Midland Martial Arts Open 2003

On Saturday May 24, 2003, Master Lee and six of our students traveled to Midland, Michigan to compete in the Midland Martial Arts Open, sponsored by Master Douglas Chung and Chung's School of Praying Mantis. All six students placed in at least one event, and we brought home ten medals.

Rick Powell performed Song Jen (2 swords) tai chi form and placed third in the Senior Blackbelt Weapons category.

Larry Brown placed second in the Tai Chi forms competition with Dan Tre Shou (Pushing Hands). He also took third place in Men's Middleweight Advanced Continuous Sparring.

Margi Peterson took second place in Senior Advanced Forms with Kung Li Chuan, and third in the Senior Combined Intermediate and Black Belt T'ai Chi forms with T'ai Chi Jang. She also took second place in Women's Continuous Sparring.

Colin Fox placed third in Adult Blackbelt Weapons forms with Lam An Dao sword form. He also took second place in Men's Heavyweight Blackbelt Continuous Sparring.

Sean Minard took third place in Mens Intermediate Middleweight Point Sparring.

Larry Brown and John Winkelman placed third in the Two-Person Forms competition with the Spear vs. Sword kung fu form.

At the end of the evening Master Lee, Rick and John demonstrated Iron Shirt Chi Kung to the assembled Masters and Sifus.

We also met one of Sigong's students from his Hong Kong days, one Sifu Tony Chuy. Sifu ("Sisook" to all of Master Lee's students) Chuy had been waiting for 25 years to meet Sifu, and finally got the opportunity at the Midland tournament.

So this was a superb day. Congratulations to our students and to Master Lee, and to Sisook Chuy we say, "It is an honor to meet you!"