Master Zhao Wei Dong

Master Zhao Wei Dong was born in Yangchuan County, Shanxi Province, China.

He started training in Xingyiquan at the age of 8 with his grandfather Zhao Xu and later with Master Gao Qi Sheng.

Master Gao strongly emphasised the internal aspects of traditional Xingyi and he quickly accepted Zhao Wei Dong as his disciple and 5th generation in the lineage.

In the late 1980s, Master Zhao decided to broaden his knowledge of the internal arts by travelling to the Wudang Mountains. It was there that he met Master Fu Zhong Wen ( Yang family lineage ). He was impressed by Master Fu's internal skill in Taijiquan and became his student and later his close friend and peer.

In 1990, Master Zhao met master Sun Xi Ming ( close friend of the legendary Wu Bin ) from Shandong with whom he studied a wide range of both internal and external boxing.

He trained in Tongbeiquan, Tanglangquan, Chaquan, Changquan, Nanquan plus Sun, Wu, Woo and Chen Style Taijiquan.

He also studied Hebei Xingyiquan with Master He Fu Sheng.

Master Zhao with students in Penang

Finally, in 1995, after 5 years at Wudang Mountains, famous Taoist master Tong Xu took Master Zhao as his disciple.

As 14th generation lineage holder in Xuan Wu ( martial aspects ) and 26th generation in Long Men ( internal aspects such as meditation, herbs, acupuncture, massage etc ) Master Zhao also undertook an in-depth study of Sanfeng Taijiquan ( the earliest form of Taiji, rarely taught correctly outside of Wudang Mountains ).

Since leaving Wudang Shan, Master Zhao has taught all over China. He is currently based in Zhuhai where he teaches both local and foreign students.

Master Zhao's abiding philosophy is to further the knowledge of martial arts and to help improve the health and quality of life of those around him.

" Master Zhao is an extraordinary Martial Artist. His demeanour embodies the true spirit of the internal arts. He's always smiling ( even when explaining how to use his awesome internal power ). He's patient and freely shares knowledge.

As a long time student of Taijiquan, my journey found a home after only 5 minutes in this man's presence". - John.

Click on the link below to see Master Zhao perform a section of the beautiful Zhang Sanfeng or press the 'play' button at the bottom left of the video screen to watch a section of Chen Style tai chi.

zhao wei dong

Penang slideshow

A slice of life in beautiful Penang.

Photos by Veronica Greer and Shirley Milkins.

Master Gao Jian - Double Handed Sword

On Sunday the 11th of October we had the pleasure of being invited to the Double Handed Praying Mantis Sword introductory class held by Master Gao Jian in Doncaster.

There were approximately 12 students in attendance and we were treated to a very enjoyable hour and a half.

Master Gao began by discussing the nature of the Double Handed Sword. This sword is considerably heavier and more powerful than the usual tai chi jian ( sword ). The practitioner requires more power, endurance, skill and flexibility than for normal sword play. In ancient China only elite martial artists would flourish such a weapon.

Master Gao Jian then went on to detail the lineage of the Double Handed Praying Mantis Sword. Beginning with Liang Xue Xang and branching out to Chen Yun Tao who was Master Gao's Master's Master. This aspect is important and highlights the authenticity of Master Gao Jian's teaching.

Then it was our turn. Master Gao took us through the first few moves. It was different from any form I've attempted before. I nearly amputated a class-mate's leg and almost got stabbed in the back by an attractive young lady ( Hmm, that seems vaguely familiar ) but it was a lot of fun.

To conclude the class Master Gao Jian treated us to a demonstration of the whole form. It was simply mesmerising and left everyone feeling both excited and in awe.

Veronica and I have attended three previous courses with Jian. We completed the Wu Style 45 competition form, a pushing hands course and the Wu Style Sabre. In each case we really enjoyed the style of teaching and Gao Jian's amazing depth of tai chi knowledge. Jian doesn't promote himself like a tai chi businessman. He's too humble and he's too real. Check him out if you want the real deal.

