We farewell Tai Chi Sifu Arlene McLeod who will retire from teaching at the end of this year after having been an esteemed member at Golden Lion for the past 22 years.

Arlene started her first class with me in Dao Yin at our Rowville Academy. She has since advanced to become a 4th Degree Black Belt and she was later awarded the rank of Sifu in Tai Chi. A remarkable achievement we always honour at Golden Lion, Arlene will always be welcome with open arms whenever she is able to visit us.

Please join us in thanking Arlene for all her help at Golden Lion and wish her a safe, healthy and happy retirement ahead. We will no doubt miss Arlene and we look forward to catching up with her in the future.

Thanks to you for another successful yearThroughout this year, you would have read or heard about many personal achievements by our members. Noteworthy is Si jie Anja Weise success in achieving 4th Degree Black Sash in Tai Chi.

Our special congratulations to Anja on reaching this important milestone. I am sure all tai chi members join me in applauding her for her patience, determination, hard work and courage. Well done, Anja. We are all proud of you.

All accomplishments and successes by our members, however small or great they may be, is important to us. I believe this has been possible because we have the best teachers, the best programme, the best support system and the best school in the business. But we could not have done it without your support; so again, thank you.

Enjoy your membership. Use it. Come to class regularly and train hard. We are here to help you achieve your goals.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New YearOn behalf of all the masters, instructors and staff at the Golden Lion Academy, I sincerely thank you for all your support this year. We hope that next year you will continue with your training and you’ll benefit with better health, fitness and well being.

We trust you will enjoy a safe and happy summer and look forward to welcoming you back to the Academy for another wonderful year. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Above all, keep a positive attitude.

Dai Sifu Pier Tsui-PoFounder and Principal

Farewell to Sifu Arlene McLeod Congratulations Si Jie Anja on achieving her 4th Degree Black Belt

On Saturday the 19th of September there was a gathering of parents, friends and students at the Rowville Academy, to witness a 4th degree grading by Si Jie Anja Weise.

Si Jie Anja was to be partnered by Sifu Darlene, in her push hands routines and by Lincoln Rigby for her applications. This has to be an exceptionally demanding grading in its complexity and its requirements of strength, stamina and focus, as those who have gone before can certainly attest to. To attain proficiency in this degree one has to be passionate, patient, prepared for long arduous training for oneself and dedicated partners.

So here we all were, prepared to be treated to a wonderful display of what hard work and desire to achieve your goals can present. All of those present sat down excitedly, and were addressed by Si Gung Charles who requested that we respect the importance of this grading, and to please refrain from clapping till the end of the afternoon.

Newsletter design and artwork byRichard Howell www.tmlc.com.au

GOLDEN LION ACADEMY

NEWSLETTER

Summer 2015

TAI CHI • KUNG FUDIM MAK • ACUPUNCTURE

HERBAL MEDICINE

www.goldenlion.com.au

Berwick Centre29 Intrepid Street, Berwick 3806

Rowville Centre2 Laser Drive, Rowville 3178

Murrumbeena Centre98B Murrumbeena Road, Murrumbeena 3163.

Central phone: 9796 1066

GOLDEN LION ACADEMY NEWSLETTER SUMMER 2015 2

The very first routine was her own choice, the Li style called The Three Old Pushes. All of Si Jie’s hard work and training came to the fore, dressed in her colourful silks she moved with grace, strength and perfect control. While watching this first routine, I could clearly see the actions of a Tiger in the way it was performed, within its movement there was Yin (soft) and Yang (hard), combining making for a smooth, faultless routine that had the watching audience and particularly her parents, holding an almost collective breath of astonishment at the beauty of Si Jie’s performance,

With each and every item as Si Jie moved through them, the audience was shown an awesome display of clever and imaginative martial art applications, a seamless display of routines with her effortless high kicks, Si Jie’s specialty, which are the total envy of all the students watching.

Finally at the end of what I am sure was an exhausting but exhilarating three to four hours, Si Jie Anja was required to finish, with an open discussion on the various pressure points of interest used for her strikes, in the applications against her partner.

Si Gung then stood and after assuring her she had indeed passed and before presenting her with her 4th Degree Certificate, he turned to the audience and passed on his personal admiration for Si Jie Anja’s incredible achievement, of learning to use her weapons, in her right hand when she is naturally left handed. A skill he said he was glad he hadn’t had to try and attain.

