News - 24th November 2008

Sifu Rainer Tausend, the National WingTsun Instructor for Ireland paid another visit to the IEWTO for a weekend of WingTsun seminars.

Ciaran Matthews hosted the Belfast seminar which took place on the Saturday in St. Kevins Hall, North Queen Street. James Mc Quaid who runs the Larne school attended the seminar with his students and the Blanchardstown school in Dublin was represented by instructors Michael O'Leary and Declan Brennan.

Sifu Tausend taught a three hour seminar focusing on defences against punches and elbow attacks. One of the main themes was the use of the 'Kau-Sau/Plucking Hand' technique against elbows which were then followed up by double palm strikes, kicks, etc.

The grading took place following the seminar and James Mc Quaid was surprised and delighted to be awarded his Primary Level Certificate in WingTsun. This is the equivalent of a blackbelt and recognises James as a full instructor.

The Dublin seminar took place the following day in the Blanchardstown school. This time it was the turn of the Northerners to travel with James Mc Quaid and his students representing the Larne school. Also in attendance were Sifu Aidan Canavan, Nicolas Maraite and Martin Krause from the Dublin City Centre School together with their students.

Sifu Tausend started where he finished off the previous day and focused on the use of Kau-Sau and relevant footwork against a double leg takedown. This was further developed by examining scenarios where it is too late to apply the Kau-Sau and where the opponent has hold of different areas of the leg. Each technique was drilled in isolation and then put together at the end with opponents applying random attacks.

The seminar lasted four hours and following this Sifu Tausend checked each student's Lat-Sau/Chi-Sau as part of their grading. Congratulations to the following students from the Blanchardstown school who successfully passed their grades.