A BRIEF OVERVIEW of TRADITIONAL WING CHUN FEDERATION OF SERBIA

Chinese martial arts exist in our region for several decades . First kung fu club in Serbia was opened by Bozidar Bob Gabesel at the end of the seventies, more precisely 15.01.1979.god. Master B. Gaberšek organized the first Wing Chun Kung Fu Club in Požarevac who work in the International Chinese Martial Arts Association.This is the first time that a Chinese martial art “entered “ on  Serbian territory . From 1982. Master  Gabersek at the invitation of William Cheung becomes his disciple and finishied training in Australia under the personal supervision of Grandmaster. Master Gabersek received rank of Master level 6. and became the first European who   completed William Cheung’s Wing Chun system, also the first master of traditional Wing Chun in Europe in general., and William Cheung’s representative for Europe

First TWC seminar was conducted in Belgrade 1988.In the organization of B. Gaberšeka and B. Segvic,. First seminar was led by Master David Cheung . Second seminar was organized in 1990., with Granadmaster William Cheung in Novi Sad.

At the initiative of the master B. Gaberšeka, masters Mikić Dejan and Radojkovic Dušan begin with the expansion of traditional Wing Chun Kung-Fu in the territory of ex Yugoslavia.

In January 1993,was organized the first Master B. Gabersek’s seminar in Hall of sports in Pozarevac,.The following year, also in January, was organized seminar wich gathered TWC followers from all ex Yugoslavia. Third seminar in January 1995 ,also in Pozarevac gathered even more TWC followers .

Real media brake through an beginning of vide popularity of TWC begins after the William Cheung’s in 14-16. April 1995 in the organization of Holding Companies "Stig" and its president, also president of “TWCKF Federation of Yugoslavia” mr Dina Milan Djuricic, Sports Center Požarevac and TWCKFKlubPozarevac. The seminar brought together 130  practitioners from 12 cities of Yugoslavia, as well as practicioners from Macedonia. At the seminar they build the foundations of the current Serbian TWC Federation , which consisted the following Club founders: Pozarevac, Pirot, Ruma, Sremska Mitrovica, Belgrade, Nis, Novi Sad, Kragujevac and Kruševac.. All these clubs were founded by masters Mikic and Radojkovic

Society “Friends of China “ from Serbia and Montenegro and sub Committee for WU Shu Kung Fu organized in Belgrade in the sports center "Šumice" 1996. the first WU Shu game called “Chinese greeting spring”. The event gathered about 400 practitioners of all styles of kung fu and from ex Yugoslavia. It is important to note that in front of our organization participated about 300 people and confirmed the fact that ‘T.WCKF Federation Yugoslavia” is the strongest and largest kung fu forces in the country. For the skill and commitment s TWCKFC  club Požarevac in front of the Federation won the gold medal “Decade of Chinese culture” presented by the first Secretary of the Chinese Embassy, Mr. Mr. Li Man Can and President of Society “Friends of China “ of Yugoslavia g.din prof. Nikola Radošević. Before the event the main instructor of the Federation master Dušan Radojkovic was elected to be a President of WU Shu Committee of Serbija ..Wu Shu Games was openend to the Yugoslavian Minister of Sports of FR Yugoslavia g.Zoran Bingulac, and Chinese Ambassador .Ču An Kang.

1996. is significant because Traditional Wing Chun became official martial art for education and training Macedonian police forces. Namely, after the seminar and staying master B. Gaberšekawith his assistants from Yugoslavia and Macedonia in Skopje from 31.05. to 02.06. 1996, Macedonia became the first country in which the Wing Chun officially added to the training of police forces. That same year, and Macedonian instructors Master Andonov and Goran Jovanovski Sašo demo was held in the United Nations Protection Force and received a certificate for successful participation.

