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Seni 2003 - A Fighting Spectacle
The weekend of the 26th and 27th April saw the NEC Birmingham play
host to Europe's largest Martial Arts Exhibition - the Seni Combat
Sports Show. Rising Dragon Feng Shui attended along with the Nam
Yang Pugilistic Association and thousands of enthusiasts from
around the UK. Here we show some of our highlights of the weekend:
Nam Yang were the official Lion
and Dragon Dancers for Seni 2003 and provided a captivating
moment when they displayed their skills. Accompanied by a triumphant
chorus from the team's musicians, they performed both a Lion Dance
on the Lei Tai area and a Dragon Dance outside the building in what
was one of the highlights to the Saturday.
After the Lion Dance, the Nam Yang demonstration included empty
handed forms...
...washing the face with broken glass to demonstrate how Iron Shirt
Chi Gung prevents injury...
...and a self defence demonstration to illustrate that the traditional
forms and techniques taught at Nam Yang are still highly effective
and very relevant. The display by Nam Yang Pugilistic Association
attracted a large crowd and was very well received.
A welcome performance was made this year by Sifu Wan Kei Ho of Hong
Kong who was visiting as a guest of the Lau
Fat Mang World Eagle Claw Kung Fu Association.
Sifu Wan displayed a wide range of disciplines including Tai Chi,
Bagua, and Hsing-i. Bagua presents an interesting form as it involves
using the eight directions, just as Feng Shui does.
One of the things which might not be so apparent in the stillness
of a photograph is the ease of movement displayed by all the traditional
Kung Fu practitioners. The ability to move from soft and relaxed
to fast and explosive characterises many traditional forms.
Sifu Wan made an interesting Iron Shirt Chi Gung display by having
the tip of a sword lodged on his throat. When the sword was pressed
in so hard that it bent, Sifu Wan was still able to talk on the
microphone. This demonstrated that his windpipe was unimpaired.
A paving slab was placed on his back, which, while the sword remained
on his throat, was then forcibly broken.
Sifu Wan and Angela. The Chi Gung demos caused only a red mark to
appear on his throat - there weren't any cuts!
Another highlight to the show was an intense performance by the
Korean Special Forces who enacted some tight situations...
...leaving bodies flying in all directions! Everyone watching had
to admire the skill of these men as they really were going for one
another flat out.
Also in attendance was Sifu Yan Xin, the master at the UK's second
Shaolin Temple in Southampton.
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