www.Longfei-Taiji.co.uk	Longfei Taijiquan Association of Great Britain
		Longfei Newsletter Volume 8 Issue 1

Email from Saudi

During the early part of 2007 I received an email from a Mrs Lisa Kochinski. She was looking into the possibility of bringing a taiji instructor over to the middle east to work with the Dhahran Taiji Quan Club. If I was interested, the taiji committee would give my CV consideration. My response was immediate. Without hesitation I replied.

Mrs Lisa Kochinski

Lisa is a very accomplished martial artist with many years' experience in both Chinese and Japaneses styles. She has great commitment, passion and enthusiasm, along with great vision, which is probably why she is also President of the Dhahran taiji group. Lisa has invested many hours' dedication into travelling around the world practising and learning with some of the world's eminent taiji masters and experts. These include Yang Zhen Duo and his grandson Yang Jun, also Madame Yu and Madame Quiju Huang from the Li Binci lineage, and Paul Lamb to name a few. She has competed in China at the international Traditional Martial Arts Competition in Zhengzhou accompanied by our own Li Hui (Faye Yip).

Lisa is part of a wonderful and most comprehensive club. I feel privileged to be given the opportunity to be invited to meet and train with them.

9.11.07: The Dragon has landed

Flew into Bahrain airport. I was met by Lisa and her husband Will. They drove me across the causeway and through the border. After a few formalities at the borders we arrived in Saudi Arabia. They took me to Stieneke Hall which was to be my home for the next few days.

10.11.07: Max Stieneke

After an early night, I awoke refreshed at 6.30am. Lisa picked me up from Stieneke Hall. The accommodation where people employed by Aramco stay is named after Max Steineke. This famous American geologist, and Casoc's (later Aramco) chief geologist is referred to as the discoverer of oil in Saudi Arabia, under Socal contracts with the Saudi government in the 1930s. He graduated from Stanford University in 1921 with an AB degree in geology. Steineke died in 1952. Steineke Hall in Dhahran was built in 1950 and named in honour of Max Steineke.

Lisa took me across to the Dharhan dinning hall for breakfast, after which Lisa kindly gave up her morning to give me a guided tour around the Dharan complex. This is a truly fascinating place. Lisa was keen to show me where we would be training. The facility was marvellous. We drove around the Aramco complex and had a look at the golf course. By the way all the water is recycled. As we drove around Lisa pointed out the huge Jebels - rocky outcrops that are characteristic of the middle eastern desert. We had lunch in the Dhahran Arabian equestrian centre. After a wonderful afternoon I went back to Steineke Hall. In the evening I joined Lisa and Will at their house for dinner.

I was introduced to Scott Barber, the treasure of the Dharan taiji group, Madame Qiuju Huang, the Chinese taijiquan teacher, and friend Morag.

11.11.07: Frangipanis

We started the first of the seminars this morning. The class was for three hours. Lisa took me back to Stieneke Hall where we ran into Lisa's previous Karate teacher, Sensi Sasaki San. Lisa introduced us. Sensi Sasaki, a 6th dan JKA Shotakan master, was staying for the month, also teaching for Aramco. I decided to take a walk in the afternoon just to get a feel for the place. The complex is charming, difficult to describe or imagine. The temperature is ideal (around 27¡C), the streets are lined with palm trees, bougainvillea and fragrant frangipani are abundant. In the evening we started the second of the seminars - the 24 forms taiji and qigong. The seminar was followed by an informal reception. A chance to relax and become aquainted with one another.

12.11.07: ... and F15s

After the morning's taiji gong fu fan seminar I went to meet Mr Ali Basha, a wonderful character who was to get my ID card, without which certain areas were restricted. The security, as one would imagine, is extremely tight. It was necessary to take photos and fingerprints were also required before a visa was administered. In fact it is not possible to enter Saudi Arabia without a formal invitation and written permission. During my afternoon walk among the beautiful surroundings you could not ignore the sound of F15 and tornados taking off and landing just a few miles away. It was a constant reminder of the conflict a few hundred miles north. Once again the evening seminar was the 24 and qigong. Then it was off to Peter and Yoonhi Green's house. A lovely couple who had invited us around for a wonderful meal. In fact as well as being an accomplished martial arts practitioner, Peter was a fantastic cook who travels the far east leaning the skills of Thai and Chinese cuisine. Delicious!

13.11.07: The Eight Treasures

Although the main thrust of the Aramco seminars was to cover the 24 forms, the taiji gong fu fan and the 42 combined competition routine, I was keen to introduce Daoyin. So we often warmed up with the Five minute exercise, Bao Jian Gong (General Health), the 13 stretching exercises, and also ran through the Broadcast Exercises and a traditional set of Daoyin in the way of the Ba Duan Jin (Eight Treasures). We also warmed up with some Wushu Chi Beng Gong (basic Wushu drills). The evening was the last of the qigong and taiji 24 forms. Once again I found myself in the most wonderful company of Lisa's students and friends. This time Veronica hosted us for an evening of food, drink and fantastic company. (I could get used to this!)

14.11.07: Al Khobar

Today was the last of the taiji fan workshops we completed the 52 postures and spent the rest of the time reviewing the routine. In the afternoon Lisa took me to the Aramco Oil Exhibition Theatre. We had to travel by taxi because of the restrictions - women in Saudi are prohibited to drive. The exhibition centre is a huge, impressive building dedicated to the history, science and production of oil. Fascinating and informative! Will picked us up from there and drove us out of the complex to Al-Khobar.

