Seminar with Mike Martello Sifu - Osnabrueck, Germany

At 18/19th of April, Mike Laoshi will come to Osnabrueck for another Weekend of chinese Martial Arts and fun. Everyone is invited, no matter of how many experience so far in CMA.

Topics are:
Saturday: Bagua Zhang, Basics, Concepts and Applications of this great Inner Style. 12 - 6 PM.
Sunday: Tang Lang Quan, Basics, Applications and QinNa from various Mantis Styles. 10 Am - 4 PM.

More Infos at: info@bailung.de

Party for our Kung Fu sister

leaving, the last training for 2009

with Lola

Mike Laoshi, Dieter and Renaat invited everyone to their place for Magaly's (our Kung Fu sister) leaving party. Each of us brought something small, from their heart. Home made cakes, sushi, chocolate mousse, mosquito blanket, all with love. The biggest present for Magaly is the great news of being the godmother of Lola, the daughter of Luc and Meen. She was asked the other day after the training and she was happy and thrilled at the same time. :)

She left the airport well and arrived safely. Her journey begins, we all miss her but wish her lots of learning and fun.

Magaly to China

Two more weeks and Magaly, one of teacher Mike's dedicated student, our Kung Fu sister and friend is going to China. Just like Seppe and Kim. One of the question most asked to her is: "What are you going to do in China"? Thought the answer is naturally a personal journey, one which belongs to Magaly, allow me to widen up this text for the Kung Fu blog by asking you the question: "what can you do in China as a Kung Fu student (especially if you have a master like teacher Mike)?"

I ask that question to myself too; China is fun, the people are great and numerous things to see, to learn, to explore, to eat, to feel and to understand. Learning Kung Fu and Mandarin (language) is already a great choice, but other interesting learning I can think of are: calligraphy, cooking, massage, music, history, eastern philosophy,... also getting to learn new friends, see new places and have time for yourself, and the Kung Fu.

Not forgetting to mention the kindness and generosity of the Chinese teachers in Beijing, who have (thanks to teacher Mike's own generosity of friendship) indeed become close friends of the Wu Tan.

I too, have been to far places, one was visiting Japan whilst training at the original dojo of Ueshiba. In the end, it will always be a personal journey, one of inner growth and learning. 

From a Kung Fu learning point of view, it is very logical to wonder why one would go that far if one has teacher Mike as his mentor. Both in China and Taiwan (not to mention the other parts of the world), teacher Mike's martial ability is recognized as an equal if not better amongst the very best of Asia. However, Teacher Mike once told me that the learning curve in Kung Fu can be interpreted as in different stages.  As teacher Mike has gone through many, it is therefor difficult for the student to grasp his movement and inner chi from the very beginning.

One of the first stage for the student is proper structure and mechanics, which teacher Mike has taken good care of showing it to us every training. It is the essence in Kung Fu. It is necessary for the student to practise the basics for many years before being ready to go to the next level.

I believe that going outside Mike's classes to train with other teachers can be very beneficial for this very reason: it allows you to progress through a stage that you can be ready for teacher Mike's real teaching. Can you imagine sending a beginner to Grandmaster Wang? Or put it simple: One time a friend of mine wanted to learn cooking and asked if my uncle (who is a good chef) can give her private lessons, I told her to get a cook book and play with it until she understands differences of boiling, frying and stir frying. I know she doesn't even know how to boil an egg. So should my uncle, a chef with years of training, spend valuable time teaching her how to boil it? I don't think so.

Teacher Mike is like a master chef, but one who is actually is very generous, as he accepts beginners with open arms and teach them how to simply stand and walk.

Going to China and learning from other masters (who are good friends from teacher Mike and who have powerful skills as well), give us the opportunity to take back some info which teacher Mike can adjust and improve. The growth of the student is also more personal and gives them a unique flavor, depending on the master they follow in China.

Finally, the personal mental growth for Magaly, is one we all can admire and support.

