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It’s been 25 years since Sifu Bennett came to Australia in 1982 specifically to teach and spread Jow Ga Kung Fu here!
When Sifu first arrived in Sydney he immediately taught Jow Ga at the Paddington Police Boys Club. He soon opened the
first known Jow Ga kwoon in Australia just opposite Central Station on Lee St. Within a year Sifu moved the Kwoon a
couple of blocks away into a large studio on George St in the heart of Chinatown. A black man teaching a traditional
Chinese art in the heart of Chinatown was certainly a first in this country.
Sifu moved the kwoon to our current location still just a few blocks from Chinatown almost 20 years ago.
2007 is a big year for us with a number of special events for our Silver Jubilee Celebrations!
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As our 25th Anniversary Year Celebrations came to a close we marked the occasion with performances and special events during December - including:
Sifu Bennett''s Broadsword performance at NAS Masters Showcase. This featured Sifu and Australian Masters of other styles performing as inspiration both to martial artist enthusiasts and competitors for top tournament positions. This National All Styles Showcase was held at Sydney's Olympic Park - filmed by FOX Sports to be televised January 2008 and again during the year. A DVD will also be available.
Our demo team's performance at the Chinese-themed end of year dinner in the Grand Ballroom at Sydney's Sheraton on the Park was a huge success. The night included a truly spectacular performance from our core Lion Dance Troupe followed by Kung Fu performances in traditional costume by Sifu Bennett, Jeremy Nysen, Natalie Nysen, Josh Smith, Taun Wong, Nic Smith and Grace Cain.
Our Jubilee Banquet at Flavours of Peking Restaurant catered to 80 members of our immediate Jow Ga family. The event kicked off with a playful lion dance thanks to a team including musicians Peter Ciobo, Nic Smith and Leela Shanker with lion dancers Josh Smith, Scott Rennie and Mark Nysen. Claudia Perrine played Buddha stirring the audience as the lion took 3 painful attempts to bring down the Choy Ching!!
Sifu made a momentous surprise announcement to all that he had chosen Jeremy Nysen and John Callaghan as his disciples, they joinied Josh Smith to form Sifu's band of 3 disciples. Each has instructed Jow Ga for many years at Australian Jow Ga Kung Fu Academy HQ in Sydney. Sifu paid tribute to SiHeng John's dedication in instructing, competing and demonstrating Jow Ga alongside nurturing his young family, university study and a full-time job - John you're a superman! Sifu recognised Jeremy as SiHeng to all current Australian Jow Ga students and for always standing up for any Jow Ga promo.... any demo, at the shortest of notice, anytime, anywhere. Both John and Jeremy have demonstrated the longevity of their dedication to Sifu and to the art of Jow Ga through careers which have taken them overseas away from us, but always returned them to their roots with us at the Australian Jow Ga Kung Fu Academy. (See earlier News item on disciple Josh Smith's inauguration).
Sifu Bennett again demonstrated the effectiveness and efficiency of Jow Ga fighting techniques - featured in December's Blitz Martial Arts magazine and other issues during the year .....look out for more there January 2008.
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Sifu and the Jow Ga team were recruited to perform with Aussie band Rogue Traders to a live crowd of thousands and a massive television audience across the nation - it was hours of work in rehearsal and preparations for the troupe's 40 seconds of fame.
The guys had fun performing in a line up that also included past and present Australian Idols, finalist dancers from new series So You Think You Can Dance and the hot Young Divas, along with musical legends such as the Divinyls and Lionel Ritchie. Fireworks lit the sky around the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge as the performances came to a close...
Sifu led the Jow Ga team leaping into the splits along the stage's thrust during Rogue Traders performance of I Never Liked You. The Jow Ga team were -
Sifu Bennett - Broadsword
Nic Smith - Empty-hand fighting
Azuma Bennett - Empty-hand fighting
Josh Smith - 3 Sectional Staff
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Mark Nysen - Double Daggers
Jeremy Nysen - Double Cudgels
Taun Wong - Kwan Dao
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50 of our Jow Ga students led the Moon Festival Spring Fair Parade down Victoria Avenue, Chatswood, accompanying Willoughby's mayor and heading up a large and colourful parade of cultural community groups with our lion dance. Thanks to all for their participation and kung fu family spirit in the parade, at our information stand and at our lion dances and demos during the fair. What a great day !!
Musicians included our expert drummer Peter Ciobo with Sifu, Jo Lee, Nic Smith and Leela Shanker playing cymbals and gong. Lion dancers - Josh Smith, Scott Rennie, Mark Nysen, Claudia Perrine and Jed Holmes. Our lively buddha - Jeremy Nysen.
Kung fu performances -
Jeremy Nysen - Hook Swords
Kareem Tawansi - Dbl Butterfly Swords
Jo Lee - Straight Sword
Natalie Nysen - Fan
Li-Suai Soh - Dbl Daggers
John Callaghan - Sml Hung Fist
Josh Smith - Dbl Steel Whips
Jow Ga Juniors led by Sifu - Kung Lic
Sifu and Juniors - Barehand Fighting Techniques
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Josh Smith - Dbl Broadsword
Alexander King (Jnr) - Small Tiger
Scott Rennie (Snr) - Small Tiger
Murrielle Sarenas - Northern Staff
Mark Nysen - Single Broadsword
Sylvia Chin (Jnr) - 10,000 Fists
Nic Smith - Staff
Taun Wong - Kwan Do
Jeremy & Josh - Staff v.s 3-sectional staff fighting set
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