Master Gao Jian

Gao Jian's Introduction to the Double Handed Sword

Last days in Penang 2009

Dajia Hao,

Hullo to all our family and friends.

Let's jump in the deep end.

I have always believed in the theory of evolution but it has to be a free kick for goal, into the wind, for the Creationists when you consider that people living here don't have heads shaped like umbrellas.

Hang on .. our Indonesian maid has just thrown her full support behind Charles Darwin and reminded me that it never usually rains like this.

Rare sighting of a wild albino Proboscus Monkey at Titi Kerawang

We drove to Titi Kerawang waterfall for a swim.

The Big Tit, as I call it, is usually dried to a trickle but now it's a raging torrent.

The serene rock-pool we've bathed in over the years now resembles a giant washing machine. I jumped in and clung to a jungle vine as the river literally exploded all around me.

Yes, it's the Wet Season.

When it rains for more than 3 days in a row the locals call it the wet season.

When it rains for 3 weeks in a row... it's just crap.

Lotus Bud is losing her tan and her sense of humour.

Having the use of a car this year has enabled us to get out more in the rain.

We do miss the freedom of the bike but motor cyclists in Penang are known as TMCs ( Temporary Malaysian Citizens ) for good reason.

Stats:

Road deaths per annum ( 2007 ) in Malaysia - 6,282 ( can you believe that ? ), 3,963 were motor cyclists or pillion riders.

It's Ramadan now and the Moslems have to fast.

I think some of the young Malays have completely misinterpreted the word's of Allah and thought he meant for them to drive fast. We have witnessed incredible acts of stupidity on the roads that utterly defy logic and will almost certainly grant them an early entre to paradise. Penang has a lot of ambulances.

On friday night we attended a benefit dinner for the Little Penang Street Market. This is a concept created by several of our friends to promote Penang Heritage and local trades.

The dinner was a formal affair held in the Grand Ballroom of the G-Hotel on Gurney Drive. It's affectionately known as the G-Spot and I must confess to having some trouble finding it.

The evening's highlight was a world fusion band from KL called AkashA.

Great band, worth the Google search.

Our days here are full, despite the ubiquitous rain.

So many friends, festivals, parties, markets, the incredible city of George Town, amazing food, vibrant culture, etc etc .... oh and Durian.

It breaks our hearts every year to leave.

We have less than a week left. If it wasn't for our wonderful family and friends ( and my beautiful little dog Ska, who turned 15 last month ) we would probably stay here.

The fact is, Melbourne is a great place to call home and we are learning to appreciate it more each year.

Appu, Manjula & Pooja at our apartment

We are looking forward to seeing everyone at Tobin's Tai Chi Academy next Wednesday.

On the 18th of October we get to catch up with the great group of people we had the pleasure of travelling through China with last year.

I so want to finish this email by writing "Go Lions!" ...... but I won't. Too many injuries I believe.

Love to all - John and Veronica.

Letter from Penang

Dajia Hao,

Hullo to all, hope everyone is well.

Good luck to all those involved with the WTPA Festival. Our thoughts are with you.

Only 2 weeks left of our annual pilgrimage and we're starting to panic.

I can't imagine leaving here despite the persistent rain.

The weekend after we returned from Borneo was a lot of fun.

A group of us spent time cooking up some local curries at the Spice Garden followed by a website building seminar.

The next day we took a boat to Monkey Beach and then trekked up to the lighthouse at Muka Head. After exploring the lighthouse with its spectacular views over the north-west corner of Penang island, we continued on by boat to Pantai Kerachut to view the turtle breeding sanctuary and meromictic lake ( first person to email back with even the foggiest idea of what that is will win free accommodation in Penang for two weeks next year - serious ).

Nazlina, Johanna & Johan

at the turtle hatchery

Trekking in the Malaysian jungle is a wonderful experience. But, if confronted by a tiger it is important to stand perfectly still and sing.

The Malaysian National Anthem works best. If the tiger still wants to attack then try the Singaporean or Thai National Anthems. It may be an over-the-border tiger.

