Sifu John Chow personally founded the Monash University Tai Chi Club in 1977. At first, the intention was to invite the Wu Style Tai Chi master, Rocky Kwong, to teach. However, because it would take Master Kwong away from his occupation for only 1 hour per session at $25 per hour only), it was not financially worthwhile for him. Therefore, I took the responsibility of teaching the club.
Initially, only Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan (exercise, sabre and sword) was taught. Most of the members also hold membership in the Monash University Buddhist Society and the Chong Hua Club as well. These 2 clubs always had close associations with us, and we supported each other's activities.
Later, after I left university and started work, my schedule was too busy, and I had to fold the club for a few years.
Later on, I wished to re-create it again, and in order to do that, I had to proceed cautiously in stages because it is quite difficult to re-institute a Chinese martial arts club since there was already a Kung Fu (Po Kek and Golden Lion) Club, and a Yee Chuan Do Club. I personally taught 2 evenings a week for 1 year to gather sufficient genuine membership to form the present club, which was formed in around 1986 or 1987. I did this single-handedly without the help of any other instructor, including Robert Chow. Most of the students who attended were also connected to the Buddhist Society and the Chong Hua Club, an unspoken tradition of close relationships, it seems. Some of them were the finest ladies and gentlemen around.
The usual tradition of the club has always been to have a 2 hour class twice a week.
Later on, I was very busy with my job (which also included travelling from 1992 onwards). In addition, I had been vigorously pursuing studies in healing and alternative medicine (I subsequently enrolled a Traditional Chinese medicine course in 1997 or 1998), and could not be present twice a week. Since Robert Chow was not doing much with his Wu Style Tai Chi Chuan, and does not even have a proper class, nor proper students of his own, I volunteered to give him the other 2 hour class, in order to help him out and establish himself. This would be a good arrangement:- I needed somebody to take the other class, and he needs to be able to teach as he was not getting students and withering his Tai Chi skills away. I thought we can give a better service to the members by offering both Yang and Wu Styles of Tai Chi. It was agreed that I would take the Yang Style and Robert would take the Wu Style. I was still the Chief instructor. I have always been since the inception of the club, still am to this day.
During this time, all coaching fees from the university were paid to me, and I issued cheques to Robert Chow half of the payment (for which I have asked a receipt for several times, but have never received any). This was the arrangement prior to 2002. I controlled everything – quietly. I am not a dictator who makes big noises and wishes to command everybody’s obedience. Some of the members mistakenly thought that Robert Chow was the Chief Instructor for the club. But that is not the case. This misunderstanding must be clarified. In any case, certain members tried to make him the Chief Instructor and attempted to take over the club.
From 1992 to 2000, due to my hectic schedule, I did not keep in touch with both the Buddhist and Chong Hua clubs. The Buddhist club folded around the year 2000. Robert Chow and his students resurrected a new Buddhist club called the Mahayana Buddhist Club.
The Sports and Recreation Association of Monash University requires all coaches in its clubs to be nationally certified coaches. Since my certificate had lapsed and I have been too busy to renew it, my “qualifications” were not valid. Robert Chow was in the same situation. Therefore, the club was operating without an official coach for 1 year. Our services were unpaid for the year 2001.
Fortunately, I had the foresight to ask Sergio Burri to get his coaching accreditation during that time. He acted as the coach as far as the official things are concerned. For years, when I was busy, Serge Burri acted for me as the sole official coach of the club. Serge Burri reports to me. He has always done so through the years that he was the sole official coach. He still reports to me as the sole official coach to this day (2004).
Much later, Chris Churchill
also obtained his coaching certification in the 2nd half of
2003, and was installed as the other
official coach. Having another official
coach who knows our style puts the club in a safer position. Unfortunately, after having served only
1 semester as the 2nd official coach, Chris found a job in
To summarise the coaching situation for the years 2001, 2002, 2220 and 2004:-
· * 2001: Chief Instructor is John Chow. Other instructor is Robert Chow.
· As far as the Sports Association is concerned, there are no official
· coaches to be paid.
* 2001, 2002: Serge Burri was the sole official instructor.