The afternoon ended with Si Jie being swamped with excited friends, family and students thrilled that she had finally achieved her goal. Congratulations Si Jie Anja, it was a privilege to watch a well-deserved 4th Degree. The Golden Lion certainly proves once more, it is an Academy of Excellence.

Si Jie Lynne Byrne

Sifu Craig Rayner gave his Shaolin Five Animals seminar on 21 September at Golden Lion Rowville assisted by Sijie Joey Baful. Attendees ranged from beginners to second level black belts with everyone enjoying the whole 3 hours which passed very quickly.

Sifu Craig explained in his entertaining and humorous way the origin of the adaption of animal fighting styles to martial arts. One story was that a monk trying to shoo a crane from a vegetable garden was unable to hit the crane with a stick, every attempt to strike the crane would be averted with the monk realizing that the crane’s method of defense would be useful in martial arts.

The 5 animal styles form part of the golden lion syllabus but does not define golden lion; rather it adds to a very broad and extensive body of knowledge. The 5 animals which are taught at golden lion are ‘best of class’ and represent the most efficient and skilled fighters for that type of animal. The 5 animals also represent 5 different types of abilities and related skills allowing the Practitioner to change between animal fighting styles when required. The animals themselves include the Tiger, leopard, Crane, Snake and Dragon.

The Tiger is the largest and most powerful and tends to charge the opponent and attack directly with brute force using circular arm movements to overwhelm the opponent. The hand shape resembles a tiger claw which is used to strike and rip. The spirit of the tiger is fierce and fearless and is best used when an opponent is smaller or weaker.

The Leopard is smaller and not as powerful as the tiger, it relies more on speed and accuracy with its strikes and targets: soft-tissue regions and other vital areas such as the neck and temple. The Leopard uses the second set of knuckles to strike

in order to reach areas that a traditional fist shape could not access.

The Crane is a skinny hollow boned bird with little muscle power; it uses evasion, speed and accuracy to overwhelm the enemy with rapid strikes and evades using circular movements. The crane’s weapons include the crane’s beak, wings and legs. The crane’s beak hand shape which if formed by placing the tips of the fingers and thumb together to strike soft areas such as the eyes, throat, ears and heart; sides of the head; ribs. When facing a more powerful opponent, using the speed and evasiveness of the crane style can be used rather than trying to match an opponent using power.

The Snake has no fists and relies on coiling motions and rapid and accurate striking to the vital parts of the body, especially the eyes, face and throat using the ends of the fingers to emulate the snakes head.

The snake utilizes simultaneous striking and locking techniques to evade and strike at the same time assuring that the practitioner has a high chance of causing extreme damage with little strength. Like the crane, the snake style can be used against a more powerful opponent.

Dragon is an internal, Chi cultivating style and is characterized by grabbing, breaking and locking techniques using apposing thumb and fingers. The style combines the elements of the four other animals. If you are ever lucky enough to have Sifu Craig demonstrate the dragon claw strangle on your throat it is something you will never forget.

Sifu Craig showed us a drill for each of the 5 animals and when the class was able to perform the exercise a further extension would be added to give us some very effective and powerful techniques. Some of the drills involved sending your opponent to the ground forcibly (which most people agreed strangely) provided quite a sense of satisfaction. Each set of techniques involved quite different movements ranging from striking the side of the neck with snake to using transition to a dragon stance to send an opponent to the ground. It was also stressed throughout the seminar that correct stance work was essential for any of the 5 animal styles to be correctly applied.

Dave MallonMurrumbeena Kung Fu

Grant Azlin (left) and David Mallon (right) demonstrate Leopard style technique “Inverted fist” to pressure point Liver 13.

Kung Fu 5 Animal Self Defence Workshop

GOLDEN LION ACADEMY NEWSLETTER SUMMER 2015 3

The training of children in martial arts has been the source of contentious debate within the community. It sometimes is incorrectly attributed to the development or encouragement of violence in children. This is not an accurate assessment of the practises that are instilled in children who participate in kung fu and those who formulate such opinions often do not have a full understanding of what this ancient Chinese martial art form aspires to teach.

