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“FREE FIGHTING”
By Corporal Joseph Lewis
Headquarters Jamaica Defence Force (Civil Military Co-operation)
After three months of rigorous and intense training, the Martial Arts ‘Train-the-Trainers’ Course came to an end on 10 May 2008, at the Jamaica Defence Force Air Wing Hanger,
Up Park Camp. The course was established through an improving diplomatic relationship between the Chinese and Jamaican governments.
Captain Xu Feng Wei, Chief Instructor
of the Chinese Martial Arts Course giving a
demonstration at the graduation ceremony.
It was the first time the Chinese Government was providing such a course to Jamaica. It was also the first time the Jamaica Defence Force and the Jamaica Constabulary Force were collaborating in this type of training. The course was attended by 29 members of the Jamaica Defence Force and 10 members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force.
The students were taught traditional Chinese Fighting, free fight, combat technique, five step fist and shoalin fist.
Graduates of the Chinese Martial Arts Course posed for a
group photograph with Jamaica’s Chief of Defence Staff
Major General Stewart Saunders and His Excellency
Jinghua Chen Chinese Ambassador to Jamaica
and other representatives from countries.
Persons selected for the course were given the responsibility to absorb all that they could in the three-month period and then pass on the knowledge gained to other members of their respective Forces.
In an effort to ensure that Jamaica got best instructor, the Chinese Government pulled out all the stops to give Jamaica Captain Xu Feng Wei, five times Martial Arts champion in that country. He was accompanied by Lieutenant Da Wei Wang, his interpreter, and who sometimes substituted as an instructor.
Seated are Captain Xu Feng Wei (right) and Lieutenant
Da Wei Wang (2nd right) at the graduation ceremony.
The graduation ceremony started with Lieutenant Colonel P C Dunn, Commanding Officer of the Support and Services Battalion giving the opening remarks. He welcomed all present to the ceremony and wished the students all the best in their future endeavours.
The graduates gave a compelling demonstration
of their martial arts skills.
His Excellency Jinghua Chen, China’s Ambassador to Jamaica was the keynote speaker.
After the opening remarks Constable S Smith of the JCF gave the course overview much to the delight of all present.
The Martial Arts Graduation Ceremony
drew much curious spectators.
The Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Stewart Saunders, in his closing remarks said he hoped that the students passed on what they were taught to other members of their respective organizations.
“I was so excited when I first saw the students on display at my residence,” he said. “It showed that they were taught well by their instructors and they were learning,” he said. He went on to say that he thanked the JDF and the JCF for allowing the Chinese Government to assist with this type of training.
China’s Ambassador His Excellency Jinghua Chen
presnts the main address.
He thanked the instructors for their support and presented them with plaques. The gifts were a show of the JDF’s appreciation for the Chinese instructors’ tremendous work over the three months.
“I think both Forces should have a Joint Forces Chinese Martial Arts Club,” he said. “This would keep the students together.”
Constable Smith presents an overview of the
Martial Arts Course.
The Chief of Defence Staff also said he intended to call on the People’s Liberation Army for continued support in this area.
It would have been an anticlimax to the graduation if the students did not show off some of what they were taught. So it was no surprise when they quickly changed into their gears and treated the audience to some breathtaking performances.
Everyone present was in awe when Captain Wei came out flying with a solo performance and showed why he was a five times Martial Arts champion. |
