www.thewushucentre.ca

Welcome to the shameless self-promotion page.

I started playing martial arts in 1972, with northern shaolin in Victoria. Right away I knew that I would spend the rest of my life playing kungfu. I transferred to the University of British Columbia in Vancouver to learn Chinese, and was lucky to train MyJongLawHorn with Alex Kwok while I was in Vancouver. This ended up being quite some time, since I did a Bachelor of Physical Education after my B.A. in Chinese – I had decided that I would win a scholarship to China, and that I would be accepted at the Beijing College of Physical Education, the best in the country.

Oddly enough, I did win the scholarship and I was accepted as an advanced student, arriving in 1980. I spent three years there with Xia Bohua as my main coach, during which time I discovered how hard it is possible to train. In the spring of 1981, at a national competition I saw a girl about 5 feet tall play with a sabre about 5 feet tall. What is that? I asked teacher Xia. Bagua, he said. That was it for me – I had to learn bagua. About the same time I also discovered Chen taiji and xingyi, and this was when I transformed into an internal stylist. I still learned the whole wushu syllabus at the college, for my coaching knowledge. (photos at right, top with friends, bottom the entire wushu faculty was there for my final exam)

When I graduated I was invited to Montreal to interpret for Niu Huailu, coach of the Shandong team, so was able to continue my studies with top coaching for another couple of years, as well as returning to Beijing to train for the summers of 1984 and 1986. I was the only non-Asian gold medalist at the International Taijiquan Invitational Competition in Wuhan, China, in 1985, performing the 48 move combined taijiquan. I was a member of the 1986 Canadian Wushu team, performing (badly) Chen taijiquan and xingyi in Tianjin. During this time I was running the wushu centre in Montreal. In 1988 I went back to the West coast for a Master of Physical Education at UBC, specializing in coaching science. You can download a couple of my papers on coaching, if you wish.

As soon as I finished my degree, in 1990, I went to Shanghai and became an apprentice of Huan Dahai. I had learned his form before I went, so was able to correct the form fairly well in the six months I stayed. I went back again for more work in 1995. During the nineties I mostly lived in Victoria and concentrated on playing the Chen form and bringing my students to as high a level as I could. 

In the late 90s I was dragged kicking and screaming back into the big world (thanks to the women in PAWMA). I also played Aikido in the late 90s, and got to 4th kyu ran in 2001, not very high but not too bad considering the extended times I took off for bike racing and trips to Beijing for training. I had to stop just before testing for 3rd kyu, when I blew a knee cartilage. I do miss the throwing and falling.

In my autumn 2001 trip to Beijing I made contact with Li Baohua, one of the few lineage holders of Ma Gui baguazhang. Due to a back meltdown I didn't get to train with him much, but I did learn a lot about Chinese tuina treatment. 2002 was spent in in the woods of Quebec, rebuilding my back and circle-walking to shape my body to new demands. In the spring of 2003 I spent two months in Beijing training bagua and xingyi. I trained Ma Gui style with Li Baohua, and xingyi with Di Guoyong. We were under SARS quarantine this time so I spent a little more time with Li (we were trapped with him) than planned. 2003 was spent integrating this new knowledge into all my styles, which meant a lot of time walking in circles. By 2003 I was based at a "cabin on the lake", where we had spent many winters before, connected to the outside world by satellite, and to the inside world by everything around me. Spring 2004 was Beijing again, late summer cycling in Victoria, then back to the cabin, this cycle repeated in the autumn of 2005 and 2006. I concentrated mostly on my own training,  but started traveling a lot more to teach as well.

By 2005 I had sorted out my back problems with this training, and was made director of the North American Ma Gui Ba Gua Association.  I was volunteered to do the work, but the Ma Gui Bagua system is very special and worth any amount of work to master and to give to others. For the traveling, as one of my friends says, 'time to crank it up a notch'. 2006 through 2010 I continued my studies with Li in Beijing and Japan. I still spend a lot of time walking in circles in the winter at the cabin, but now have company the rest of the year for training in Quebec City, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. 

