7 Reasons Why Your Child Should Learn Wushu

By: Kingston & Timothy

1. Strengthen Body

Wushu provides a full-body workout which helps to improve your child’s overall fitness. The gradual process of stretching enhances your child’s flexibility while the physical exercises allow your child to gain more strength and better stamina.

2. Improve Coordination

Wushu involves a wide range of body movements which require the head, hands and legs to coordinate at the same time. Training for such complex movements improves your child’s coordination ability, which can be applied to other sports and activities.

3. Learn Self-Defence

Derived from the traditional Chinese martial arts, Wushu is a system of defence and attack. Regardless of the style or form, there is a purpose behind the movements which your child can apply and use for self-defence.

4. Develop Character

Wushu is not all about actions but it also advocates martial morality. Values such as respect, patience, perseverance, humility and integrity are emphasised during trainings to develop your child’s character which are applicable to everyday life.

5. Enhance Confidence

As a beginner, Wushu may seem difficult. With constant practice, it builds your child’s physical ability and mental strength to overcome challenges. This enhances your child’s confidence in knowing that anything can be achieved with determination and perseverance.

6. Appreciate the Chinese Culture

Wushu is more than just a sport. It is regarded as a representative of the Chinese culture. Your child will not only appreciate the different Wushu styles as a form of art, but also understand how the traditional heritage has influenced the lives of people across generations.

7. Build Relationships

Being a widely practiced sport, your child will not only get to interact with students from around the country but also foster relationships with fellow Wushu practitioners and enthusiasts across the world from all walks of life!

Want to let your child learn Wushu?

Click here to sign up for our one-time trial class at S$12.00 ONLY! (U.P. S$36.00)

“My NDP Experience.”

By: Jennie Toh Yannie 2016 is a very special year as the National Day Parade (NDP) was held in the National Stadium for the first time in 10 years! The National Stadium provided a bigger stage for participants and opportunities for more Singaporeans to catch NDP “live” as the seating capacity was doubled compared to the Marina Floating Platform and the Padang! 14054767_10154002057184209_1574204151_n As a participant, I am really glad to be part of this year’s NDP. Even though I have participated in past NDPs before, I must say my involvement this year was extremely challenging. It was tough managing and coordinating the 6-metre long bamboo poles that it got really frustrating sometimes. However, as a team, we motivated one another to overcome the obstacles together, enriching our journey, contributing to a much more rewarding and memorable experience. 14012207_10154002055884209_1725003824_n Commitment is the most important element to deliver a quality performance. For months, participants have sacrificed their precious weekends to attend practices and rehearsals for the act. Friends often asked why we chose to take part in NDP and what we got in return. The answer, memories. 13934580_10153826881607934_5025091898127130047_n Memories of having having fun together, memories of times we step out of our comfort zone to make new friends, memories of delivering a successful performance together, memories of standing on stage, united as one to feel the Singapore spirit! 13880142_10153979897489209_3051047458522414162_n Through this NDP, I got to meet people from all walks of lives, to forge new friendships, something I appreciate most from the entire journey. I even had the chance to appear on national television for an interview! 13932763_10154000620099209_2503575542772059708_n How often do we get to wear such fanciful costumes to perform for millions? How often do we get the opportunities to be part of the nation’s largest celebration? I truly enjoyed my NDP experience and I am already looking forward to be part of NDP again in 2017! 14030905_10154002058574209_1934951816_n