One of the fundamental aspects of kung fu training is the teaching of discipline. This discipline is intended to incorporate all aspects of their lives. Students develop their ability to control their minds and bodies whilst meditating and visualising the techniques that they have learnt during that session. They must resist external distractions; to focus their energies internally and increase strength not only in their bodies but also in their minds. A strong body is nothing without a mind that is focused and clear and is a valuable strength that not all people command.

Children are taught in the very first level of grading that they must respect others. Not just those at kung fu classes but their parents, their teachers at school and their peers. Children who harness this level of respect in their lives are in turn respected by others; as they show an internal strength that is valued and admired. There is a saying that your kung fu age refers not to chronological age but instead to the time and experience that you have acquired in kung fu. By recognising those of higher experience and appreciating the knowledge that they share, children will develop a sense of leadership as they extend their own experience and tolerance towards others in a lower grade. Children who show tolerance towards others understand

that everybody is different and that everybody has the right to be treated with dignity and honour.

This sharing of experience and development of knowledge directly engages the children in a sense of pride and accomplishment with all they have achieved. Children who have a lower self-esteem or are lacking in confidence in other areas can appreciate their own development and can help other newer students develop their techniques. This passing of knowledge helps to support the children’s validation of themselves as worthy members who can contribute to others’ wellbeing and development.

We, as a society, seem to be allowing technology to surpass our needs as human beings for interaction with each other. Children become teenagers in a society where the ability to bully or harass someone is easily facilitated when you can hide behind a computer screen. By training the mind and body in kung fu you are also training children to believe in themselves and to have an outlet aside from these online personas where they are valued members of a community. If children have a place in the community, outside of their school peers, where they are taught that they are valued and strong, they will have a deeper resilience when their egocentric sense of themselves feels like the world is against them.

Self-defence is an integral part of kung fu where children learn techniques that they can use should they find themselves in a situation where they must protect themselves from harm and disable an attacker in order to escape. Often the awareness developed through this training can keep students safe in itself; as they are able to be aware of situations that they should avoid but always enable them to protect themselves should they need to.

Pride and respect for oneself also relates to the way in which we treat our bodies. By participating wholly in kung fu classes, children will exercise their muscles and joints as well as their brains. Increased flexibility, strength and fitness through vigorous exercise has immeasurable positive effects on our brains and bodies. Our bodies release endorphins when we exercise making us feel good about ourselves and can directly combat mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety. Children who regularly exercise will be stronger and physically fitter, be less likely to be overweight, sleep better and be better equipped to handle the physical as well as emotional challenges that they may face in their lives. If these practises are begun at an early age they are more likely to develop and continue these healthy habits as they grow into adults.

I have three of my four children enrolled in the children’s class with my fourth child extremely eager to start. I have seen in my own children a development of strength, confidence and commitment to succeed. In each child there have been benefits that are unique to their own individual personalities. In my daughter I have seen a gradual strengthening of the mind and body whereby lately I have seen her lift her chin in determination to be stronger rather than dissolve into tears over minor problems in class. My stepson, who used to lack confidence, has completed his first grading and has found pride and assurance in his techniques as they develop. His attitude towards classes has become more resolved to try harder to succeed as he has seen within himself that he has the ability to do well. In each child as they develop over time I see a light in their eyes that grows brighter as time passes by, as their experience deepens and as they achieve their goals.

I believe that through Kung fu they are learning they can meet challenges with determination and a belief that they can achieve whatever it is that they most desire.

Jayanna KoppelBerwick Kung Fu

Left to Right: Jake Penpraze, Jayanna Koppel, Brodie Penpraze and Taeiisha Koppel.

Why children should participate in kung fu

GOLDEN LION ACADEMY NEWSLETTER SUMMER 2015 4

What a day to have a workshop, 31st October – Halloween. On arriving at Rowville we found a skeleton with some big spiders and webs hanging on the racks. Nearby there was a witches hat and on a table two cauldrons.

After arriving, getting our name tags and looking out for spiders everywhere we soon settled down to 3 hrs of hard work. After warm ups Sifu Darlene went through the 10 essentials with the help of the skeleton with a tag for each essential pinned on it.