 I work all the time on books, but can do that while travelling for seminars.

I teach across Canada in January and June, and in England in April and November.

I love to travel and I am on a mission to spread the internal styles as they are done in China to the West. Zhang Wenguang said way back in 1983, "You are the first Western wushu specialist we have had and have stayed for the longest time. You must go home and teach what we have taught you." When I took Huan Dahai as my master, he said "You are the youngest, the only woman, the only Westerner and the best educated of my apprentices. You will have your own unique approach, so you must set my style down in writing and must teach it in the West." I can only try my best to live up to their expectations.

I teach the traditional internal styles from the ground up. My emphasis is on basics and skills training, with understanding of applications. Expect a low-key class where you will work hard and leave with concrete skills to practise on your own. My personal style and preference has always been straightforward. I feel that this approach brings more in the long run – you get back from the martial arts only what you put in. My personal obsessions are getting external stylists into the internal styles, respect for the basic structure of each style, and subtracting all the unessentials.

I am an unusual mix of university educated and years of traditional training. I have friends in sport wushu, in traditional taiji, and in many styles in between, and support them in their endeavours. I train and teach traditional martial arts for health and fulfilment, which to me and my teachers enhances fighting effectiveness. We believe that you cannot remain combat effective if your body breaks down, which it will sooner or later if you do not pay attention. The goal is thus to develop your body and your internal health to be able to keep doing what you want to do for your whole life. In addition, me and some others have decided that competition style wushu is great for those who do it, but it's not for everyone, thus short cutting a lot of complaining about how wushu has changed. I will not get into a modern versus traditional argument – all wushu is good wushu. The traditional styles haven't changed, and I accept the responsibility of transmitting them.

Seminars

I run regular study groups in MaGui baguazhang, visiting most twice a year. Please refer to the class schedule page for details on the times and contacts for each study group: Halifax, Guelph, Quebec city, Winnipeg, Medicine Hat, Victoria, and the UK (Basingstoke, Belfast, Nottingham). Please  email if you are interested in setting up a seminar or private classes.

More details for those who want to really check out my credentials.

Citizenship: Canadian.

Languages: English, Mandarin Chinese, Quebecois French, really bad Japanese.

FORMAL EDUCATION

1991-1995 updated knowledge with coursework (and worked as teaching and research assistant) in history/sociology of modern China, at the University of Victoria.

1990 received a Master of Physical Education from the University of British Columbia, specializing in coaching science. Studied a fair bit of biomechanics and motor learning.

1989 obtained level three theory in Canada's National Coaching Certification Program.

1983 received a postgraduate diploma in wushu, external and internal styles from the Beijing Physical Education College.

1980 received a Bachelor of Physical Education from the University of B.C.

1978 received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of B.C., with a major in Chinese.

MARTIAL EDUCATION IN CHINA (and Japan)

2010 August through October training MaGui baguazhang in Beijing and Tokyo with Li Baohua. Managed a couple of weeks with Di Guoyong as well, learning a bit about Liang style bagua.

2009 Five week November-December intensive, training MaGui baguazhang in Beijing with Li Baohua, also two week intensive in MaGui baguazhang with a group that I organized.

2008 One month July-August intensive, training MaGui baguazhang in Tokyo and Kojima with Li Baohua.

2007 September through October trained MaGui baguazhang in Beijing with Li Baohua. Also trained xingyi with Di Guoyong on weekends during the time in Beijing.

2006 One month July-August intensive, trained MaGui baguazhang in Tokyo with Li Baohua. Sept-Oct trained Ma Gui baguazhang in Beijing, also two week intensive in Ma Gui baguazhang with a group that I organized. Also trained xingyi on weekends with Di Guoyong during the time in Beijing.

2005 August through September trained MaGui baguazhang with Li Baohua and Hebei xingyiquan with Di Guoyong in Beijing. Took a friend to train with my teacher.

