The Chinese Kung Fu Academy has set a new world record by teaching Tai Chi 80 meters in the air on top of the Brisbane Story Bridge. The two largest and most prominent news papers in the country The Sunday Mail and The Courier Mail have sent out their photographers and journalist to capture the event and have featured the story in their papers. The school is now in the process of communicating with the Guinness Book of Records.




The Sunday Mail Story:
(16^th of March 2008)

Few people could find peace and serenity in the middle of peak hour traffic on the Story Bridge. But grandmaster Henry Sue, of the Chinese Kung Fu Academy in East Brisbane, and his Tai Chi followers, the din of heavy trucks and late-for-work motorists were unimportant last week.

The group was taking part in the world’s first Tai Chi lesson on top of the bridge, on Wednesday morning. Mr Sue said he was “on top of the world” but joked he had to compete with the panoramic views for his students’ attention.

Queensland Tourism Minister Desley Boyle joined the world-first lesson, in support of Story Bridge Adventure Climb’s move to offer the special tai chi classes to corporate groups. Adventure Climb chief executive officer Paul Lewin said the Story Bridge was among only three bridge climbs in the world; he hoped the tai chi classes would attract attention in the business tourism market.

“This is the first time the two things have been combined and I think it works extremely well,” he said. “It’s beautiful and a very relaxing way to start the morning. You can do some team building in the morning and then head off to the office fired up for the day”.

Mr Lewin said the tai chi classes were also available for group bookings of between eight and eighteen people. Bookings include the climb and tai chi lesson at the summit. “You’re always connected to the bridge but, because of the way the harness is designed you’re fairly free to move,” Mr Lewin said.

 

The Courier Mail Story:
(29^th of March 2008)

The best place to achieve peace of mind is now 80m above the Brisbane River. Tai Chi lessons have begun atop the Story Bridge giving Brisbanites the chance to practice the ancient martial art “on top of the world”.

Story Bridge Adventure Climb CEO Paul Lewin said the bridge was a perfect place for Tai Chi. “It’s an incredibly tranquil place,” he said. “The buzz of people going about their daily lives below but up there there’s a real sense of peace. It’s a place where anyone can exercise their mind, body and spirit while looking out to Moreton Island, Stradbroke Island, and even the Glasshouse Mountains to the north.”

Lessons will be run by world renowned ninth degree grandmaster Henry Sue, who has 50 years experience applying the art. There have only been two lessons to date but Mr Lewin believes demand will be high.

“We started it for corporate groups but in the next few weeks we’ll be starting regular lessons. The interest from locals watching from their apartments has been surprisingly high,” Mr Lewin said.

Queensland Tourism Minister Desley Boyle Joined two instructors and 11 students for the first ever lesson on the bridge.

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