I find myself fortunate to be a member of the White Crane Tai Chi Martial Arts Club. To be able to practice and to learn the patterns (Suang Yang and Jian, The Chinese Straight Sword). It is an excellent way to keep fit and focused on living your life. I am sure there are many [...]

Chinese Calligraphy or ‘Shufa’ (the way/law/of writing) is a highly revered form of both art and discipline originating in China, then slowly expanding throughout the Sinosphere to include Japanese, Vietnamese and Korean calligraphy. The oldest form of script would be Chuan Shu 1900BC during the Qin Dynasty, which was used mainly for ceremonial purposes. In [...]

On my many visits to China, one thing I always notice is their park culture. The parks are popular meeting places & host a whole range of activities you never see in the west. If you take a stroll through any of China’s parks first thing in the morning, even on the coldest winter’s day, [...]

The crane is a very special bird. Our whole system is an embodiment of this creature whose movements have provided inspiration for a whole series of fighting techniques that are designed to swiftly take out an opponent. But what of the actual bird itself? The mythology and the symbolism of cranes have been found in [...]

The Chinese people really know how to celebrate their New Year. For several weeks in February, there are events and Chinese Lion Dances, all in order to welcome in a brand new year and a particular animal that is used to represent it. The year 2010 brings forth the Tiger – the third animal in [...]