2004 April through July trained MaGui baguazhang with Li Baohua and Hebei xingyiquan with Di Guoyong in Beijing. Took a friend to train with my teacher.

2003 March through May trained MaGui baguazhang with Li Baohua and Hebei xingyiquan with Di Guoyong in Beijing. Took two friends to train with my teachers.

2001 Sept through Dec: trained a bit and chatted a lot about MaGui baguazhang with Li Baohua in Beijing. Back issues prevented a lot of training.

1996 Aug through Dec: trained traditional Chen style and bagua sabre in Shanghai, as an inside apprentice of Huan Dahai.

1990 July through Nov: trained traditional Chen style, bagua, and internal changquan (taiji changquan, learned with Cheng Jiefeng) in Shanghai. Accepted as inside apprentice of Huan Dahai. 

1986 July through Sept: attended the Beijing Physical Education College to train wushu (Cheng bagua with Xia Bohua, Chen taiji with Kan Guixiang). Took a delegation of ten members of the wushu centre to train for the month of July.

1984 April through Aug: attended the Beijing Physical Education College to train wushu (Cheng bagua with Xia Bohua, Chen taiji with Kan Guixiang).

Oct 1980 - Aug 1983 trained wushu, external and internal styles at the Beijing Physical Education College, as a scholarship exchange student.

Main Martial Arts Teachers:

Huan Dahai: traditional Chen style taijiquan, Jiang baguazhang, traditional taiji changquan (Shanghai, long visits in 1990 and 1995). I am an inside apprentice in this lineage. The Chen style is similar to, but not the same as, small frame.

Xia Bohua: Yang style taijiquan/jian, baguazhang, xingyi, wushu, wushu weapons, contact sparring (Beijing, 1980 to 1983, then on long visits in 1980s). We met up in 2005 and had a great chat about this and that, and discovered that we had both gone over completely to the traditional styles and teachings. We met up again in 2010, and he is still in amazing shape.

Li Baohua: MaGui baguazhang (Beijing, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010. Tokyo and Kojima 2006, 2008, 2010). See the website of the Ma Gui Ba Gua Association, and the website of the International MaGui BaGua Association for lots more detail.

Di Guoyong: xingyiquan (Beijing, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010. Florida 2005, 2009). See the page on Di Guoyong for more details.

Martial Arts Teachers over short term, or intermittent long term (in alphabetical order)

Cai Yuhua: traditional Chen style taijiquan, Jiang baguazhang (Shanghai, 1982 - 2001, then lost track of him).

Chen Jiefeng: taiji changquan (Shanghai, 1990-1995).

Cheng Chuanrui: tongbei quan, also teacher responsible for the class of 1980 (Beijing, 1982).

Mike Chin: aikido (Victoria, 1998 to 2003).

Kan Guixiang: Beijing Chen style taijiquan (Beijing, 1981 to 1986).

Alexander Kwok: myjong lawhorn, sparring (Vancouver, 1975 to 1980, but he still can get me to do anything he wants, which is why I occasionally judge wushu competitions).

Raymond Leung: shaolin kungfu, sparring (Victoria, 1972 to 1975).

Liang Shouyu: Chinese wrestling, sparring, push hands (Vancouver, 1988 to1990).

Men Huifeng: xingyi quan (Beijing, 1981 to 1986), taiji (2004).

Niu Huailu: Yang style taijiquan, wushu, wushu weapons (Montreal, 1983 to 1985).

Jae H. Song: hapkido (Vancouver, 1976 to 1978).

Yang Jun, Yang Zhenduo: Yang family taijiquan, sabre (St. Jean-sur-Richelieu, 1997, 1999).

Yang Li: cha quan, spear (Beijing, 1982).

Zhang Tong: xingyi quan (Nanchang, 1982).

Zhang Wenguang: chaquan, also head of department, and responsible for my training and life at the university (Beijing, 1981-1986).

