Australia Martial Arts Festival 2025 Ignites Melbourne
A spectacular visual feast featuring elderly people in their eighties and young children across generations on the same stage.
At exactly 12:00 noon on 27 November 2025, the sound of ten Jingdong war drums thundered through Melbourne’s Springvale Town Hall as the host declared the opening of the Australian Wushu Festival. With that resounding moment, the AWCC Aozhou Taiji 2025 Australian Wushu Festival officially commenced, igniting cultural passion across the Southern Hemisphere with the strength and spirit of Chinese martial arts.
(Photo: Group picture of all performers and guests at the end of the event.)
The festival was co-hosted by AWCC Wushu & Taiji founder Wendy Jiang and Alliance President Fang Yuan, two leading figures dedicated to promoting Chinese martial arts. Their professionalism and presence seamlessly guided the entire event
AWCC Chair Wendy Jiang expressed her gratitude to Victoria’s Department of Multicultural Affairs and both mayors for their recognition of, and strong support for, Chinese Wushu and Tai Chi.
Eden Foster, Victoria’s Special Representative for Multicultural Affairs and MP for Mulgrave, delivered a warm message praising the Australian Wushu Culture Centre and partner groups for promoting Kung Fu, Tai Chi, and Chinese culture. She highlighted the strong contributions of Victoria’s Chinese community and reaffirmed the government’s support for a diverse and harmonious society, thanking Master Wendy and all volunteers for their efforts.
Dandenong Mayor Sophie Tan welcomed guests to the 2025 Australian Wushu Festival, noting that the event highlights the cultural and community spirit behind martial arts. She emphasized that Tai Chi and Kung Fu embody universal values of discipline, harmony, and respect, and thanked the Australian Oriental Martial Arts Tai Chi Association for its dedication to preserving and sharing these traditions.
Federal MP Gabriel Ng congratulations AOMA on the 2025 Wushu Festival, praising its achievements since 2018 in building an inclusive community of nearly 4,000 members and promoting health, discipline, and cultural appreciation. Through international collaborations, AOMA has made Kung Fu and Tai Chi more accessible to the Menzies community.
Master Chong Jing, Vice President of Wudangshan Longmen Martial Arts Academy, praised AWCC’s eight-year dedication to promoting Chinese martial arts in Melbourne. He highlighted their new children’s classes as a meaningful way to benefit the next generation, emphasizing the importance of teaching resilience and strength through Kung Fu to nurture young learners.
On stage, 90-year-old Wang Ling and 10-year-old Yu Tian showcased the health and vitality of Chinese martial arts across generations. Wang Ling said: “Joining the Australian Eastern Tai Chi Alliance has given me eight years of connection with Chen-style Tai Chi. Practicing alongside people of all ages brings warmth and companionship, making my later years full and joyful.”
Ten-year-old Yu Tian, a new AWCC student, shared his experience: “Before learning Kung Fu, I used to get sick whenever the seasons changed. Since starting training this year, everything has changed. I feel stronger, more balanced, and full of energy, and even my long-standing hay fever has improved. Although I’m still a beginner, Kung Fu has already made a big difference in my life.”
Victoria’s Special Representative for Multicultural Affairs, Eden Foster, presented awards at the event: Lucy Luo received the “Dedicated Martial Arts Instructor” certificate and trophy, while young Liang Liang, who distributed hundreds of event flyers in a single day, was honored with the “Rising Star of Martial Arts Promotion” certificate and trophy.
Dandenong Mayor Sophie Tan presented 90-year-old Wang Ling with the “AWCC Martial Arts Centenarian” certificate, while Manningham Mayor Jim Grivas awarded 10-year-old Yu Tian the “Young Martial Arts Commander” certificate and trophy, honoring their outstanding contributions to promoting martial arts across generations.
The two mayors and Victoria’s Special Representative for Multicultural Affairs presented gold, silver, and bronze medals and certificates to the top three winners of the 2025 Young Kung Fu Champions, and posed for a group photo with all six young martial arts achievers.
Manningham Mayor personally awarded gold, silver, and bronze medals and certificates to the top three parent–child teams. With strong support from LINGACE Chinese School, Sherry Zhao presented custom backpacks and gift bags—favorites among the children—adding extra excitement to the 11 parent–child performances.
Mayors, representatives, and guests presented awards to young athletes from five school districts, including certificates for Most Popular Performers (1st–3rd place), team gold, silver, bronze medals, and Excellence Participation Awards. The young martial artists fully enjoyed their moment in the spotlight, their faces glowing with pride and joy.
Manningham Mayor Cr Jim Grivas took a group photo with all AWCC performers. In the team competition award photos, the joy and pride of children and seniors alike, celebrating their first achievements, were clearly visible.
