Massive congratulations to Glenn Chegwidden who after a year of hard training recently took silver in the Veterans section of the WKC held in Dublin
Glenn Chegwidden who took silver in the Veterans section
Sifu Derek Dawson with Glenn Chegwidden
Glenn Chegwidden on left
Congrats to everyone who took part in the recent Rumble competition and also travelled to Birmingham for the 2016 BKFA Nationals
Warrick - 3rd place Senior Black Sash Sets
Nathan - 2nd in Junior Sets and 3rd in Continuous sparring
Sean - 1st place under 18 years sparring and 2nd in senior sparring
Cillian (1st on left) - 3rd place Junior intermediate
Tyler - 3rd place Junior Novice
Members from the club took up their annual residency in Llandudno, Wales for the annual BKFA Summer Training course. Congrats again goes to Carly who was formally presented with her Blash Sash and Certificate by Grandmaster Yau
Grandmaster Yau returned to ireland for his annual training seminar. a number of students from Boyne Valley Martial Arts were in attendance.
Congrats also goes to Carly who successfully graded for her 8th Kup - 1st degree Black Sash
Monthly training sessions, reserved for Black Sash students have now begun. The sessions concentrate on advanced syllabus training as well as other training methods not usually engaged in during our normal weekly classes. Keep your eye on the calendar for future dates.
Grandmaster Yau returns for his annual weekend training seminar and black sash gradings on the weekend of 23/24 April. Anyone wishing to attend should let Derek know asap.
Kung Hai Fat Choi/Gong Xi Fa Cai
The Monkey (with a big 'M') is the ninth of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac. In China, the monkey is widely perceived as smart and powerful. People often offer sacrifices to monkeys to pray for rain and even for sons, and they have become an interesting part of Chinese culture. Chinese people love monkeys. Many Chinese try to give birth in a year of the Monkey, as they believe that this will make their babies clever. In China saying, "Your kid is like a Monkey," is perceived as praise.
In traditional Chinese mythology, the monkey god is almost all-pervading and all powerful. Images of the monkey (god) can be seen in many traditional settings as a talisman of protection. Monkeys frequently appeared in Chinese fiction, most famously "the Monkey King" — Sun Wukong, hero of classical novel Journey to the West. In the fable, Sun was a master of 72 methods of transformation, able to lift a 13,500-jin (6,750-kg) staff with ease, and able to travel 108,000 li (54,000 km) in one somersault. Sun, together with a Buddhist monk, a pig-man, and a celestial general, conquers evils and helps retrieve Buddhist sutras.
The BKFA 2016 Summer Course is fast approaching. With large numbers expected to travel once again accomodation needs to be booked well in advance. Anyone intending going should contact Derek asap.