The mayor and councilors attach great importance.
Congratulations on the opening of the third term of Chinese Tai Chi classes.
Mugwort leaves lush and green, paper kites dancing; the fragrance of rice dumplings wafts for miles, accompanied by wine and festive feasts.
On Monday, June 18, 2018, at exactly 1:00 PM, over a hundred descendants of Qu Yuan—whose lips still carried the lingering taste of zongzi—gathered from different parts of Melbourne, full of righteous spirit, lining up to sign in and enter the venue.
They came to attend the opening ceremony of the 2018 third term of the Chen-style Tai Chi 46-form Cloud-and-Water Tai Chi Fan Training Class, hosted by the East Wu Tai Chi Alliance of Australia.
Monash Mayor Mr. Paul Klisaris arrived 20 minutes early to offer his congratulations. He excitedly said:
“It is truly an honor to be invited to attend the opening ceremony of this Tai Chi public welfare training class, which represents the essence of Chinese culture and civilization. I have always been very interested in Chinese culture, especially in Eastern martial arts like Tai Chi, which I greatly admire. Tai Chi helps calm the mind and is immensely beneficial for boosting the immune system and promoting overall health. It is also very advantageous for maintaining stability and unity in our Monash community and for improving the physical well-being of our residents. I hope Chinese culture can continue to spread more widely and be even better promoted here.”
Former Mayor of Manningham, Ms. Anna Yang (Yang Qianhui), expressed her great joy at witnessing such a scene today, calling it an excellent way to pass on and promote Chinese culture—especially Tai Chi—to the world. She said:
“I was very moved by Teacher Wendy’s story of recovering from illness and her willingness to promote Tai Chi for the public good. I also have a family member battling cancer, so I deeply understand the importance of strengthening the body through exercise before illness strikes. The miraculous benefits of Tai Chi, one of the treasures of Chinese civilization, are increasingly being recognized and valued by people around the world.”
“The fact that the Mayor and councilors of Monash personally came to attend the opening ceremony shows just how much the local government values the Chinese cultural background and the promotion of fitness through Tai Chi. I’m truly grateful for that!” said Ms. Yang Qianhui.
“At the same time, I will actively participate in and help promote this activity, which is highly beneficial both to the country and to the people.” Ms. Yang also expressed her personal wish to make time to learn Tai Chi herself and hopes that more members of the public will join this health-enhancing practice.
Monash City Chinese Councillor Mr. Peng Cai said:
“I am truly grateful to be invited today to share in this precious moment of health through our Tai Chi cultural promotion event. I feel proud as a Chinese person—through the spread of Tai Chi culture, we are passing on the essence of Chinese heritage here in Australia. I am deeply moved and would like to once again express my heartfelt thanks to the Tai Chi teachers and students who are spreading such positive energy.”
Ji Jianmin, President of the Australian Wushu Association, Head of the Melbourne Huaxing Arts Troupe, and Executive President of the Hubei Association, specially came to the training class to present a $1,000 AUD red envelope as a reward to the new students performing at the thousand-person gathering.
He said:
“The fact that you’ve brought Tai Chi onto a grand stage of music and dance in front of thousands, and received unanimous praise, is something truly admirable. It is a great achievement that deserves high recognition from our Hubei Association.”
Du Liyuan, Artistic Director of the Australian International Arts Festival, Head of the Melbourne YaHui Dance Troupe, and former professional choreographer of a military performing arts troupe, said:
“I’m not great with words, but I’ve known Wendy for many years and have always admired her serious and down-to-earth approach to everything she does. I never expected that the Tai Chi fan performance she delivered with us at the Rowville Arts Centre would have such powerful artistic expression and win unanimous praise from the audience. It gave me a whole new understanding of Tai Chi.
If I have the time, I truly hope to learn Chinese Tai Chi from her. I’d also love to explore the possibility of collaborating with Wendy in the future to create a perfect fusion of Tai Chi and our dance art—so that more people can come to appreciate Tai Chi and help promote it together!”