The Wushu Landscape in Singapore

mmexport1391101030286 Previously, we discussed about how Wushu has evolved into a modern sport we see today. In this post, we will shift our focus to Singapore to understand the local Wushu scene. The Singapore Wushu Dragon & Lion Dance Federation (SWDLDF) is the governing body for Wushu in Singapore. Along with the International Wushu Federation (IWUF) and other organisations, SWDLDF seeks to develop and promote Wushu within and beyond the country. 11146621_993741013999980_3234837361458832287_n In Singapore, the more prominent events to advocate Wushu are competitions. Each year, there are numerous competitions organised at the national and international levels. NTU IVP 2013 (2) Here are some of the well-known national competitions: 1. National Primary Schools Wushu Championship – an annual Wushu competition organised by the Singapore Primary Schools Sports Council (SPSSC) for students who are in primary schools under the Ministry of Education (MOE). IMG_3241 2. National School Games Wushu Championships – an annual Wushu competition organised by the Singapore Schools Sports Council (SSSC) for students who are in secondary schools and junior colleges under the Ministry of Education (MOE). IMG_1728 3. National Wushu Championships – a Wushu competition organised by the SWDLDF for Wushu practitioners from affiliated clubs of the SWDLDF, organisations under the People’s Association and schools under the Ministry of Education (MOE). National Wushu Competition 2008 (50) 4. Institute-Varsity-Polytechnic (IVP) Wushu Games* – a Wushu competition which primarily focus on Traditional Wushu for students from the local Institutes of Technical Education, Polytechnics and Universities. *The name of the competition varies with the hosting institution each year. IVP 2013 Through these local Wushu competitions, the SWDLDF may invite selected outstanding athletes to attend selection trials to enter the National Youth Team and/or National Team. IMG_4415 Besides competitions, organisations and associations also organise various events and activities to promote Wushu, including: a. Chingay Parade 2015 – organised by the People’s Association, brought together 1,000 Wushu practitioners across Singapore to deliver a magnificent contingent display. It was one of the few events in Singapore’s history where different Wushu associations and schools unite together for a massive performance. Chingay (2) b. Mass Taiji Display – organised by the SWDLDF, gathered 3,818 participants to perform the 13-Style Taijiquan routine together in unison at Yio Chu Kang Stadium. The event also set a new Singapore record for having the largest number of people doing Taiji together in 2014. mmexport1393764186353 c. National Wushu Display – a biennale event organised by the SWDLDF where top-notch performers across the world come together to deliver world class martial arts performances at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. The last edition of this event was held in 2012. 1916227_220594355928_6577565_n There is no doubt that the Wushu scene in Singapore is indeed vibrant and the popularity of the sport keeps increasing! So what are you waiting for? Be a part of the Wushu Singapore movement today!

The Evolution of Wushu – What You Need to Know

11181973_904064972984245_1548545286_o Very often, I receive feedback from students and parents about them being confused over the different types and classifications of Wushu. Hence, in this post, I shall attempt to provide an overview of the history of Wushu in a concise manner as much as possible. So, here we go!

Wushu, otherwise known as the Chinese martial arts, is widely practised by many around the world. From a system of defence and attack, Wushu has since evolved into a form of philosophy and eventually, progressed to become a modern sport.

Today, Wushu can be classified into 2 major categories, namely:
1. “Taolu” – routine made up of a series of choreographed movements.
2. “Sanda” – duel involving combative techniques of the Chinese martial arts.

The “Taolu” category is further classified into 2 sub-categories of “Traditional” and “Contemporary”.

During the ancient days, the need for hunting, self-defence and military attributed to the birth of Traditional Wushu. Some people imitated movements of animals or subjects to develop combative techniques while others created systems of defence and attack based on philosophies and principles, contributing to the wide variety of styles in Traditional Wushu we see today.

Besides the fist routines such as the Eagle Claw, Drunken Fist, Fanzi Quan and Baiji Quan, Traditional Wushu also includes the different weapon routines such as the Long Tassel Sword, Double Broadsword, Pu Dao and Nine Section Whip.

However, for Wushu to be recognised as a competitive sport and to be included into major sporting events such as the Olympics Games, standardisation of routines, rules and regulations were required. As such, this led to the formulation of Contemporary Wushu which narrowed the diverse styles into 3 main branches of Changquan, Nanquan and Taijiquan.

The routines of Contemporary Wushu can also be sub-divided into 2 levels, namely:
1. “Compulsory” – fixed and regulated.
2. “Freestyle” – choreographed according to a fixed set of rules and guidelines.

Other than the individual fist and weapon routines which are commonly seen in competitions such as the Asian Games and the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, Freestyle routines also include duel and group events.

With the rapid evolution and rise in popularity of Contemporary Wushu, it is often argued that the original value of Wushu is loss as athletes today tend to place more emphasis on perfecting acrobatic movements and jumps to earn high scores in competitions rather than mastering the practical applications of Wushu.

