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HONG KONG CHIN WOOMAIN • WARRIOR • CHIN WOO Chin Woo THE WORLD CHIN WOO FEDERATION The World Chin Woo Federation is an association of all Chin Woo Associations in the World. It is not a governing body for Wushu; it is a not-for-profit making organization trying to promote Martial Arts as a sport and practice non-discrimination of different schools of Martial Arts. Therefore, membership is open to independent not-for-profit making organization registered under the name Chin Woo with a local government. It is usefully to have one Chin Woo association in one city or one region to run Martial Art classes and for social gathering of local artists. There is no application requirement except notify us when you have established such organization, and we can notify the International Liaison Office in Shanghai. Some Chin Woo associations do follow a fix curriculum of teaching 10 basic routines before learning other arts, but this rule was not reinforced in any sense. There is an agreement between the associations to host the International Chin Woo Tournament once every two years. This year is in Guangzhou, and the championships involve the 10 basic routines and the 7 International Wushu routines. Since all associations are independent, there are also mutual assistance, visits and exchanges taking place between associations. Furthermore, Chin Woo is an open house to martial artists. Please feel fee if you need further assistance. The following article was written by the late Mr Ji-fu Huang, Secretary to the European Chin Woo Society and Chairman of the British Chin Woo Athletic Association: The Distinction between:- Chin Woo (Athletic) Association and "Chin Woo Men", "Chin Woo Guan", and "Chin Woo Hui Gaun" Chin Woo (Athletic) Association was founded in 1909 in Shanghai, China, its leading pioneer being the famous Master Huo Yuan Jai. Before 1949, its full name was Shanghai Central Chin Woo Athletic Association (Zhong Guo Shanghai Zhong Yang Chin Woo Ti Yu Hui). 1921 saw the spread of the Chin Woo spirit to the southeast Asian Cities/Countries of Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Penang (for male and female), Ipoh, Kamper, Sungei Siput, Telok Anson, Sitiawan, Taiping, penang (for male and female), Negri Sembilan, Malacca, Muar; Indonesia: Surabarya, Jakarta and Pelambang. Although there was not a Headquarters for Chin Woo, the Wu Shu masters at the affiliates were from the Shanghai Central Chin Woo (Athletic) Association, the latter was, in reality recognized as the Headquarters. In China, similar martial arts associations in city like Guangzhou, Fushan, Wuhan and Wuzhou also recognized and respected the teachers and the teaching methods of the Shanghai Chin Woo (Athletic) Association. In teaching martial art association (Wu Shu), the Chin Woo (Athletic) Association is unique as it promotes Nondiscrimination of different schools of martial arts; even before the founding of the Nanjing Central Martial Arts Academy twenty years later. Ten basic martial arts systems (quans) are set as the syllabus for students, the famous Tan Tui being one of them. An impostor can be easily identified if he does not know the basic system. After 1949, the Chin Woo (Athletic) Association gradually lost its popularity in China due to the country's internal situations. The affiliated Chin Woo (Athletic) Associations in Southeast Asia, however, flourish, bring forward a second generation of locally trained martial arts masters with skills comparable to their Shanghai counterparts,] The materials arts movies: Fist to Fury ( Chin Woo Men) that brought Bruce Lee to martial arts lovers in Europe and USA to think that there was a school of Chinese martial arts called "Chin Woo Men", "Chin Woo Men" is often confused with the Chin Woo (Athletic) Association. The golden name of "Chin Woo" as a result, was often misused by individual martial arts " factions", much contrary to the initial principle of non-discrimination. Ironically, even now Chinese martial arts masters held at Tianjin City as the translator for the British Martial Arts Team. One of British team members won the gold metal for the Ba Gua Zhang section. As his teacher, I had the honor of being interviewed alongside the goldmetallist. When the reporter was told that I was members of Chin Woo (Athletic) Association, he exclaim, " Ah! So you are the followers of Chin Woo Men". And not suprisingly the next day's papers all addressed us as "pupils if Chin Woo Men". The media's publicity was much