Team Cup - the Clip

Overview of the Tournament

1st White Dragon Team Cup - 17. Januar

Puhh, managed.
The last week was a really tough one. Much to organize. But yesterday it was done: all the teams with their teachers were on time and came with quite a good and positive mood to the "Schloßwallhalle". Virtually every team had an illness or loss of one kind or another to fight with, especially the Chow Gar group from Ali Ol hid it hard: they were only 2 participants, which then had to start in each category (except for Sanda) twice.
Fairly in time we started with the lion dance and then I welcomed the spectators, participants and teachers. A brief overview of the program and we were already going on with the competitions. New was the KO_System also in the form - categories. And it was a good choice. The competitions were so exciting to the end. Hardly a team or athlete felt unfairly assessed, as it always was the direct comparison.
In the background, ran the organization by members of the Association Bailung fairly smoothly, there was a small problem with a kiosk on the ground, but nothing serious.
The competitions have been the form of 5 arbitrators and evaluated by the leadership of Mike Martello, they were really very fair and balanced. With the referee were: Nicolai Schild, Christian Kubiak, Thomas Maltz, Ali Ol, Holger Meyer and Kai Osagahara.
After a brief pause, there was rebuilding the Sanda competitions. And here my hopes were not disappointed. The Sanda was really cool. It was not fullcontact but also no expression dance. It was disciplined and fair with the intention and commitment to fight. Although Leif Daßbeck from Hamburg Wanfu really had a hard stand with his weight difference with the other fighters, but he did it with dedication and competitive technology and provided very good fights. A pity that for a placement it was not enough.
Overall, the participants also take a positive experience and I hope that this kind of Sanda wins more friends.

Finally, of course, was the winning team honored: the QiXing Tang Lang group of GEA Happel eV from Herne! However, only very slightly (2 points) before Team1 of the Bulaimei school from Bremen.

Here are the results in detail:
Hand forms:
1. Julia Kunter - GEA Happel Herne
2. Raufi wet - Wu Zhen / Bailung eV
3. Thorsten Or - Shaolin Velbert 1
Short Weapons:
1. Dieter de Potter - Wu Zhen / Wutang Antwerp
2. Sabrina Hainke - Bulaimei Bremen 1
3. Andreas Kichgessler - Chow Gar victories
Long Weapons:
1. Marco Alello - Shaolin Velbert 1
2. Dennis Prieß - Wu Zhen / Bailung eV
3. Patrick Peltzer - Bulaimei Bremen 1
Partners forms:
1. Leif Daßbeck / Julian Thomann - Wanfu Hamburg
2. Mike Kessler / Rene Herfarth - GEA Happel Herne
3. Luisa Korte / Cecilia Korte - Wu Zhen / Bailung eV
Sandals:
1. Tobias Nicklaus - Bulaimei Bremen 2
2. Mats Petersen - Bulaimei Bremen 1
3. Patrick Schmidt - GEA Happel Herne

Team Scoring:
1. GEA Happel Herne - 9 points
2. Bulaimei Bremen 1 - 7 points
3. Shaolin Velbert 1 - 6 points

A hearty congratulation to all winners and to all teachers and helpers, participants a warm thank you!

Oh yes: the "after-show party at our club was also very nice and cozy. We still had plenty of catering and the groups of Christian and Holger Meyer Kubiak came with a time to celebrate and to chit-chat. All very relaxed.
We will provide the tournament in the next (or the end of this) year again. It was, in our view, a resounding success.

A special Thanks goes out to my teacher Mike Martello, who came from Antwerp to Germany for judging and leading the Event. Thank You Mike Sifu!

For Photos watch HERE

Interview with Mike Sifu

Here´s a great interview on a eZine I held with Mike Sifu some Weeks ago: Interview

Happy Holidays

All the student got this nice message two weeks ago from teacher Mike, we all wish our teacher a happy holidays too. Before the end of year, I manage to squeeze in some time to put this up.

Thank you Laoshi!

Dear Everyone,

Happy and Healthy Holidays to All.... I want to thank everyone for a great year of training and support for the new club...!

The space really feels like a home to everyone and I am proud of that!!! I really want to make 2009 a year for growth for everyone and myself... I really want the club to grow and promote our mentality for training to others around Belgium and Europe...

Many challenges and changes are to come with great results for all of us... Some changes for 2009: A change of club Name, new website, new clothes, club structure for belts, these are just a few I want to 

make...

2009 will also have more seminars here in Antwerp; like; Mantis, San Cai Jian, Miao Dao, Qi Gong, Shuai Jiao and more... I look forward to working with everyone....

I want to especially thank teacher Wang and the Beijing teachers for all the support and help !!!

Reminder: Classes will be on a holiday schedule for the Xmas and New Year holiday weeks as Dieter wrote in and earlier email...

See everyone in class.

Happy Holidays

mike laoshi