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

1984 to present: director of the wushu centre (Victoria BC; Montreal QC; Quebec QC). Traditional Chen taijiquan, xingyi, and bagua.

Victoria BC Seminar and private format 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 MaGui bagua.

ChingWu Athletic Association, Winnipeg MN: xingyi and MaGui bagua 1980s, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012.

Canada East Wushu and Halifax Chuojiao Fanzi (Halifax, NS): 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010: xingyi and MaGui bagua. (Dal Wushu, 2010: wushu)

Stone Lantern Internal Arts (Guelph, ON) 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012: xingyi, spear, and MaGui bagua.

Quebec City study group: seminars or training extravaganza in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011: MaGui bagua.

Prairie study group (Saskatoon SK, Medicine Hat AB) 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012: MaGui bagua.

England Midlands group: Nottingham or Walsall: 2004 xingyi, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010: xingyi and MaGui bagua. 

England Southern group: Basingstoke 2005: xingyi and MaGui bagua. 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011: MaGui bagua.

Ireland group: Dublin, Ireland 2005: MaGui bagua. Belfast, North Ireland 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011: MaGui bagua.

Seattle WA 2005: Ma Gui bagua.

Pacific Association of Women in Martial Arts camp (Olympia, WA; Monterey, CA; Boring OR, Sonoma CA, Gibsons BC). 2006, 2002, 2000, 1999, 1998: xingyi, bagua, Chen taiji.

Special Training camp (Geneva, New York). 2002: xingyi.

Winnipeg Wushu Centre. 2000: xingyi.

Academy of Martial Arts (Portland OR). 2000 to present: Chen taijiquan and taiji changquan.

Women's Festival of Martial Arts (Squamish, B.C.). 2000, 1999: xingyi and bagua.

1992 through1995: teaching assistant in the Department of Asian Studies, University of Victoria.

1996 Sept through Dec: guest lecturer at East China Normal University in linguistics, French, and Physical Education.

Jan 1989 through May 1990: instructor of Yang taijiquan at Sun Yat Sen Classical Garden, Vancouver.

Jan 1989 through May 1990: instructor of Yang taijiquan at Marpole-Oakridge Community Centre, Vancouver.

Sept 1985 through April 1988: instructor of Yang taijiquan for McGill University Athletics Department, Montreal.

1980's gave seminars in Quebec city, Toronto, Saskatoon, and Winnipeg in Canada; taught taiji in Cusset, France and Bern, Spiez, and Magglingen national sports centre in Switzerland; taught taiji at the Yokohama taichi club, Japan. I revisited the Yokohama club in 2006 and did a very casual class, after which we had a feast at the club.

TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETATION

2009 March: interpreted for Di Guoyong at the Chinese Martial Arts Center in Dunedin, Florida.

2006 September: interpreted for Su Zifang at the Pacific Association of Women Martial Artists camp in Olympia, WA.

2005 April: interpreted for Di Guoyong at the Chinese Martial Arts Center in Dunedin, Florida.

2003 August: interpreted for Madame Gao Fu at the Pacific Association of Women Martial Artists camp.

1999 July and 1997 July: interpreted for Yang family taijiquan and sabre seminars by Yang Zhenduo and Yang Jun, in St. Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. Organized by l'Ecole de Taijiquan Michel Tremblay. Sometimes people broke up laughing at my interpretation into French. Hopefully they were just a cheerful group.

1991 to 2000: research assistant in the Department of Asian Studies, University of Victoria. Teaching assistant of the Department of Asian Studies.

Feb 1987 - March 1988: Chinese to English translator for SNC Three Gorges Project feasibility study.

1986: interpreter and guide during the visit of the Beijing wushu team in Montreal, colour announcer for a film made in Calgary on the visit of the Beijing team to Canada.

Oct 1983 to May 1986: interpreter for Niu Huailu, wushu coach for the Canadian Wushu Association.

COMPETITION EXPERIENCE

2011: participated in the national wushu team selection committee as a judge during nationals and team selection competitions, Toronto.

