Spectacular demonstrations to welcome kung fu master
Shifu Jurgens has been teaching martial arts since 1985 and is the only kung fu instructor in Africa to be endorsed by Grandmaster Xuande.
Students of the South African Wudang Wushu Institute (SAWWI) recently enthralled local residents with a spectacular kung fu demonstration.
The demonstration was done to welcome Grandmaster You Xuande, a 14th generation Wudang Kung Fu Grandmaster, on his first visit from China to South Africa.
After the welcoming speeches the ceremony was opened by the president of the SA Wushu Federation (SAWF), shifu Ashley Branford who spoke of the achievements of the SAWWI and its founder, Shifu Jurgens Lamprecht.
The evening saw some amazing kung fu and taiji empty hand and weaponry performances demonstrated by students of the SAWWI’s various branches – Poortview, Pretoria, New Zealand, Weltevreden Park, East London and Port Elizabeth. Among these students were some of the school’s Protea athletes who competed at the Kung Fu World Championships in China recently.
Also joining in on the demonstrations were representatives from other kung fu schools who are all members of the SAWF, such as the Blue Dragon Kung Fu Institute, SAWF Atteridgeville and Yeoville branches, Shaolin Legend Academy of Martial Arts and Martial Combat School.
Shifu Jurgens has been teaching martial arts since 1985 and is the only kung fu instructor in Africa to be endorsed by Grandmaster Xuande. He also has direct lineage to Grandmaster Shi Yan Ming, a shaolin warrior monk. Shifu Jurgens is the chairperson of the Sanshou (kung fu fighting) Committee for AWF as well as being the secretary-general of SAWF. He is part of a small elite group of kung fu warriors who have served the country in the Protea green and gold team as athlete, coach and team manager over many years. Shifu Jurgens is currently the national coach of the official Protea Wushu Team. He is an international sanshou judge under the auspices of the International Wushu Federation (IWUF).
The SAWWI is affiliated to the SAWF, which was established officially in 2002 and in the following year acquired full membership with the IWUF. As the governing body for all Chinese martial arts throughout the world, the IWUF has recognition from inter alia the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the SportAccord (formerly GAISF). Locally the SAWF is affiliated to the South African Sports Confederation & Olympic Committee (Sascoc) as a fully recognised national federation. Accordingly, the SAWF is the only recognised governing body for Chinese martial arts in South Africa and consequently, the only institution authorised to award national Protea colours to athletes selected onto the SA wushu team.
