Competitions specifically for the Chinese Martial Arts (Wushu or Kungfu) emerged in North America in the early 1990s. Previously, martial arts competitions catered to Japanese karate or Korean Taekwando.
Although wary of fostering too competitive a spirit within its student body, since its practices focus on personal development, The Tai Chi and Meditation Centre decided to send teams to national and international competitions for a limited time in order to test the efficacy of its instruction against the best in North America and beyond.
During this early period, the competitive level was very high as renowned masters entered their top disciples and students. Tai Chi and Meditation Centre’s (successful) competition results are summarized below.
1991
U.S. All-Taijiquan Championships
- Yang Style seniors Tai Chi form (Men): Steve Yee (Bronze)
- Yang Style seniors Tai Chi form (Women): Donna Oliver (Bronze)
- Push Hands, Men’s Light weight: Steve Yee (Silver)
1992
U.S. National Chinese Martial Arts Competitions
- 12 medals including 7 Gold:
- Tai Chi Push Hands stationary. Women’s Light weight: June Fukushima (Gold)
- Tai Chi Push Hands stationary. Women’s Light weight: Donna Oliver (Silver)
- Tai Chi Push Hands stationary. Men’s Intermediate, Light weight: Brock Brown (Gold)
- Tai Chi Push Hands stationary. Men’s Intermediate, Middle weight: John Ferris (Gold)
- Tai Chi Push Hands stationary. Men’s Intermediate, Middle weight: Robert Youngs (Bronze)
- Tai Chi Push Hands stationary. Men’s Advanced, Light weight: Bill Perison (Gold)
- Tai Chi Push Hands moving. Women’s Light weight: Donna Oliver (Gold)
- Tai Chi Push Hands moving. Men’s Advanced, Light weight: Bill Perison (Silver)
- Pa Kua Chang, Women: June Fukushima (Gold)
- Pa Kua Chang, Women: Rose Reuben (Silver)
- Pa Kua Chang, Men’s Intermediate: Robert Youngs (Gold)
- Pa Kua Chang, Men’s Intermediate: Brock Brown (Silver)
Canadian Taijiquan Federation Tournament
16 medals including 6 Gold:
- Tai Chi Push Hands stationary. Women’s Light weight: Donna Oliver (Gold)
- Tai Chi Push Hands stationary. Women’s Light weight: June Fukushima (Silver)
- Tai Chi Push Hands stationary. Women’s Upper weight: Rose Reuben (Gold)
- Tai Chi Push Hands stationary. Women’s Upper weight: Kathy MacNeil (Bronze)
- Tai Chi Push Hands stationary. Men’s Light weight: Ted Olaso (Bronze)
- Tai Chi Push Hands stationary. Men’s Middle weight: Bill Perison (Gold)
- Tai Chi Push Hands stationary. Men’s Super heavy weight: Roland Isla (Bronze)
- Tai Chi Push Hands moving. Women’s Light weight: Donna Oliver (Gold)
- Tai Chi Push Hands moving. Women’s Light weight: June Fukushima (Bronze)
- Tai Chi Push Hands moving. Men’s Middle weight: Steve Yee (Bronze)
- Tai Chi Push Hands moving. Men’s Super heavy weight: Marc Begin (Silver)
- Tai Chi forms Yang style. Women: Rose Reuben (Gold)
- Tai Chi forms Yang style. Women: June Fukushima (Silver)
- Tai Chi sword. Women: Donna Oliver (Silver)
- Tai Chi forms Yang style. Men: Steve Yee (Gold)
- Tai Chi forms Yang style. Men: Brock Brown (Silver)
1993
U.S. All-Taijiquan Championships
- Yang Style seniors Tai Chi form (Women): Donna Oliver (Bronze)
- Push Hands, Women’s Light weight: Donna Oliver (Gold)
- Pa Kua Chang: Robert Youngs (Bronze)
Canadian Taijiquan Federation Tournament
- Tai Chi Push Hands stationary. Women, Light weight: Donna Oliver (Gold)
- Tai Chi Push Hands stationary. Women, Light weight: Rose Reuben (Silver)
- Tai Chi Push Hands stationary. Women, Upper weight: Kathy MacNeil (Silver)
- Tai Chi Push Hands stationary. Men, Middle weight: Bill Perison (Gold)
- Tai Chi Push Hands moving. Women, Light weight: Donna Oliver (Gold)
U.S. All-Taijiquan Championships
Donna Oliver won Gold in Women’s Light weight stationary Push Hands and Women’s Lightweight moving Push Hands in 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998. In 1997, despite being a light weight competitor, she became the tournament’s Grand Champion by defeating the champions of all weight categories.
World Wushu Championships 1995
Shifu Andy James was part of the Canadian Masters’ Demonstration Team, demonstrating Pa Kua Chang. He also judged.
Pan American Wushu Championships 1998
Donna Oliver won Gold in Women’s Light weight stationary Push Hands and Women’s Light weight moving push hands. She also entered the heavy weight competitions and won Silver in both stationary and moving push hands.
Shifu Andy James was a judge.