We then started the first move of the 24 Barehands routine – The Commencing Form. Stepping out with left foot, raising arms then lowering arms. After being reminded of the 10 essentials and how to apply them to the move we tried the move again. Keeping top of head up, straight back and relaxed taking a deep breath. With the next breath peel the left foot off the floor, place shoulder width apart, then next breath raising arms to shoulder height then lowering arms to waist starting with elbows, wrists then hands. At the same time bending the knees.

This happened with all the 24 moves we were being reminded to keep backs straight, use the waist, relax the shoulders, droop elbows, try and coordinate the movements of upper and lower body and for the more experienced try to maintain continuity and harmony between internal and external aspects. Whilst keeping everything in mind we repeated each move several times being corrected individually.

A couple of times during the afternoon Si Jie Liz Simpson donned her witches hat, picked up 2 cauldrons and then asked a question. The person who answered correctly got to pick out of one cauldron, the person who answered incorrectly had to pick something out of the second cauldron (very gooey).

Refining Your Beijing 24 Routine Tai Chi Work Shop

After the half way break we were given a demonstration by Sifu Darlene, Si Jie Liz and Jessica on how it looks when all the things we had been working on were applied to the routine.

We finished all the 24 moves with about 15 mins. to go. This time was spent on stretching and cooling down and going over some exercises to help obtain those high kicks and low sweeps. I am sure everyone has come away with a renewed understanding of the 24 and how to improve our routines.

This workshop showed us how to refocus on a routine we all do on a regular basis and how to get more out of it and do it better.

Julie ShortBerwick Tai Chi

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Hayfever Sinusitis ReliefAcupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are a drug-free holistic approach to medicine, treating mind, body and emotions to enhance your own natural and powerful healing processes.

The Dai Sifu, Pier Tsui-Po has obtained good results with stubborn and difficult-to-treat conditions. He creates a personalised therapy for you, treating the underlying causes of illness as well as the symptoms while assisting you with pain relief, illness prevention and the maintenance of well being.

Clinic located at:Berwick Specialist Suites,1st Floor, 50 Kangan Drive, Berwick.

Phone9796 2388

GOLDEN LION ACADEMY NEWSLETTER SUMMER 2015 5

Above: Grading Level One – Marie Markovic (far left) and Joan Hansen (left). Grading Level Three – Norma Edge (right) and Ruby Fry (far right).

Right: Grading Level Four – Jessica Rice.

This Christmas, give your friend or relative the health benefits that can last a lifetime.

Give them a Tai Chi or Kung Fu Membership; it can be a 3 months training programme to let them discover better health and wellbeing. They’ll receive a FREE SET of

training uniforms to get them started.

And to help you with that, we’ll give you one month Free membership.

Call us on 9796 1066 and we’ll arrange for a Gift Voucher for you to enclose in your Christmas card.

If they are a “couch potato”, perhaps get them started with a copy of our book Reclaim Your Vitality.

It is easy to read, contains many tips anyone can use immediately to get well and stay well. It also gives the whole package needed to reverse the

unwelcome effects of 21st Century living. Copies are available at all our training centres.

Call us today on 9796 1066

A gift of health & fitnessFor your friend or family

Adults Kung Fu andTai Chi Classes

Last class 2015:Wednesday 23

December

First class 2016: Monday 11 January

Children’s classes school holiday timetableKung Fu (6–12 years old) 2015 term 4

Berwick centre Last class Class resumes

Monday 5.00 pm class Monday 14 December 2015 Monday 1 February 2016

Monday 6.00 pm class Monday 14 December 2015 Monday 1 February 2016

Wednesday 4.30 pm class Wednesday 16 December 2015 Wednesday 3 February 2016

Saturday 8.45 am class Saturday 19 December 2015 Saturday 30 January 2016

Murrumbeena centre Last class Class resumes

Wednesday 5.30 pm class Wednesday 16 December 2015 Wednesday 3 February 2016

Saturday 9.00 am class Saturday 19 December 2015 Saturday 30 January 2016

Rowville centre Last class Class resumes

Tuesday 5.30 pm class Tuesday 15 December 2015 Tuesday 2 February 2016

Saturday 9.00 am class Saturday 19 December 2015 Saturday 30 January 2016

Congratulations for successfully gradings