The Taiji medley brought together performers across generations, from seniors in their 80s to young children, showcasing the essence of Chinese martial arts.
Guests were pleasantly surprised to see a 90-year-old and a 5-year-old perform together on the same stage for the first time.
Mayors and the Multicultural Affairs representative were amazed by the packed venue, with even aisles full. The festival promoted Chinese martial arts and helped children build courage and confidence through friendly competitions across five schools.
Kew Campus：performed the Wudang Basic First Form. Despite being beginners, their synchronized formation was impressive, with teens and 5–6-year-olds sharing the stage harmoniously to bring the Chinese martial arts dream to life.
The first to perform, Berwick Campus, showcased the Wulong Sanda Combination. Their skilled and mature display earned enthusiastic applause from the audience.
Burwood East Campus： Wudang Basic Second Form won 3rd place for Most Popular Performance.
Doncaster Campus： Wudang Basic Fourth Form impressed with the largest group performing the longest routine. With parent support in voting, they won 2nd place for Most Popular Performance.
Glen Waverley Campus ：Wudang Basic Third Form featured advanced techniques and a VIP-heavy group. Audience recognition for their skill earned them 1st place for Most Popular Performance in the group competition.
Every honor in life is hard-earned. The group competition’s Most Popular Award was determined entirely by audience participation and votes, with no input from judges or school officials.
Image 1. Cheerleaders, here we go!
Image 2. Grandpa White Hair, can I have your vote?
Image 3. I absolutely must cast my sacred vote for Little Liangliang, to support this four-and-a-half-year-old little warrior!
A unique martial arts challenge ignited everyone’s excitement as adults and kids went head-to-head.
With full energy and fun, both groups showed their skills and wowed the crowd.
KO Challenge: adults hold a split for 5s, kids horse stance for 20s—pass = ￥20 credit, longest = ￥50 reward.
Horse Stance: 20 seconds? Too easy for us kung fu kids—I held firm while checking how the adults were doing.
Splits: Pass was 5 seconds, but three adults hit a full minute without giving up!
In the end, some adults beat the kids at first but still tapped out, while the kids looked ready to hold on for days!
The kids’ team finally claimed a sweeping victory!Respect to the brave and skilled adults who dared to challenge our little warriors.Let’s get a group photo of all scholarship winners from the Fun Martial Arts Challenge!If we can beat the adults today, we’ll be unstoppable in the future!Haha—every little warrior who passed instantly earned a 20 RMB scholarship!
What kind of growth can you witness in less than a year?
In Melbourne, these young Chinese-Australian students—training just once a week for under six months—answered with sweat, passion, and remarkable progress.
Young hearts should carry lofty ambitions; the spirit of martial arts shines across the world.In Melbourne,Chinese-Australian youth uphold the pure of martial arts, writing a new chapter of cultural inheritance.
Their dedication shows that the flame of Chinese culture is carried by each new generation—spreading to every corner of the world and shining brightly across the globe.
From a superficial understanding of martial arts culture to a profound practice of the fist-and-palm salute and martial ethics, in just a few dozen hours of training, they not only achieved significant technical breakthroughs but also understood the cultural heritage and national spirit behind Chinese martial arts.
Kung Fu Nezha combines ancient Chinese poetry and Chinese Kung Fu, learning both literature and martial arts. Chinese martial arts are the cultural root of the Chinese people and a spiritual treasure that has traversed thousands of years. These overseas Chinese teenagers, although far from their homeland, have touched the warmth of their national culture in every move of martial arts.
Embracing a sincere yearning for Chinese martial arts, they write a passionate chapter of "A young man is strong on his own" with their young but firm figures on the martial arts field in a foreign land.
Perhaps they still carry the innocence of children, but they have already engraved the martial spirit of "striving for self-improvement and carrying virtue with generosity" into their bones. From the initial clumsy imitation of each move to the smooth and coherent performance.
Every punch they throw is a tribute to tradition; every stance, a commitment to their roots. This cross-border passion allows the soul of Chinese martial arts to take root in Melbourne. The strength of youth leads to the flourishing of culture. These young martial artists prove that cultural inheritance knows no age, and the power of love transcends all boundaries.
In the future, it is believed that more overseas youths will join the ranks of inheriting fitness and martial arts, allowing the strength and elegance of Chinese martial arts to become a cultural bond connecting the world
Officials and citizens alike practice Baduanjin! AWCC's Eastern Tai Chi freezes a touching moment of cultural fitness: Melbourne's most accessible scene, with two mayors, a Multicultural Affairs Commissioner, and over four hundred citizens gathering not for food and drink, but to practice Baduanjin together.
On and off stage, echoing each other, the charm of fitness Qigong Baduanjin shines brightly. Leading the entire audience on stage is the Western team from the Glen Waverley Thursday basic class. Let's give them a big thumbs up for their active contribution to promoting Chinese Tai Chi!