Generally they don't like eating people. Of course, if they're really hungry and there's nothing else to eat, the familiar 'Macca's effect' comes in to play. We start looking like a cheeseburger with fries.

Over the weekend we met a really nice Texan who writes articles and takes wildlife pics for ecology magazines and websites.

He married a Malay girl and they've lived in KL for the past 20 years. He converted to Islam as a matter of course and was asked to select a Moslem name. He chose Razlee Dazlee much to the chagrin of his adopted family.

Enjoyed a funny night out with Jamal ( a Malay friend ) and his wife.

His latest saying is "never late than better". His tales about Arab tourists are priceless. Ramadan has just started so the Arabs have gone back to the desert.

Everybody here is breathing a sigh of relief.

It's holiday time. Appu and a couple of drivers who work with him, their wives, a tribe of kids, Lotus Bud and I, all crammed in a bus and headed for the Genting Highlands.

If you enjoy smoke filled casinos, lots of expensive franchised fast food outlets and soulless Malaysian versions of crass American culture, then the Genting Highlands could be just the place for you.

On the upside, it is cooler if you need a break from the tropical heat and there are some fun rides in the Theme Park for kids of all ages.

Genting is where the Malaysians come en masse to play. It's like a religious pilgrimage. Like doing Haj. They come from every Kampong on the peninsula at least once in their lives.

During a two night stay we didn't spy a single western face.

We stayed in room 929, one of 11,000 rooms that make up the largest hotel on the planet. The whole place looks like the departure lounge of an airport. There is not a single vacant room. Why?

The Malaysian mind is essentially unfathomable.

They're all wearing masks to guard against the media-hyped up H1N1 virus but they are happy to share food and drink bottles, leave stagnant water to attract dengue, smoke themselves stupid into burgeoning cancer wards and never use

soap to wash their hands. I love them but they are a people who have massively embraced 21st century technology only minutes after evolving from jellyfish.

Issues such as caring for the environment, racial equality, women's rights, health and safety have not even blipped on the radar yet.

We are going to Thailand tomorrow for a couple of days for some trekking.

I have to go and learn the Thai National Anthem.

Love to all.

John and Veronica.

Letter from Kuching

Dajia Hao,

Our best wishes to everyone.

After 2 weeks in Penang, Lotus Bud and I decided we needed a holiday.
The local Chinese doctor strongly advised that I convalesce somewhere far away from Durian. Six nights in Borneo should do the trick.

Durian stall at Balik Pulau

I needed a small backpack, so, while driving around the Kampongs of Balik Pulau looking for 'Red Prawn' Durian ( I would inject that stuff ), we found a cheap bag shop. I bought a really cheap pack - I thought, if it lasts the 6 nights in Borneo it will owe me nothing.

Next day we left our apartment, said goodbye to our neighbour, ' Bama ' ( I call her the President ), picked up my pack and it literally fell to pieces.

We had a harrowing drive to the airport racing with the clock, found a park and then ran to the Check-in Counter like contestants on the Amazing Race.
"Sorry Sir, your flight departure has been delayed by one hour".

While Veronica sat sipping her Cafe Latte at Coffee Bean, I sewed my bag back together.
We passed through Airport security like the Invisible Man and his imaginary wife. The dude on the x-ray machine was so engrossed in telling a pretty wanita about the great nasi lemak he had that morning that he didn't notice us, our bags or the 2 litres of nitro-glycerine we smuggled through in our water bottles.
Welcome to Malaysia.
This is a very laconic country.
When we arrived here from Australia over a month ago, I found the padlock was missing from my suitcase when I took it off the carousel.
Not wanting to be the next Shappelle Corby, I immediately notified the nearest Security Guard. He just waved me on. I persisted.
"My padlock is gone, anything could have been planted in my case."
He looked at me like I was beginning to cause him grief. He eventually motioned toward the Lost Property counter and suggested I go and report the theft of my padlock.