By the decision of the Federal Ministry of Justice of 26.02.1997. god, TWCKF Federation of Yugoslavia was officially registered as official sports organization .Instructor of Federation countued to work on the expansion and populqarisation of Wing Chun , so by the end of the year, clubs and sections from Valjevo, Vranje, Leskovac, Gadžinog Han become full members of Federation. Organisation expands outside the borders of Yugoslavia, so that in Bijeljina opens first school Tradicionalog Wing Chun in the Republika Srpska under the guidance of chief instructor John Manojlović TWC for the Republic of Srpska.

At the initiative of Masters Mikic and Radojkovic this year starts with the Fedral Kung Fu copmetition. The first step in this is the first federal TWCKFSJ tournament held in Nis 08.11.1997. organized by TWCKF club "Zeleznicar" from Nis, which brought together 60 athletes from Yugoslavia, the Republic of Serbian and Macedonia. This is the first time in Yugoslavia that took place such competition,.

In 1997. Started with work “ Budo Association of Yugoslavia” wich gatehered all martial art styles., In organization of the“ Budo Association of Yugoslavia” was held first nunchaku tournament, which Federation clubs was participants, and won numerous medals .

In 1998. Grandmaster’s seminars was organized by clubs from, Ruma Nis. Both seminars are gathered 250 practioners from Yugoslavia, the Republic of Serbian and Macedonia.

In 1999, again on the initiative of Society “Friends of China “ in Belgrade on the first day of spring was held second WUSHU game, and now a powerful organization with 15 clubs and over 300 practitioners participate in these games as the largest organizations. Games are open to the presence of the entire diplomatic corps Embassy Republic of China and the presence of representatives of the Ministry of Sport.

That same year, masters Mikic and Radojkovic participated in several seminar in Skopje with Grandmastera William Cheung.

Also this year in Republicui Srpska , Federation organized and participated sin great tournament that is personally opened by Ambassador of China In Repubica Serpske and representatvie of Society “Friends of China ‘., g.dja Milka Tamamovic as well as government representatives.

With great effort OF Society “Friends of China and Masters Mikic and Radojkovic in 1998 , all different styles of Chinese martial arts was gathered in one organization . The organization is then officially registered in the Ministry of Justice. The goal and idea of the unification of all fans of Chinese culture and Chinese martial art skills in one place in a strong and organized entity for cooperation and popularization of Chinese martial arts .

The following year, 2000 Federation is organizing the second international kung fu competition,, over 200 competitors with guests from R. Macedonia and Serbian.

During the following years Federation with large effort working in popularization of Wing Chun and opening a new clubs all over the country . In this period Federation established a new clubs in the following cities: Novi Sad, Belgrade, Bijeljina, Sabac, Laćarak, Sremska Mitrovica, Ruma, Valjevo, Nis, Krusevac, Kragujevac, Despotovac, Gadžin Han, Vranje, Pirot, Leskovac, Surdilca, Vrsac, Pozarevac, Smederevska Palanka, Smederevo, Kraljevo, Krnjaca and soon is in the plan and Zrenjanin, and Vrnjacka Banja, Trstenik, Knjazevac, Rovinj, Zvečan as well as many other sections.

Wing Chun Kung Fu Federation Serbia has grown into the international organization by of the opening clubs in Austria and Sweden, in the process of establishing the club in Romania

At the international level there is permanent cooperation with the clubs from Macedonia, Croatia, Slovenia, Switzerland, USA, Australia, Thailand,. One of the coach is currently in Montenegro, where work on opening new clubs. We are constantly in contact with the Gberesek’s federation based in Melbourne and through our students Kecica in Chikago directly related to Grandmastero Williamom Cheung.

In 2003, organized the tournament at the federal level in Belgrade, with participants s from Macedonia and the Republic of Serbian with a large number of competitors.

The following year, the Belgrade club is also host of a new tournament.

From 2004 to this year, households in the organization of tournaments take club from Laćarek . The tournament was introduction of new disciplines such as forms and Chi Sao .