2008: participated in the national wushu junior team selection committee as a judge during nationals and team selection competitions, Vancouver.

2007: participated in the national wushu team selection committee as a judge during nationals and team selection competitions, Montreal.

2003: head judge for the wushu division at Tiger Balm competition, Vancouver.

1997: participated in the national wushu team selection committee as a judge during team selection competitions.

1995: participated in the national wushu team selection committee as a judge during team selection competitions.

1994: head judge of the wushu division at the Dragon's Cup national Chinese martial arts competition held by the ChingWu club in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

1986 October: competed in the International Wushu Competition in Tianjin, China, as a member of the Canadian Wushu team.

1984 April: competed in taijiquan at the International Taijiquan Invitational Meet in Wuhan, China. The only non-Asian to win a gold medal.

1982 Oct: competed in the first international wushu invitational competition in Nanjing, China.

Don't ask me to remember the local competitions around Victoria, but I used to do better in sparring than in forms during the seventies, oddly enough.

ORGANIZATIONAL PARTICIPATION (not a lot of this, because I like to get out of it if I can)

2009 November, took a group to participate in the N.A. Ma Gui Ba Gua Association workshop in Beijing.

2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, sponsor the Quebec wushu championships, as tgl books.

2006 October, took a group to participate in the N.A. Ma Gui Ba Gua Association workshop in Beijing.

2005 to present, President of the North American Ma Gui Ba Gua Association. Just when I thought I'd escaped all organizations for good.

2001 on the instructor selection committee for Pacific Association of Women in Martial Arts 2001 camp. This gave me the chance to make sure the Maori warriors got here from New Zealand!

1995 -1998: board member of the United Wushu Federation of Canada.

1988 -1991: President of the Canadian National Chinese Martial Arts Federation.

1988 Canadian delegate at the International Wushu Federation Preparatory Committee meeting in Hangzhou, China.

1986 Took a group from the wushu centre to attend seminars at the Beijing College of Physical Education.

WRITINGS

North American Ma Gui Ba Gua Association Training Manual for Baguazhang, 2008. (updated 2010). Available as e-book.

"A Purpose-process Framework for the Development of an Integrated Wushu Athlete", 1991. An outline for a complete wushu teaching program and the manual for the first level of the program. There is a download, but it is missing the images and diagrams.

"Achievement Management for Wushu", 1991. A coach's aid to wushu, includes planning, motor learning and psychology. The files are so old I can't open them, but it is on the backburner for a scan or a hand copy.

"Coaching Wushu", 1989. A coach's aid to wushu, includes coaching children, medical issues, basic biomechanics, training principles and practices, and a section on elite athletes. Fifty copies of this were printed, and they are scattered about the bookshelves of wushu coaches I know. In 2009 I edited it, found the old photos, and made available as e-book.

MENTION IN PUBLICATIONS (that I am aware of)

Tai Chi Chuan & Internal Arts, UK. No. 36, Winter 2011. Interview by Luigi Zanini. Click here to read or download.

Brian Kennedy's book "Chinese Martial Arts Training Manuals: A Historical Survey". 

Brian Preston's book "Me, Chi, and Bruce Lee". He came along to a seminar and interviewed me afterwards.

BICYCLE RACING ON TRACK AND ROAD (for those of you thinking 'get a life' after the long list of wushu stuff). My first real sport was actually bike road racing, when I was 15-16, then I quit to go into the martial arts. I still rode, of course, and got back into racing when I moved back to Victoria in the 90s.

1997

Set the Victoria woman's hour track cycling record. B.C. Masters Cycling Association season women's overall and age group champion. Obtained level one technical in the road/track cycling division of the National Coaching Certification Program. Volunteer organizer of the B.C. track cycling championships.