Today, this argument has remained as one of the most debatable controversial topics in the world of Wushu.
Frequently Asked Questions @ Martial House
Q1. What style and classification of Wushu does Martial House teaches?
The Martial House Wushu training curriculum focuses “Taolu”, inclusive of both Traditional and Contemporary Wushu.
Q2. What type of Traditional Wushu does Martial House teaches?
Being an affiliate, Martial House adopts the Traditional Wushu syllabus from De Wu Pugilistic Association which expose students to a wide variety of styles including Gong Li Quan, Lian Bu Quan, Cha Quan and Baji Quan.
Q3. Should I learn Traditional or Contemporary Wushu?
This depends on your training objectives. For Wushu enthusiasts who are keen to understand the practical applications  of Wushu, Traditional Wushu may be your preferred choice. For aspiring athletes who aim to practise Wushu as a competitive sport, Contemporary Wushu may suit you better.
Q4. If I learn Traditional Wushu, can I also go for competitions?
Yes. There are competitions which include Traditional Wushu routines as well.

Action-Packed CNY Week with the Martial House Stars!

57c395474677e50752de508259d2822a It was another action-packed week as Martial House welcomes the Year of the Monkey! The Martial House Stars were involved in a series of performances and events to celebrate the Chinese New Year (CNY). 1. Wushu Performances @ Clementi Mall (30 & 31 January 2016) FullSizeRender-6 After impressing the shoppers at Clementi Mall the previous week, the Martial House Stars were back once again for more action! The performers were: 30 January 2016 a. Yap Wei Ren b. Chua Xin Qi c. Melissa Mak d. Toh Xiang Hao e. Eugene Yeo IMG_0498 31 January 2016 a. Ho Lin Ying b. Yap Wei Ren c. Ng Shinn d. Ng Yu Ninn e. Eugene Yeo FullSizeRender-7 Photo Credits: Gina Koh 2. Wushu Performances @ Square 2 (31 January & 5 February 2016) FullSizeRender-9 The Martial House Stars were back at Square 2 once again to showcase some of their dynamic moves and actions! The Stars included: 31 January 2016 a. Neville Cheong b. Nigel Cheong c. Chua Xin Qi d. Adrian Tan e. Ng Geng Jui f. Travier Wong g. Melvin Tan h. Vanessa Cheong IMG_0535 5 February 2016 a. Ho Lin Ying b. Neville Cheong c. Nigel Cheong d. Leo Yi Long e. Travier Wong f. Koh Hao Xuan g. Caston Lim FullSizeRender-10 Blogger Alexander Tan was among the shoppers who caught the Martial House Stars in action. The Stars have left an impression on him that he blogged about the performance. He even managed to film the performance and shared them on his blog! Click here to visit Alexander’s blog. 3. Ushering in the Year of Monkey with Avnet – IBM – Lenovo (2 February 2016) IMG_0550 On 2 February 2016, Martial House was invited to perform in a corporate event “Ushering in the Year of Monkey with Avnet – IBM – Lenovo”. A stage collaboration between the Wushu & Face Changing performances was specially arranged which served as an energetic opening to the event! The performers were: a. Seow Wei Kai b. Yap Zheng Yan c. Yap Yuan Xin d. Ellie Tay e. Caston Lim f. Ng Teck Hong g. Jessen Tan h. Timothy Chan i. Wan GuangYao 4. Cultural Exchange Programme with Japanese Students (3 & 4 February 2016) IMG_0603-1 On 3 & 4 February 2016, Martial House collaborated with Pho Leng Lion Dance Instruction Centre to conduct a Cultural Exchange Programme for a group of Japanese students. a983bfbe2b04eeb37deb92981dc8fabe Upon arrival, the students were first greeted by the ambassadors through a dynamic performance. Following, the students were introduced to the Chinese traditional and cultural art of Wushu and Lion Dance through an interactive hands-on session facilitated by the ambassadors. The ambassadors from Martial House were: 3 February 2016 a. Ellie Tay b. Yap Yuan Xin c. Travier Wong d. Clement Soo e. Caston Lim b0409aa619878b4d6e34c25ffd1317a8 4 February 2016 a. Ng Teck Hong b. Ellie Tay c. Yap Yuan Xin d. Clement Soo e. Caston Lim IMG_0612 Photo Credits: Ng Teck Hong 5. CNY Celebration @ Stamford American International School (5 February 2016) c122b013785b6164631b8574efeb13d5 For the 4th consecutive year, Martial House and Stamford American International School (SAIS) collaborated to deliver a series of spectacular performances for the students, parents and teachers to celebrate the lunar new year. a582b94afd29e3d396b9c16928ed2a29 Besides the traditional Lion & Dragon Dance, there were Chinese Plate Spinning Acrobat, Diabolo (a.k.a. Chinese Yoyo) and Wushu performances. The Martial House Stars who performed for the Wushu segment were: a. Damien Teo b. Neville Cheong c. Ellie Tay d. Yap Yuan Xin e. Travier Wong f. Clement Soo g. Koh Hao Xuan h. Caston Lim c29f8390278340360984f77484e51008 Photo Credits: Leo Wen Yeow 6. Heineken Got Talent (5 February 2016) IMG_0640 On 5 February 2016, the Martial House LED Modern Lions were invited to be part of the opening segment of the “Heineken Got Talent” event. In collaboration with the traditional lion dance team, the performers delivered an electrifying performance! Kudos to the performers from Martial House: a. Ng Teck Hong b. Caston Lim c. Shawn Tan d. Dayton Leem IMG_0643 7. CNY Celebration @ Orchard Hotel Singapore (7 February 2016) dfb40676d8777b209eb028f1fc4c1bb7 To hype up the festive mood and enhance the dining experience at Orchard Hotel Singapore, the God of Fortune & Lucky Monkey from Martial House were invited to share their new year blessings with the guests. Besides the mascots, booths were set up to provide guests with CNY-related souvenirs such as the traditional dough figurines and Chinese fans with customised auspicious greetings calligraphed on them. 24363630ff96eb21b2c6c452753af192 8. Lion Dance Cai Qing @ Comms Square Creative Pte Ltd (10 February 2016) The Lion Dance troupe from Martial House was invited to the office of Comms Square Creative Pte Ltd for a Cai Qing performance. dc56fe0c526890bab4b482d54c94601c “Cai Qing” (a.k.a. “plucking the greens”) is a homonym for “wealth and fortune” whereby the lion(s) will dance to approach to “eat” and then “spit” the green vegetables and oranges. The act is believed to bring good luck and fortune to the business. If you would like to engage Martial House for performances, kindly send your queries via email to [email protected].

