Newsletter - 31st July 2005
News From Fire Dragon Australia
NEWS FROM JULY 2005
The first half of 2005 has been a very busy and productive time for Fire Dragon Australia, with many new students starting to train, and those who have already been training for a while making good progress.
Fire Dragon Queanbeyan has settled into its new quarters comfortably, with Shr Fu Bellchambers retaining his student base, and looking to expand.
The year started after a two week Christmas break, with lots of sweat and learning, and preparation commencing almost immediately for the demonstration season.
The first demonstration for the year was as last year, the National Multicultural Festival, on 12 February. It was a good, hot day, and our demonstration was set up some distance from a stage, which allowed a large and enthusiastic crowd to gather. All performed well, and the sun-warmed mats kept everyone on their toes!
Shr Fu Bellchambers accomplished a double bottle break - one with each hand, made more challenging by hands which were slippery with the heat. This was followed by Master Hardy breaking 15 concrete edging slabs on fire, with a palm break from fingertips. The audience were getting right into the spirit of the performance, as Master Hardy lay on broken glass with concrete and Shr Fu Bellchambers on top, and yet more concrete - all of which was broken with a sledgehammer.
Master Hardy's break from finger tips - almost there. (Photo courtesy of Alan Goddard)
And - all the way through! (Photo courtesy of Alan Goddard)
Fire Dragon also performed at, and gladly assisted with the Majura Festival - as part of the local inner north community, on 5 March. Master Hardy and his students helped set up tents (and take them down), and performed well in challenging conditions - drizzle during the day made the mats dangerously slippery. Skill and care carried everyone through without mishap.
Both Master Hardy and Shr Fu Bellchambers assisted at the first two NAS tournaments of the year as judges and referees, and Tiernan Creagh was introduced to judging at the third tournament - well done, Tiernan!
Master Hardy taught a self defence course for women of the ATO - it was well attended, and well received. Many of the participants found themselves improving their coordination skills, as well as learning self defence - the benefits were many-layered!
A special thanks to White Sash Geoff Wilmot who helped set the course up, and to the ATO Wellbeing people who made it possible!
Jodie showing how to bury an assailant's face in the ground
And showing that it isn't just the soft and squishies which count!
Master Hardy ran a Day Course on 3 July, with Shr Fu Bellchambers assisting. Students learned broad principles of self defence, together with a range of techniques, including Chin Na, as well as how to get in close to an attacker - and stay there! Shr Fu Bellchambers taught some Ba Gua basics, relating these to Pai Lum. Students learned a new form, and more about how to relate forms to self defence.
The participants at the 2005 day Course - a full class and a good day!
Two students did their Instructor Shr Fu Bellchambers proud in their gradings at the day Course - Luke Pedrana was promoted to Green Sash, and Frank Lewins to White sash