So we are back in Borneo after 7 years.
What a wonderful city Kuching is. The Sarawak River snakes through the city with the Old Chinatown on one bank and the majestic Mosque and Palace of the White Rajahs on the other. An evening spent down at the waterfront sipping rice wine and eating fine Malay food is almost perfect.

We're staying at an Iban operated hotel. 70 years ago the Iban were still Headhunters but nowadays they prefer to take our money and let us go.

Manager of the Iban Hotel

asking a guest to leave.

We shared breakfast with a group of loud Americans. One guy was telling everyone about a recent trip to Kazakstan where he saw a family drive by with a cow in the car. He said he didn't know how they got it in there with all the kids but it was the funniest thing he'd ever seen.

No trip to Borneo is complete without staying at a Longhouse.
We chose a Bidayuh village called Annah Rais, up in the mountains near the Kalamantan ( Indonesian ) border.
On the drive there from Kuching we passed a shop with two signs out the front. One said 'Pet Rabbit For Sale' and the other said 'Fresh Rabbit Meat'.

The Longhouse has almost 200 doors. An entire community effectively living under one continuous stretch of roofing with a bamboo verandah connecting the houses.

After settling in, we opted for a 3 hour jungle walk from the Longhouse to a beautiful three tier waterfall. The walk was hot and sweaty but very spectacular. At one point we walked within metres of a slash and burn area. The sound of the exploding bamboo and raging flames was quite frightening. We couldn't help but get a small sense of how
overwhelming the horror of Victoria's bushfires must have been for many.

At the waterfall we ate rice and chicken cooked in bamboo before swimming in a rock pool at the base of the falls.

Our fellow travellers were 4 Singaporeans and a Japanese girl we named YoYo because she couldn't stand still.

Our night at the Longhouse included a cultural show that made tai chi look like a Bullfight.
Our MC, fat Mr. Edward, introduced each performance with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth and a beer in his hand. Each dance was performed by his Grandmother dressed in feathers and fighting to stay alive. Twice she fell asleep in the middle of a 'dance' and fat Mr. Edward had to come out and give her a prod.
The 'guests' were required to join in the last dance. We waved our hands from side to side as we took turns in holding Granny up. We swayed to the rhythm as the Bidayuh warriors sat around in their AC/DC and Slipknot T-shirts, texting their mates on their iphones.

Back in Kuching, we caught a local bus out to Semingoh Orangutan Sanctuary. It's worth coming to Borneo if for no other reason than to spend time with these awesome creatures.

Spent a night at Bako in a wooden hut.

Close to Kuching and accessible only by boat, this National Park is arguably the best wildlife experience short of an African safari.

At Bako, the ubiquitous and strangely proportioned Proboscus Monkeys look uncannily like me - according to several of my Malaysian ex-friends.

We arrived back in Penang at midnight last night. Our holiday is over and, perhaps mercifully, so too the Durian season.

Malaysia is a culinary heaven.
This year we have a great kitchen in our apartment and Veronica has cooked up some smart local curries. The best part has been exploring our favourite markets for fresh vegetables and buying different spices in Little India.
On the other hand, China ( if you're not on an organised tour ), can be a culinary nightmare. It can be so bad that even McDonalds seems like a good option.
We got chatting to a Chinese guy lately who told us he loved visiting Australia but he couldn't find anything to eat. He added - "Thank God for McDonalds".

Love to all.

Many thanks to those of you who have sent emails. We really enjoy hearing from you.

All the best - John and Veronica.

Letter from Malaysia

Dajia hao ( Hullo everyone ),

As Gao Jian pointed out, I mistakenly called you all my Big Sisters ( Dajie hao ) last email. A nice twist on the Chinglish we enjoy so much in China.
Recent classics include : Please don't presd down on the pretly grass ; Mashroom ( toilet ) ; no vocifercation ; uproaring and shouting would also disturb the publicity and influence hotel guests to rest ; adultery and showing reaction is not joyful .

We hope that you are all well. Veronica and I had an amazing time in China - again.
For 9 days we travelled around Hainan without hearing much English. Finding food ( that a wai guo ren can eat ) is often difficult but always creates a laugh.