* 2003, first semester: Serge Burri was the sole official instructor.
* 2003, second semester: Serge Burri and Chris Churchchill were the official instructors.
* 2004: Serge Burri was the sole official instructor.
The club is a university club, and does not, and should not belong to either myself, as the Chief Instructor, nor to Robert Chow. It should be managed by the committee that the members elected during the AGM, or at a specially convened general meeting, abiding by all the rules laid down by the constitution. If the office bearers or committee are not duly elected using the rules of the constitution, their positions are untenable and invalid. This is the law. (Hint:- years 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, for which I will not take action as the events are already past).
All moneys of the club must be accounted for, and must be used for the benefit of all the members, and not selected minority of members who attempt to control the club and its finances, in particular, members of a particular obscure Buddhist society from outside the university, which appear to have quite “unorthodox Buddhist-like” teaching (including certain views on master-female student copulation, sorcery/charms, feng shui, palmistry, anti-semitism, guru-adoration, etc.). That Buddhist society also controlled the newly resurrected Monash Mahayana Buddhist Society, but, folded it up at the same time as they attempted to fold up the Tai Chi Club. Fortunately, I quickly alerted all other remaining members who, similarly, prevented it from folding. I am happy to announce that the Monash Mahayana Buddhist Society is under new and proper management for 2004, and they are doing a brilliant non-sectarian job. It has been properly re-named “Monash Buddhist Society”.
During 2002 and 2003, when I was very busy and was away from the
club, certain members took advantage of
my absence and initiated expensive programs that did not involve the general
membership of the club. In fact, the general membership of the club was not
even informed of these so-called programs (which we doubt really
happened). Not even both the Yang Style
and Wu Style instructors (ie. Serge Burri and
Chris Churchill - the club’s official instructors who were the paid
coaches) were aware of these events. No
circulars were sent out to inform,
neither consult, the general
members. The only people who were aware
were minority members of the club who were also members of that particular
obscure Buddhist society. For that
Summer period, $3000 was paid to a
“certain master” from
Enquiries have been directed to those responsible for the transaction (minority members of the club who were from that particular Buddhist Society), as to who this master actually is, his lineage, qualifications etc., when was the event, a list of attendees, photos of the event, videos of the event, exact contents of the event, what was taught, etc etc. but no information was forthcoming. It was a very clever move that the members involved had planned this very well by applying to the Sports Association for prior approval for spending this money.
Fortunately, I noticed that there were no activities by the club during orientation (end of February) of 2004, and I alerted Serge Burri, and together, we investigated found out that the said members had folded the club!
Bank statements later obtained by Serge Burri proved that the payments were made towards end of February and beginning of March 2004. This occurred just immediately before the said members folded the club secretly, without consulting the general members!
We approached the Sports Association to continue the club, and sorted out the financial mess.
I am happy to inform readers that the club has survived what could have been a disaster and fold-up, and is continuing. I am keeping an eye on the club, and will be actively teaching in both the Tai Chi Chuan and Arnis clubs in 2005.
I have one advice or warning I
would like to ask every member of the Tai Chi and Arnis clubs to consider very
seriously:- DO NOT ENGAGE IN ASSET
STRIPPING OF YOUR CLUBS! YOUR CLUB IS
FOR THE BENEFIT OF ITS GENERAL MEMBERS AND NOT FOR A SELECT FEW. Asset stripping may be considered fraudulent
and criminal in
A further word of advice:- Please ensure the rules of the constitution, and of the Sports Association, are followed for the AGM in election office bearers and the committee. In particular, ensure that circulars are sent out to all members to inform them of the AGM, and announcements should be made several times about the AGM, and members should be encouraged to attend. Do not contrive an AGM! Besides being illegal, it may not be for the benefit of the club and its members because a “few of the members” may attempt to control the club activities and assets.
Moral of the story:- Do not be so trusting to leave any organisation to others, expecting they will report to you. They may have their own designs! Or others will operate secretly under their nose! Monitor to ensure everything is operated legally and the law is not broken. All members of the club should get involved in the running of the club and should question any “ambiguous transactions”.
In future, I will personally monitor all affairs of the club.
Written by John Chow
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