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THE WORLD CHIN WOO FEDERATION
Article published by
Hong Kong Chin Woo
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 sportand
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.
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**** 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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