In 2007 “ Wushu Association of Vojvodina Vojvodina”, organized “all style “ competition , so , our association and take part in the tournaments that are held in Vrsac. Number of events and clubs, the team becomes more massive.

Troug the Years to the this day in every city where Federartion have aa club, we organized the “Martial Arts evening” and our representatives and often the only representatives of Chinese martial arts among many Japanese styles.

As a confirmation of many years of work representative of TWCKF Federation are regular participants on largest Martial Arts event in the country since 2003. We are only representative of Chinese styles in this manifestation . This year , manifestation was opened by Chinese attaché for culture and sport , Liu Lio Hong and this year for attractive presentation received a gold medal from the organizers

In recent years, Mikic and Radojkovic are invited by International Combat Union ,organizations that represent over 30 countries, as the main representatives of Kung Fu in Serbia, and as the only representatives of Chinese arts, among many Japanese styles, so that in a number of international seminars federation worthy represent Chinese martial arts culture in general.

Federation as members individually as well as maintain contacts with the Chinese Martial Arts masters around the world.

Mikic and Radojkovic are among the first in Yugoslavija who released a book that deals with the art of Kung Fu , which are first presented in our region not only technical part of Chinese martial arts, but also the view of Chinese history and as the influence of Chinese culture, philosophy , and religion on the development of not only Martial Arts but also to the largest part of Asian continent. Masters Mikic Radojkovi continues their work through a series of texts in different magazines that deal with martial arts. Federation member Vladimir Zlatic published articles in

 several different magazine trying to introduce people  in Serbia with

 martial art styles of China,but also with Chinese culture and history . He also published on the Internet a large a part of one of the two books in preparation, which is dealing with a specific history and philosophy of Wing Chun style, and other , in general history , with Chinese Martial Arts and the main characteristics of the most popular styles of Kung Fu-a.

In 2008. the association is active in a variety of fields, and in addition to work at the opening of new clubs, and regular participation in the ICU seminars, is active in popularization and demonstration of Wing Chun. From important events can be distinguished semianr held 25th May in Belgrade, organized by the traditional Wing Chun Kung Fu Association of Serbia, headed by Mikic Dejan I Radojkovic Dusan. The seminar was very well organized, excellent visited, and where representatives of Wing Chun clubs from the territory of the whole country nd participated and guests from other Martial Arts who have contributed to their demonstrations and exelent atmosphere in the seminar, met us with their skills and at the same time were able to become familiar with the Wing Chun skill. Oure guests was “ ICU “ President Boris Krivokapic 8th Dan Hapkikwan, Srdjan Ratković 5.Dan Ju Jutsu, d Radojica Spasovic 8.Dan Real Aikido, Krav Maga club in Belgrade under the leadership of John Manojlovic, chief instructor of the Serbian IKMF-a, Nan Chuan, Sanda, China under the guidance of masters of the Chen Yong Ming and masters Peršaj John and Eskrima Club "Tatang" under the guidance of masters Sucevic Igor.

Working part of the seminar was attended by 130 people, not counting the demo teams and spectators. Seminar was an opportunity to for introduction with ttwo other style of Wing Chun-a. The first is Weng Chun style Andreas Hoffmann, with his representative in Serbia master Zeljko Popovic. The second style is Wing Tsun, with Sifu Rudolf Kerekes, EBMAS official representative of the Federation of Serbiawe are vey gratefull to Sifu Kerekes, not only on the excellent presentation of your skills, but also the unselfish support in the organization of this seminar.

June 30, was opened exhibition of Chinese graphics. Exhibition was opened by Chinese Ambassador in the presence of other Chinese Embassy officials .Representatives of TWCKF Federation of Serbia, are invited to the opening of exhibition by atasea for Culture and Sport of the Republic of China friends and society of China

Certainly the most important event in 2008. year was masters David Cheung’s seminar , who held in the beginning of November in the Velikot Gradiste. Dring the seminar Federation was made agreement with Master David about the continuation of cooperation and future work on his system of Traditional Wing Chun .