1998

B.C. Masters Cycling Association season women's age group champion. Technical director of the B.C. track cycling championships. Technical director of the Canadian national track cycling championships. Commissaire at the track cycling World Cup held in Victoria. Member of the Physical Culture racing team 1998 to 2000. Team went defunct, but I still have the cool kit.  Coached the Women on Wheels road and track racing clinics in Victoria, B.C 1998 to 2000.

1999

Raised the Victoria women's hour track cycling record. B.C. Masters Cycling Association Women's road and criterion champion. Completed course on Strength Training as part of BCRPA certification as a strength trainer. Obtained level two technical in the road/track cycling division of the National Coaching Certification Program. Technical director of the B.C. track cycling championships.

2000

Raced in the Mt. Tolmie road race and the Bastion Square criterion. Won the veteran woman category (only vet woman crazy enough to enter). Technical director of the B.C. track cycling championships. Apprenticed with a national track cycling coach. Didn't get to enough BCMCA races to get any season results, but was smoking at the track.

2001

Won Cowichan Lake road race and criterion. Survived and technically won the veteran women category Bastion Square Crit (only vet woman crazy enough to enter) and actually got a medal and prize this time! Won Cherry Point crit and road races. Destroyed the field at Monday night track grudge match 2000m pursuit (except for a few young guys who were faster than me). Won Cobble Hill time trial and Maple Bay road race. Second in the BCMCA provincial championship road race and time trial at Shawnigan Lake (women 45-49), second in the womens all round time trial (there is no all round for the road race). And then in the fall, rode the sweetest bike in Beijing – a bright red double suspended single speed Giant with V brakes!

2002 

The end of the bike racing years, living in the woods, and repairing my back and then my knee. Missed out the Victoria season, but made it back on time to organize the volunteers at the B.C. track championships again. 

2003

Spent the peak preparation and racing season on the bus in Beijing. My beautiful bike stayed in my friend's garage because I lived in the farthest away suburb possible. Once again, I made it back on time to organize the volunteers at the B.C. track championships. Had a great time riding my Lemond on the roads of the island all summer. Although I was pathetic, my elder brother was awarded Victoria Wheeler's 'volunteer of the year' trophy, and rightly deserved.

2004 - 2006

Winter on the trainer in the basement in the Laurentians. 2004 fall on my beautiful bike in Beijing, on which I won many impromtu races down Chang'An Blvd. Managed to make it back to Victoria just in time to organize the volunteers for the track Nationals yet again. 2005 and 2006 summers on the glorious roads of North Saanich. Able to help out at the Cops for Cancer crit in Oak Bay. Brought my sweet bike back from Beijing, which is great for the rails-to-trails riding in the woods.

2007 

Winter trainer in the basement in the Laurentians, but a great summer on the country roads around Quebec city. Getting back into cycling shape and putting in regular 70k rides. Lots of riding in North Saanich in the fall, and once again helping out at the velodrome and the Cops for Cancer crit. My cool blue shorts, unfortunately, are toast. Got a beautiful matte black triangular tubing aluminium frame Giant in Beijing, so once again paranoid about bike theft in Beijing.

2008 - 2010

Winter trainer in the basement in the Laurentians. In 2008 I was lent the sweetest (or only?) single speed Marinoni mountain bike in the country, so I can ride it when I go to Halifax. Life doesn't get much better than that. Lots of riding around the Quebec city area on my Lemond and got back almost to race weight. I need to stay a bit above race weight – a fine line to find to feel good in cycling lycra but still be able to push people around in bagua. In 2009 I turned 55, which means going to the easy gear on the hills, but I can still crank out the miles on the flats and rolling hills. The area around Quebec city is amazing, you just can't go out for less than 70k.

2011

Still riding my bike, but found a new toy for cross training – a kettle bell. Great fun for martial artists without harming our skills, as the drills use whole body power, balance, and connections. They are so close to the traditional stone locks that the old masters used that they are worth finding a lot more about. Was given two fabulous Spanish jerseys from friends, for whom I cat-sat when they visited Spain, so I am lookin' good on the road bike.