Damien on 8 Days!

IMG_0450 Martial House Star, Damien Teo is featured on the latest edition of 8 Days, a weekly published local entertainment magazine! In the full page article, Damien shared about his acting experience and the attention he gained from the public. 8 Days Cover - 1319 Do grab a copy of the 1319th edition (28 January 2016) of 8 Days magazine to find out more!

Thank-You Reception at the Istana

6cf31b8884375b253df3f0a7e949876d If you were watching the news on television last night, you may have caught a glimpse of a familiar face. He is none other than Martial House Coach & Choreographer, Mr. Wan GuangYao Eric! dac9ca829feeee033820211871657f17 On 19 August 2015, Martial House Managing Director, Mr. Leo Wen Yeow and Mr. Wan were invited to attend a thank-you reception, hosted by His Excellency, President Tony Tan Keng Yam, at the Istana for the organisers and participants of this year’s National Day Parade (NDP). IMG_0900 The event was reported in the news and many could spot Mr. Wan on national television across three different channels, namely: 1. Channel  5 IMG_0903 2. Channel 8 IMG_0908 3. Channel U IMG_0916 Among the guests at the event were: 1. Chairman of NDP 2015 Show Committee, Colonel Tan Cheng Kwee 9bc0898d59048711a0c99fe90d53ccaf 2. Newly Appointed Chief of Defence, Major-General Perry Lim Cheng Yeow a13 3. Renowned Returning Officer for the 2011 General Election, Mr. Yam Ah Mee a12 It was indeed an honour for Martial House to be part of this year’s SG50 NDP celebration and to be invited to the thank-you reception. a11Click here to read the article about the thank-you reception on Channel NewsAsia’s website. Photo Credits: Leo Wen Yeow & Wan GuangYao Eric

Martial House @ NDP 2015!