Hainan Dao is a large island ( about half the size of Tasmania ) off the south coast of China. We travelled to 3 main locations on the island.

Haikou, in the north, is the capital and one of the most frenetic cities we've been to. The old town and back street markets are a photographer's heaven.

Wuzhishan is an ethnic minority region up in Hainan's hilly interior.

Sanya, in the south, is to Russia what Bali is to Australia. A spectacular beach area full of cafes, bars and a McDonalds. Most of the street vendors and cafe owners tried talking to us in Russian. They speak some Russian but no English. I would answer them in Chinese with my best Russian accent. On one occasion I nearly got to sell Veronica for a vintage 20 year old bottle of Vodka. The deal fell through when I tried to down play her incontinence.

We enjoyed balmy tropical weather most of the time despite the occasional heavy shower of rain. On one such occasion we took shelter in a pet grooming saloon ( the new China ). The place was full of pampered pooches and gay guys with scissors.
I tried explaining to this miserable little poodle dressed in a frilly dress and pink toenails that this had to be better than being number 43 with black bean sauce but it seemed to fall on deaf ears. Just then a peddle cab pulled up and a man holding a confused cat got out in the torrential rain. We seized the moment, jumped into the now vacant cab
and went searching for a coffee.

We are now back in Malaysia and rapidly putting on weight.
After a night in KL we took a bus to Ipoh and languised for two nights in the once majestic Railway Hotel. Unfortunately the lunatics have taken over the asylum. The grand old lady is now riddled with arthritis. Paint peeling, carpet full of mildew, the Malay signs look like graffiti. We concluded that it must be time for Britain to invade Malaya again.

From Ipoh to Appu

The weekend after we arived in Penang was the first anniversary of George Town being awarded UNESCO World Heritage listing. All over town the Chinese, Malay and Indian communities held various festivities. I won't go into detail but the explosion of sights, sounds, smells, tastes and sheer excitement was mind blowing. What a place. Is there
anywhere else on the planet quite like Penang? This is now our 13th continuous year of coming here and the love affair has never waivered.

We have a car too. Hitherto referred to as The Yellow Peril. Picked it up from our friend Appu last night. After being run over by a dog last year we decided to turn potential disaster into a speed hump.

'Ring' 'Ring' - " Appu, a white man has stolen your car ".

Funny thing; we ride 2,000 km every year on a motorbike and Veronica sits as quiet as a mouse on the back. Now we have a car and she's a nervous wreck.

Over dinner Appu recited the tale of his two trips to England. As usual, we laughed to the point of almost losing another sensational Penang meal.
In his teens ( he's now 35 ) Appu could speak no English. He was driving for a tour company and was entrusted with transfering an English couple from Penang to KL. Despite the language problems they soon fell under his spell, as nearly everyone does. He has an uncanny knack of knowing what people need. If you feel thirsty his car will miraculously find a roadside stall and you're soon sipping fresh coconut juice.

Appu drove them to KL and left them at the Marriot. Two hours into his return trip to Penang he happened to glance in the rear view mirror and spy a lady's handbag on the back seat. It was full of money, cards, 2 passports and various valuables. He immediately turned around and drove back to KL.

At 2 am he found them pacing the foyer of the Marriot Hotel completely distraught and unable to trace the driver. They couldn't believe it when he walked in with the handbag. The guy pulled all the money out of the handbag and thrust it at Appu. They were so pleased to get back their documents and money was no object. Naturally Appu refused the cash but the couple pretty much adopted him then and there.

To cut a long story short, they paid for him to come to England, taught him English and still visit him every year in Penang. When ever the English couple come to Malaysia they pay for Appu to travel everywhere with them.

Appu says, " The guy comes here, hires a car and then he drives. His wife likes to sit in the front to see the view, so I sit in the back. Now I am the boss. "

Better go, this keyboard has all the letters worn off so I keep making mystakes. You literally have to tread on the spacebar to make it work.

Hope everyone is well. Love to all.

John and Veronica.