Khobar is a large city located in the Eastern Province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the Persian Gulf. It has a population of 165,799 (2004 census) and forms part of the greater Dammam metropolitan area along with Dhahran, which together have a combined population of over one million. All three urban centres are served by the King Fahd International Airport. City residents in the original downtown area are mainly Saudi nationals and non-Western expatriates (e.g. of Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Filipino ethnicity).

European and American expatriate workers not employed by Saudi Aramco typically live in ex-pat compounds scattered in the greater Khobar-Dammam area surrounded by fences or walls and guarded by security gates. Inside, a greater degree of cultural freedom is possible than outside the walls in the main urban centre. Some larger corporations (e.g. British Aerospace) have maintained their own compounds to house (and attract) ex-pat employees. Because of the comforts and greater freedoms found in compounds, they have attracted a wide range of ethnicities able to afford the lifestyle, including some Saudi families. Many of Khobar's residents work for Saudi Aramco, the world's largest oil company, in nearby Dhahran. Other residents work in support roles. Traditionally, Khobar has also been a city of shopkeepers and merchants, and the city today boasts numerous modern malls and boulevards with internationally-recognised franchise shops and eating places. I was treated to a Swarma - a traditional dish similar to a kebab - after which we went shopping. You can get a greater feel for the country here. Most of the women are dressed in traditional dress called an "abaya" and many of the men are also in traditional attire - the full length white dress called a "thobe" and the typical red and white chequered head scarf called a "ghutra" held on with the black 'qaffiah' circling the head. This was a day I will cherish.

15.11.07: Halfmoon Bay

The whole of the day was focused on the 42 forms taiji routine. In the morning we looked at section one and many principles and functions. In the afternoon section two was looked into and attention was placed on interpretation and characteristics of the different styles. In the evening it was off to Halfmoon Bay to meet Lisa and Will's friends for a BBQ on the beach. PARADISE! They made me most welcome, food, wine (yes wine, hic*) humour, warm memories of hospitality and friendship.

16.11.07: Farewell at the Rib Room

The last day of practice together. We worked on section three in the morning, with emphasis placed on balance, lower limb techniques and crouching postures. Finally we completed section four. This sees the introduction of Da Lu and applications, the introduction of new stances and footwork as well as the importance and significance placed on the final postures. In the evening a farewell reception was held at the Rib Room.

17.11.07: Chinese dumplings in Saudi

My last day was spent with Lisa and Madame Qui Huang who kindly invited me, Lisa and Will to her home for Chinese dumplings. My favourite. Suddenly this adventure had come to an end. In the evening I flew back home from Bahrain.

Aramco

Saudi Aramco, the state-owned national oil company of Saudi Arabia, is the largest oil corporation in the world and the world's largest in terms of proven crude oil reserves and production. Headquartered in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, Saudi Aramco also operates the world's largest single hydrocarbon network, the Master Gas System. It was formerly known as just Aramco, an acronym for Arabian American Oil Company. Saudi Aramco's history dates back to 29 May 1933, when the government of Saudi Arabia signed a concessionary agreement with Standard Oil of California (Socal) allowing them to explore Saudi Arabia for oil. Standard Oil of California passed this concession to a wholly-owned subsidiary called California-Arabian Standard Oil Co. (Casoc). In 1936 with the company having no success at locating oil, the Texas Oil Company purchased a 50% stake of the concession. After a long search for oil that lasted around four years without success, the first discovery came with the seventh drill site in Dammam, an area located a few miles north of Dhahran in 1938, a well referred to as Dammam number 7.

The Kingdom

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the largest country on the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Jordan on the northwest; Iraq on the north and northeast; Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates on the east; Oman on the southeast; and Yemen on the south; with the Persian Gulf to its northeast, and the Red Sea to its west. It has an estimated population of 27.5 million, and its size is approximately 2,150,000 square km (830,000 square miles) The Kingdom is sometimes called "The Land of The Two Holy Mosques" in reference to Mecca and Medina, the two holiest places in Islam. The Kingdom was founded by Abdul-Aziz bin Saud, whose efforts began in 1902 when he captured the Al-Saud's ancestral home of Riyadh, and culminated in 1932 with the proclamation and recognition of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is the world's leading petroleum exporter and petroleum exports fuel the Saudi economy. Oil accounts for more than 90% of exports and nearly 75% of government revenues, facilitating the creation of a welfare state which the government has found it difficult to fund during periods of low oil prices.

Saudi Arabia is a vast land. The hub of the Muslim world, site of the world's largest sand desert and home to immense crude oil reserves. It also contains a rich and diverse heritage and an abundance of archaeological treasures. The Kingdom remains deeply conservative, and an overriding sense of tradition and protocol prevails througout. The discovery of petroleum catapulted the country into the modern age, unfolding exciting new developments along with a wealth of cultural traditions and spectacular landscapes in this largely unknown and unseen country.

Conclusion

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Lisa for allowing me this most wonderful opportunity to practice, help spread taijiquan and exchange friendship with the Dhahran Taiji Club. The people I had the privilege to meet and practice with showed me overwhelming hospitality, generosity and warmth. Lisa made the entire experience a very special one, she was most thoughtful and efficient with her preparation, enabling my stay to be a most pleasurable and memorable one for all involved. Thank you Lisa and the Daharan Taiji Club.

Simon Watson

Longfei Newsletter Volume 8 Issue 1 Table of Contents