Thanks to the dedication of the Australian Wellness & Cultural Centre (AWCC), traditional Chinese fitness culture has become a beautiful scene in Melbourne, the world’s most livable city. This boundless practice not only demonstrates the approachable warmth of officials and citizens working together, but also allows Chinese culture to bloom with a unique and magical charm in a foreign land.
The highlight: 11 parent-child families competing! Mother-son, mother-daughter, and sibling pairs showcased impressive martial arts. Mixed-race twins and same-day-born children added unique flair. Winners: Eason Li (mother-son, broadsword), 余添添 / Vivienne (same-day-born twins), and the Li Chunyi family of four. The crowd went wild!
Manningham's Mayor personally awarded gold, silver, and bronze medals and certificates of honor to the parent-child group champions. LINGACE Chinese School provided strong support, and Ms. Sherry Zhao brought customized backpacks and gift bags that the children loved, adding a bright spot to the performances of all 11 parent-child families.
Many parents said that while accompanying their children to learn martial arts, they didn't expect to become fascinated by the beneficial fitness Tai Chi themselves.
Mother and daughter: Lucy Liu, 18 years old; & Flora.
Mother and son: Eason Li, 8 years old; Mother:Yanzi.
Mother and son:餘添添10 years old; Mother:Cathy
Family of four: Siblings Andrew and Yanni & Parents Walter and Eden.
Brother and sister: Daniel Wang, 9 years old / Hannah Wang, 7 years old.
Brother and sister:Jayden Li 7 years old / Elaine Li, 5years old.
Jin Hui and her two daughters:, Older sister: Jolene Ma, 8 years old, Younger sister: Chloe Jin, 6 years old.
Brother and sister:Noah Li 10 years old / Nora Li, 7 years old.
Brother and sister:Jayden Han 8 years old / Olivia Han, 6 years old.
Mixed-race twins: Zhao Ziyan (Huanhuan), 6 years old, Zhao Zihan (Lele), 6 years old. It is especially worth mentioning that the Mayor of our Doncaster campus martial arts class cast his sacred vote for these adorable mixed-race twins!
Adhering to the concept of “multiculturalism, showcasing diverse styles,” this martial arts festival featured outstanding performances by five talented Chinese teams. Each group’s performance combined superior quality with unique charm, with synchronized movements and eye-catching highlights, adding a rich and colorful touch to this cultural feast, showcasing the charm of multicultural integration.
Three guests presented certificates of honor to the following units for their outstanding performances in the martial arts festival: Box Hill Tai Chi Team, Federal Song and Dance Troupe, Jiayi Art Troupe, J 錦 Han Dance Academy, and Knox High Age Welfare Association.
“Douli Show: The Call of the Wind” is a performance by the Jiayi Art Troupe.
“Tai Chi 13 Dynamics – Knox Chinese Elderly Citizens Club.”
“The Beauty of China – Melbourne Federal Song and Dance Troupe.”
“Eight Methods and Five Steps – Box Hill Tai Chi Team”.
“Dynamic Dance Rhythm – Australian Jin Han Dance Academy.”
“Master Song Jing, Vice President of the Dragon Gate Kung Fu Academy of Wudang Mountain, China, displayed a fierce sword style and breathtaking acrobatic martial arts movements that left the audience stunned!”
"Master Zhang Lei led students from the AWCC adult Tai Chi private class in a demonstration of Wudang Taihe Quan, also known as Yin Yang Fist."
“Chen Style Taijiquan National Exam Level 1 Solo Practice -AWCC Tai Chi Saturday Doncaster Basic Class.”
“Because the martial arts festival was on a Thursday, many students from the Saturday class took time off work to participate in the demonstration. Although they are new to Tai Chi, they practiced diligently and meticulously.”
“Martial Dance – Wisdom and Blessings, AWCC Adult Tai Chi Private Class. The mothers, while accompanying their children in martial arts, also gained health and joy themselves.”
“AWCC Tai Chi adults showcased dazzling swordsmanship, powerful fists, and graceful Tai Chi fan dance.”
“This year’s Martial Arts Festival was highly authoritative, directly supported by the Victorian Multicultural Department. Mayors from Manningham and Dandenong offered congratulatory remarks. The Australian Eastern Wu Tai Chi Federation (AWCC) joined forces with the Chinese Wudang Mountain Dragon Gate Kung Fu Academy, Shaolin Temple International Martial Arts Academy, and DW Tai Chi Research Institute. Australian News specially sent reporter Sha Ou for full coverage. Mainstream Chinese and Australian media, including the World Tai Chi Web, China Tai Chi Web, and Taijiquan Federation, fully participated and supported the event, further expanding the influence of Chinese martial arts culture.”