A6 9 August 2015 marks the Golden Jubilee of Singapore as we celebrate her 50th year of her independence! Once again, Martial House was privileged to be part of the National Day Parade (NDP)! A1 Under the guidance of choreographers, Gordon Choy & Wan GuangYao Eric, the Martial House NDP Creative Team was formed. The team, consisting of Martial House instructors and youth leaders, was tasked to plan and choreograph the performance act of Chapter 6 – “Onwards – Bright Future”. A2 After the planning phase, the Martial House team proceeded on to teach the student participants from the Ministry of Education (MOE) the choreography and movements. More than 680 students across 9 different schools were involved in the act. IMG_5381 After months of hard work and practices, the student performers have successfully delivered a spectacular performance during NDP 2015! IMG_5285 The performance would not be possible without the active participation of the students and the support of the various groups, including the soldiers from the Singapore Arm Forces (SAF), principals and teachers from the primary schools as well as the parents and/or guardians of the students! NDP Credits Martial House would like to thank MOE for believing and engaging the team to be part of this historic SG50 performance and at the same time, express its gratitude to all the instructors and youth leaders for contributing to the success of the performance! Below are some of the media coverage of the performance item: 1. The Straits Times Facebook Page on 9 August 2015. Picture1 2. Channel NewsAsia Singapore Facebook Page on 9 August 2015. Picture2 3. The Straits Times, page A20 & A21 on 10 August 2015. FullSizeRender (48) 4. The Straits Times, page B11 on 10 August 2015. FullSizeRender (49) 5. Lianhe Zaobao, page 6 on 10 August 2015. FullSizeRender (50)If you have missed the spectacular performance by the students, you may catch it on YouTube by clicking the link below. Chapter 6 – “Onwards – Bright Future” starts from 2:13:29. https://youtube.com/watch?v=lCVpWoOS9KM Besides the main performance at the Padang, a second team of Martial House youths, led by coaches Kevan Cheah & Ng Teck Hong, were at The Float @ Marina Bay for another performance! A3 Coach Teck Hong’s photo was captured and spotted on the Facebook page of Lianhe Zaobao too! Picture3 Despite all the hectic rehearsals and heavy commitments, it did not prevent the Martial House youths from participating in the performances! Kudos to the Martial House youths! A4 The nation’s Golden Jubilee was indeed a fulfilling one for Martial House! Hopefully this SG50 experience was memorable for all and let’s look forward to a stronger and brighter Singapore! Majulah Singapura!

Martial House Young Stars Featured on Various Media Outlets

d The young stars of Martial House have been featured on various media outlets once again! Firstly, Star Award winner Damien Teo Zhi Hao was featured on today’s edition of Lianhe Zaobao. In the article, Damien was named one of the most promising young talents in Singapore’s entertainment industry. The article further discusses about the longevity of these young talents in the industry. FullSizeRender (23)Secondly, Damien’s fellow school and Wushu team mate, Koh Hao Xuan was featured on a MediaCorp Channel U television “World This Week” on 5 June 2015. In the programme, Hao Xuan was interview for his aerial performance during the 28th SEA Games 2015 Opening Ceremony. Click here to watch the video. IMG_3144

Martial House Stars Yi Xiang & Zoe on the Papers!

IMG_0654-0 After attaining the gold medal in the Men’s and Women’s Optional Changquan in the 28th SEA Games, Martial House Stars Yong Yi Xiang & Zoe Mui were featured on various newspapers. Wushu Daze has consolidated some of the news articels here for your reading pleasure: 1. The New Paper, page 12 of the sports section on 7 June 2015. FullSizeRender (17) 2. The Sunday Times, page 46 of the Sport section on 7 June 2015. FullSizeRender (18) 3. Lianhe Zaobao, page 17 of the sports section on 7 June 2015. FullSizeRender (19) 4. The New Paper, page 17 of the Sports section on 8 June 2015. FullSizeRender (20) 5. The Straits Times, page B21 of the Sport section on 8 June 2015. FullSizeRender (22) 6. Lianhe Zaobao, page 14 of the Sports section on 8 June 2015. FullSizeRender (21)