Last year the first Gateway CMA Championship was a success. To encourage martial art enthusiasts to practice and exchange ideas with masters and fellow practitioners, Grandmaster Ray Hildreth of Tulsa, Oklahoma, is teaming up with ICMAC and Missouri Chinese martial art instructors to host the second tournament on Saturday April 6 at the North County Recreation Center.
This tournament will be offering hundreds of divisions for all skill levels and age groups in the following categories:
- Traditional Kung Fu
- Tai Chi (Taiji) and other Internal Styles
- Open Divisions: Chinese Kenpo, Kajukenpo, Won Hop Kuen Do, Lima Lama etc.
- Continuous Sparring
- Push Hands
- Sanda
ICMAC is a nation-wide organization that has a long history running prestigious regional and national competitions. Grandmaster Hildreth stated to encourage participation, he has negotiated a lower rate with ICMAC for this tournament but still maintain the integrity of the ICMAC’s standard. Group rates are also available but you need to contact him via 918-664-8202 or sifuray@sbcglobal.net.
In addition to competition, there will be free master demonstration and fee-based workshops. As of now, Shaolin Master Xing Xue of St. Louis will teach “Shaolin Kungfu and Qiong”, Sifu Vince Carella of St. Louis will teach “How to Release Energy in Tai Chi Pushing”, Chen Style Tai Chi Master Huixian Chen of Kansas City will teach “Chen Tai Chi Ji Ben Gong or fundamentals”, and Master Greg Butler of Columbia will teach “Mantis Chin Na Seminar”.
Sifu Chen is a 20th Generation Chen Family descendent and Inheritor. She will be reviewing the fundamentals of Chen style Tai Chi. This will include figure-eight weight-shifting with Dan Tien rotation, Silk Reeling and Spiral Energy exercises, and Zhuan Zhang or Standing Post training. Master Chen will work with participants to maintain the correct “Shen Fa” or “Body Mechanics” required of Chen Tai Chi. She will also help you understand how to find and keep “Peng Energy” in your postures and movements.
Sifu Xing Xue is one of the 32nd-generation of Shaolin Warrior Monks. He will be presenting a seminar on Shaolin Kung Fu & Qi Gong, one of the treasures of Chinese martial arts.
Sifu Greg Butler is the 4th generation master of Praying Mantis - Long Fist and is the only American to teach this system. He will teach the three forces of Northern Mantis: the long force, the short force & the borrowed force. Incorporating these principles will give practitioner an effective advantage over any body type in a self-defense situation.
Sifu Vince Carella has studied Tai Chi Quan since 1974. According to Vince, if you want to release energy in a push, your body has to move in an energy releasing fashion. Fortunately, our bodies are constructed like a slingshot. In his workshop, he will teach how to make our body work like a slingshot.
Sifu Herb Parran of St. Louis is very excited about this coming tournament for a few reasons. First of all, tournaments always help practitioners set goal in their learning. Tournament participants can learn from judges, masters and other contestants. And since this Championship is part of ICMAC, winners will have the opportunity to advance to the ICMAC annual national competition. Sifu Parran is grateful that Sifu Ray hosts this prestigious championship and put St. Louis on the national map for Chinese martial art competitions.
For more tournament info and registration, visit http://www.kungfuchampionship.com/stlouis/.
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