appreciated. But at that time in Tainjin, I inevitably felt a itch of disappointment at the lack of any sort of commemoration at the very birth place (Tianjin City, Jin Hai District, Town of Xiao Nan He) of Huo Yuan Jai, the founding pioneer of the Chin Woo (Athletic) Association. (from the editor: Taijin Chin Woo (Athletic) Association was officially established in 1990). Since 1986, I have been active in the Chinese Wu Shu Activities. For the majority of my visits to China, be it for business or for personal purposes, I usually come into contact with a lot of the ex-Nanjing Central Martial Arts Invitation held by the Shanghai Chin Woo (Athletic) Association that I finally met some old Chin Woo (Athletic) Association masters. Since 1990, I keep noticing advertisements of a "Chin Woo Guan" in some Martial Arts magazines. I informed the Shanghai Chin Woo Headquarters about the matter and warned of the possible confusion and complications arising from that. No actions, however, have been taken so far. In 1992, I took 30 French Taijiquan students to the Great Wall in Beijing. At the arena just before the entrance, there was a team if martial arts performers. They had a yellow flag with "ChinWoo Guan" written on it. As our team have the "Chin Woo (Athletic) Association " badge on their collars. The on-lookers all gave us the uspicious eye: not to mention the hostile look from the performers, as a silent protest at us as "impostors"! As a martial arts lover, apart from learning and practising the skills, one will also be a martial arts "book worm". "Zhong Hau Wu Shu", "Wu Hun" are all popular Wu Shu magazines. This summer, I passed by Singapore en route from Shanghai back to the UK, and as usual, visited the local Chin Woo (Athletic) Association. My prime reason was to see old friends, and also to practice my skills a bit. This time, the first question thrown at me was whether I had been to the Tiajin Chin Woo (Athletic) Association. The answer was of course. It was the Fifth Anniversary of the British Chin Woo (Athletic) and the founding celebration of the European Chin Woo Society When The Tiajin Chin Woo (Athletic) Association sent four representative to attend the celebration. There, certainly would be no reason for me not returning the favor the flavor by visiting the Tianjin Chin Woo (Athletic) Association. The second question was whether I had visited the "Jin Hai Chin Woo Hui Guan". My reaction was " What Hui Guan?". I was at Jing Hai District, Xiao Nan He Town to pay respect to founding master of the Chin Woo (Athletic) Association, Huo Yuan Jai. I confess I noticed no " Hui Gaun" of the sort. The question was brought up, as I discovered later, due to an unexpected report on page 38 in the 4th edition of the "Zhong Hua Wu Shu" magazine published on July 15, 1993, announcing the establishment of a "Chin Woo Hui Guan." in Tianjin City, Jing Hai District, Zhong Wang Town, financed by people of the Li Zhuang Zi Village \. Although this "Chin Woo Hui Guan{ is in Tianjin, The Tianjin Chin Woo ( Athletic) Association was Apparently not aware of the former existence, nor do affiliated Chin Woo (Athletic) Association in Shanghai, Fushan and Guangzhou. It is not appropriate to make any comments before all the facts are known, but in my opinion, it looks like that this "Chin Woo Hui Guan" and the long established Chin Woo (Athletic) Assocaition are two completely separate entities. As the Chairman of the British Chin Woo (Athletic) Association and Secretary of the European Chin Woo Society I have the responsibility to clarify the matter to avoid any confusion among our affiliated Chin Woo (Athletic) Associations and our members. China has its own trademark regulations concerning names for organizations, quite different form practices of other countries. We, as overseas Chin Woo (Athletic) Associations, have no power to interfere with the internal affairs of China. The name "Chin Woo" seems to have attracted considerable attention for the unscrupulous who used it to generate profits. I hope members of the Chin Woo (Athletic) Associations will not act recklessly before the situation had been made clear. I would like to bring to the attention of all Chin Woo members, especially the European Chin Woo Society members, that Chin Woo (Athletic) Associations is an international recognized, non profit-making organization aimed at promoting Wu Shu. It should not be confused with "Chin Woo Men", Chin Woo Guan" or "Chin Woo Hui Guan". October 1993 |
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