THE FIRST ANNUAL XMAS ROUND-UP

... Sorry about the naff background, I'm on a tight budget here...

I thought up the zany idea of putting up an Annual Xmas Update to recap over what the club (That is, YOU) has done over one year of your life. In my time as captain, which hasn't been long or fun at all (Only joking... It seems to have gone on for years... ;) ) the club's seen a lot of things not least of which was yesterday's Red Cross Event. So here's a chance to recap the year's events, to leave something for future generations of martial artists and to start something a little worthwhile for a change.

My only hope is that the next commitee will have better chances than this one did. Myself, Sion, Jim and Heather haven't had it easy with the A.U., with trying to find out where our budget's been going and trying to arrange socials for people who are seemingly incapable of having fun (Miserable bastards ;) ) but we've laid down a few stepping stones for next year's commitee who in turn will lay down a few stepping stones for the following year's commitee and so on. This is the way Martial Arts, especially Kung Fu, have been goin for over 1000 years. We're happy to be a link in the chain.

So let's look back over the updates and see exactly what's happened in less than 52 weeks...:

Well, the big thing to anyone reading this would be the Site being made, otherwise you wouldn't be reading this and we'd be in a wierd and cold paradoxical place. The site itself was really only set up to help people get a better understanding of the club, how it's run, where the style's from, what it's used for, why anyone in their right mind would do it and so on and so forth. What it is ACTUALLY used for is to put up pictures of physical wrecks and for me to be able to rant and complain about things, a lot like grandad's photo album really. But I'd hope that following Captains would maintain the site and continue to preach and rant and put up pictures.
The amount of help I've had in researching the various aspects of the style is incredible and I believe those concerned need a mention:
Dr David Morraine - For all the physiological understanding
Sebumnin Headen Headen-James (Tae Kwon Do) - For being a Martial Scientist, Artist and Master before his time
Adam Skinner - For helping me understand myself as a brother and a friend
James 'Funky Jimbo' Farey - For being totally zealous when it comes to preserving the art
Sion 'Sonic' O'Connor - For never straying from the path despite hardship
Sihing Paul - For the basics I'd never have learned otherwise
Sihing James Roach - For being the wisest, hardest 24 (Going on 90) yr old in the world and for never losing the art or the magic in his search for the science
And of course...:
Sifu Jeong Fie Tjia - For being the most caring father a teacher can be
Sifu Steven Ornellas - For everything

Next up is the amount of shows the school has engaged in. St George's Hall was represented by the Hung Kune Friendship Association, we've performed for the queen, we've aided charity with about 6 and a half grand. Not bad for a three-part school that trains in a basement, a disused church and a university hall (Sometimes) The fact is, though, that over Chinese New Year (1st Feb. Year of the Goat) there'll be plenty more shows (33, I think) and it is VERY important for EVERYONE to be there on the actual day to show the Triads what we're made of. The school, after all, has never been as big as it is now and this Chinese New Year may well be the biggest yet. As you learn more about the art and become better at understanding the forms and, through them, yourselves, you'll be asked to perform in shows and even dance in Lions and Dragons. Then you'll be dragged around to various parts of the country in Sifu's 'A-Team' van (Sucka) and you'll realise how big the martial world really is.

Fresher's Fair!!! Fair, my arse... Now, I'll let you all know this. I hated getting ready for Fresher's Fair. By God, it was a nightmare. The commitee and Seel St. got together to put on a LIon dance and Kung Fu performance to aid the University Club, Seel St.'s club and Roachy's Fight Choreography Society and recruit new members into each. Now, this was an utter travesty. Not as bad as arranging the Charity Show (Most of the Guild seems to hate Charity) but still a bit of a bind. But it went down ok and we recruited a lot of people (You might know them, they're you.) And, I'll be honest, you are the best bunch of martial artists I've ever seen. You've stuck at it despite hardship and you're learning a lot about the art and the science and I know for a fact that you're making Sifu proud. So pat yourselves on the back and get ready for more intense training after Crimbo.

So, rest well over Xmas, enjoy your time with your family and friends. Have fun. And thanks for a great year, you've made it all worthwhile for me.

James McNeil.