He told the students:
“You are truly fortunate to have a teacher like Wendy—a world-class martial artist who has won five gold medals across all events in an international Wushu competition. As someone who has practiced martial arts since childhood and taught many students here in Australia, I know how difficult that is. In a world-level competition, winning one or two gold medals through skill and a bit of luck is possible—but to win gold in every single event entered, all at once, is unprecedented.
That’s why you should treasure this opportunity to learn authentic martial arts from such a well-rounded champion, especially when it’s offered as free public training. It’s something very rare.
Also, for people in their 60s and beyond, whether or not you practice martial arts makes a huge difference in your physical and mental state. The foundation of martial arts lies in martial virtue—respecting your teacher and valuing the path. Wendy herself is a living example: once critically ill, she gradually recovered as she pursued and practiced Tai Chi, with all her health indicators returning to normal. Her story powerfully demonstrates Tai Chi’s incredible effects in preventing illness, aiding recovery, and promoting overall well-being. It is truly worth spreading.”
Director Du’s vision made all the young ladies who love dance and Tai Chi beam with joy, clapping their hands and dancing with delight.
Attending the opening ceremony of the third training session of the East Wu Tai Chi Alliance of Australia were also:
Ms. Qi Ming, Director from Beijing Television Station
Mr. Sun Haofeng, General Manager of the Australian Sino Times Media Group
Ms. Dai Hong, President of the Monash Chinese Association
Mr. Sheng Daqing, President of the Whitehorse Chinese Association
Mr. Zhu Min’an, Vice Chairman of the Melbourne Chinese Arts Festival Organizing Committee
In the end, Mr. Ji, still full of enthusiasm, gave a lively demonstration of some impressive moves from the external martial arts style he had practiced since childhood.
The rich martial arts atmosphere and the relaxed display of forms and footwork created such an inviting environment that the guests and officials, usually reserved and preoccupied with busy official duties, were inspired to let loose. With great interest, they joined Mr. Ji Jianmin and the students in striking martial arts poses together.
In just three short months, the young yet powerfully positive East Wu Tai Chi Alliance of Australia has taken a remarkable and commendable giant step at the starting point of preserving traditional culture and promoting Chinese martial arts—Tai Chi—to the world.
Though still in its early stages, the alliance resonates with the people and stays grounded in the community. Backed by thousands of years of rich and profound Chinese civilization, and rooted in Australian soil with the mission of sharing health and passing on the heritage of Tai Chi, it shows great promise and potential—like bamboo shoots breaking through the earth, unstoppable in their growth.
Currently, the first, second, and third terms are already underway. Meanwhile, students for the fourth term (intensive training), fifth term (weekend classes), and sixth term (city center classes) are eagerly waiting, frequently inquiring about when they can begin their journey.
What is truly encouraging is that the mission of preserving traditional culture and promoting Tai Chi has now developed into a widespread, collaborative effort. Support is pouring in from all directions:
Enthusiastic students with strong English skills are actively helping the alliance with outreach and promotion.
Tai Chi instructors from across Melbourne are bringing their students to join and learn together.
Established organizations like the Australian Wushu Association, with over a decade of history, and the renowned Huaxing Arts Troupe are also lending their support.
Community groups from other ethnic backgrounds, local governments, and even charitable investment foundations have all stepped forward—offering free venues, requesting to send people for training, and inviting the Tai Chi Alliance to dispatch senior instructors to promote health and wellness.
With favorable timing, strong community backing, and widespread recognition, this movement is riding the wave of a growing global trend. It is embraced by the people and empowered by unity—an unstoppable force!
What is truly worth celebrating is this: among the students, those with prior Tai Chi experience clearly show a significant difference in physical fitness, mental state, and overall health. As a result, the idea of “better to learn Tai Chi early than end up in the hospital later” is gaining increasing acceptance. More and more people are taking action.
