The TCUGB wishes to encourage as many members as possible to attend the 8th TCFE European Championships in St Petersburg from October 28=30. There will be competition at all levels including Seniors and Juniors in both forms and Tui Shou. Travel and hotel expenses will be paid. Those interested please contact Dan Docherty

More information on the official site: 8th TCFE Chinese Internal Martial Arts Championships – The Championship

ASCAM Study: Understanding the use of complementary and alternative (CAM) therapies in people with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

ASCAM Survey for CAM practitioners

Research has found that people with AS feel they have to fight for a diagnosis and to be believed about their symptoms. For this reason, they may be accessing CAM as a way to help them to manage their symptoms. In line with this, it has been found that approximately 40% of people with AS used one or more form of CAM before receiving their diagnosis. We are aware that Tai Chi is a popular CAM therapy among the individuals with AS we have spoken to.

If you should require any further information, please read below, visit our webpage https://ascambath.wordpress.com/ .

I’ve been running the British Open Tai Chi Championships for almost 30 years. Things still go wrong. Well-meaning judges do things which are totally unacceptable.
It has come to my attention that at the latest British Open at least one competitor was awarded a score, but when the event’s results were handed in by the judges, the score had been changed twice. There was no suggestion of underhand behaviour, but this type of thing is unacceptable. No score should be awarded to any competitor until all 3 judges are ready.
Generally speaking, the first competitor in any forms event sets the standard against which other competitors are judged. I find it quite in order for judges to consult before awarding a score, although the rules of some competitions forbid this.
In some competitions where the difference in the score awarded by any of the judges exceeds a certain amount, there has to be a mandatory discussion amongst the judges to resolve the discrepancy. This discussion must be over before the competitor is awarded any score.
Prejudice and a lack of common sense can also lead to wrong or poor decision making by the judges. I was one of the founding members of the Taijiquan & Qigong Federation for Europe [TCFE] which runs a European Championships in Chinese Internal Martial Arts every 2 years.
The first TCFE Championships was in Utrecht in 2000. Prior to that, I attended a small competition in Scandinavia. In the spear form event, one competitor dropped his weapon and yet, mainly because he was an amiable and popular fellow, he was awarded first place. Totally unacceptable.
Another competitor began his sabre form facing the judges and ended it with his back to them. He was also awarded a medal. Totally unacceptable.
Immediately after the event I contacted the Dutch organisers of the TCFE European Championships and I told them we had to have an Appeals Committee and a Technical Committee. Only by invoking the statutes and forcing an Extraordinary General Meeting could I persuade the Dutch to have an Appeals Committee and a Technical Committee. We had appeals. We had technical matters to deal with [the infamous Old Yang style question]. Even then, one of the French competitors threatened me with physical violence.
In another TCFE competition we had one male Scandinavian judge who noticeably marked up the better looking female competitors. We had to put him to work to judge male entrants only. I’ve seen female judges do the same with male competitors.
At another TCFE event, a judge from North Britain awarded a good looking blonde lady competitor 9.2, which is close to master level. Her instructor, who is one of my senior students, was furious and asked me to speak to the competitor and the judge. Said judge [with no experience of competing or training students to compete] was arrogant enough to try to justify himself. Unbelievable.
Another TCFE Championships and the problem of 3 ladies. One was blonde and beautiful. One was a subtle oriental. One was less alluring, but far more proficient at the form she was doing. All male judges . There was quite rightly a successful appeal on technical grounds.

Mainly competition judges are not grandmasters, they are willing and unpaid enthusiasts. The work they do is invaluable. I just ask them to consider some of the points I’ve made.
In return as a promoter, I’ll endeavour to better prepare those who judge at my events in future. As we say in Glasgow, ‘Quis custodiet ipsos custodes’.

The TCUGB Executive Committee hereby invites  applications from suitably experienced persons for the job of Magazine Editor. Interested parties should send a CV to the Secretary Peter Ballam, by June 20th, 2016.

Peter Ballam
5 Corunna Drive
Horsham
West Sussex
RH13 5HG
email Secretary

One of our members has advised us that they have been approached by a man claiming to be a freelance production researcher for Channel 4 and that the TCUGB had given him contact details for members.

The exchange between our member and this individual became unpleasant

Bearing in mind the misleading introduction and the unpleasant behaviour of this individual we recommend that you treat any approach you may receive with caution.”

Dan Docherty has sent in the flyer for this event.

1. Dates: 28-29-30 October 2016 in Saint-Petersburg, Russia.
2. Place: for competitions – Zimniy Stadion (same as2004)

TCFE Flyer docx

TCFE Flyer pdf

It is my sad duty to tell you that Ronnie Robinson died on the morning of March 11, 2016. I knew him well and worked with him for more than 30 years. He made a significant contribution to the Tai Chi and Chinese Internal Arts nationally and internationally during those years. Our sympathy goes out to all his family, friends and students, especially to his cherished son, Paul Robinson. Ronnie will be much missed.

Ronnie’s Chronicles will be published in issue 50 of the Tai Chi Union magazine as will the TCUGB Executive Committee Report which was unanimous.

Requiescat in Pace

Dan Docherty
Chairman Tai Chi Union for Great Britain
President Taijiquan & Qigong Federation for Europe

Tributes from Ronni’s colleagues , friends, international contacts and students appeared in  Tai  Chi Union Magazine issue 50 you can read them here Ronnie.

There is news of Ronnie Robinson’s Funeral on TAI CHI CALEDONIA

Ronnie’s Friends are remembering him on his Facebook page.

You can also add a message here.

Union instructor Terence  Barnes sent this news:

On the 1st November at 10 am At the University of Ulster at Jordonstown Belfast, in association with the Confucius Institute, the Irish Wushu Duan Wei Grading Centre in cooperation with the Chinese Wushu Association of China ran the Duan Wei grading for 1-3 Duan.

Bodyhealth TA CHI students gained 3 x 2nd Duan and 3 x 1st Duan grades.
pictured below are the students with two of the examiners.
4 of the students are also TCUGB instructors.

Saturday, November 14th , 2015, the annual STN Festival and the Open Dutch Competition will be held at the Olympos Sportcentrum, Uppsalalaan 3, Utrecht.

More Details: Festival intro – Stichting Taijiquan Nederland

Irish Wushu Association (IWA) Chinese Wushu Association (CWA) Presents:
Chinese Duanwei System for Wushu Practitioners

In December 2014, the Irish Wushu Association (IWA) became the official administrator for the Chinese Duanwei Grading System in Ireland (North and South). A technical committee was recruited from members of the IWA to establish and organise a series of Annual Duanwei Grading events in Ireland; the first of these events is planned to take place on 30th October 2015 in Belfast.

See the event listing for more details.