davis quashed all the gross indecency counts after accepting that the charges were incorreclty framed and therefore “unlawful”.

However, the more serious charges remained in place and the judge said the sentences imposed in relation to them were far too light.

“The total sentence is now 10 years,” Lord Justice Davis concluded.

Speaking after the hearing, the Solicitor General said: “Paul Monty abused his position of trust and acted in a way that was wholly inappropriate for a teacher, committing sexual offences against young girls who were in his charge and entitled to be safe.

“I asked the court to look again at this sentence as I felt it was unduly lenient.

“Sexual crimes, especially those which breach the trust between a pupil and teacher, should be punished appropriately.

“Today the Court sent a clear message that anyone who violates the trust of children, no matter how long ago, will face the proper consequences.”

Chinese Martial Art tour of Vietnam warmly received...

By Martial News Reporter on http://www.martialnews.co.uk/story36.html

A CHINESE martial arts tour of Vietnam has been praised in the country.

The Chinese delegation included Shaolin Kung Fu masters as well as exponents from other martial arts schools.

According to Xinhau news, China, the success of the tour saw all walks of life thrilled at their performances.

The troupe all come from Henan Province. The 33-strong team toured the country from May 8th to 18th as part of a cultural exchange.

Henan's Shaolin Kungfu is widely known throughout the world. The troupe has already performed in 30 countries and territories in the world.

Kang Jie, head of the troupe, said: ""We hope that through this event, the two countries and two peoples will get to know each other's culture better, contributing to the mutual exchange of cultural activities."

Yang Jianchu, of the Chinese embassy said: "We should do more to strengthen mutual cultural understanding.

"Deeper knowledge and understanding could further strengthen the friendship between our two countries."

Yang said that Vietnam and China have a long tradition of friendship and with lots of similarity in culture.

Jet Li sets up business to promote Tai Chi

MOVIE STAR JET LI TEAMS UP WITH IT ENTREPENEUR TO PROMOTE TAI CHI

KUNG Fu movie start Jet Li has teamed up with a Chinese internet entrepeneur to promote Tai Chi.

Li, star of "Hero" and "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor", joined forces with Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba, the world's biggest retailer.

Ma recently stepped down as the CEO of the company, saying he wanted to concentrate his energies in education and the environment.

Like Li, Ma is a long time follower of Tai Chi and has used its teachings in his business strategies and his former company.

The duo have opened a school in Hangzhou, Zheijiang Province, eastern China.

A statement from the company said the school would teach Tai Chi and other martial arts under the tutalege of a well-known master.

In keeping with Ma's environmental beliefs, the school is part of a larger building which also houses commercial services. The park is in wetlands.

Story taken from www.martialnews.co.uk