Just yesterday, at the opening of the third term, two students with a foundation in Tai Chi were so eager to further their training that they set out early in the morning from remote suburban areas. After several transfers on public transport and traveling across half of Melbourne, they finally arrived at the training center—spending nearly half a day just to attend class. This level of dedication and commitment to Tai Chi is, in fact, a reflection of their deep respect for their own health.
Heaven rewards diligence. The effort you put in will always be proportional to the results you reap.
Making friends through martial arts, Chinese Tai Chi has brought tremendous cohesion to overseas Chinese communities. In the second term, 79-year-old Tai Chi instructor Wang Ling joined the training with her students. In the third term, the highly respected Master Baiyun, despite being unwell herself, specifically instructed that her Western students—who had studied Qigong with her for over a decade—be sent to join the Alliance’s program.
Ms. Yuan Fang, former English teacher and now director of the Jiali Arts Center, upon learning about the third term’s launch and the desire to seek local government support, immediately took action. She searched online and reached out in all directions to help the Alliance invite special guests. In fact, half of the prominent guests at the third term’s opening ceremony were invited and introduced through her connections and tireless promotion.
Teacher Wendy has a tradition: at the start of every new class, she always shares the story of the legendary Chinese physician Bian Que, who was renowned for treating illnesses before they occurred. She emphasizes that students should not wait until they are sick to seek help from doctors, but instead, learn to become their own health guardians while they are still well. Her strong focus on preventing illness is not without reason.
In every term of her classes so far, more than half of the students suffer from chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, and sleep disorders. Some even have implanted heart defibrillators or are cancer survivors. For this reason, whenever she launches a new term in a different region, she not only purchases accident insurance but also brings along a volunteer emergency care team made up of licensed cardiovascular specialists and registered oncology nurses from Australian hospitals. She also wears a name badge so students can quickly find her or the medical team in case of emergency.
Mr. Ji Jianmin, President of the Australian Wushu Association and Head of the Huaxing Arts Troupe, places the interests of the nation above all. Although he himself specializes in external martial arts, he has wholeheartedly supported the East Wu Tai Chi students, recommending them to perform on the grand stage of a thousand-person gathering to showcase the graceful elegance of Chinese Tai Chi. He even personally brought a $1,000 AUD red envelope from the Hubei Association as a gift for the opening ceremony of East Wu’s third term.
Behind the scenes, there are also many unsung heroes—people who selflessly connect, introduce, and support the mission of preserving and promoting Chinese cultural heritage, without seeking fame or personal gain. These touching stories of collective effort—of “the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, each using their own powers”—continue to unfold each day in Melbourne. They take place right here at the East Wu Tai Chi Alliance, a budding initiative still in its infancy, finding its voice and taking its first steps in the noble journey of cultural transmission.
As a profound embodiment of traditional Chinese culture, the promotion and inheritance of Chinese martial arts—specifically Tai Chi—reached a milestone this Dragon Boat Festival, when East Wu Tai Chi Alliance was invited to perform on stage at a grand event in Melbourne attended by thousands. The performance was even featured in a special news segment on the CCTV Overseas Chinese Channel on the evening of the festival.
This marked the third time Tai Chi has taken to such a prominent stage, and it is expected to spark a new wave of enthusiasm across Melbourne—a growing trend of loving Tai Chi, learning Tai Chi, and sharing health and wellness.
Currently, in preparation for the 4th International Tai Chi Online Video Competition, themed “The Most Beautiful Tai Chi People” – Group Category, East Wu Tai Chi Alliance is actively recruiting participants and welcomes anyone interested to join and compete.
The Fourth Term of the Cloud-and-Water Tai Chi Fan Intensive Training Class has already begun.
Training period: June 20, 2017 – July 13, 2018 (4 weeks)
Class schedule:
Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays: 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Weekend class: Sundays, 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
(Beginners, working professionals, and non-Chinese participants are especially welcome!)
Location: 139 George St, Doncaster (Ruffey Lake Park)
Registration:
Call 0408 184 781 or add WeChat ID 18016412298 for free registration.