In 1976, Grandmaster Bow Sim Mark founded the first Chinese Wushu Research Institute in Boston, Massachusetts. Its purpose was to promote the study and practice of traditional and standardized martial arts from China. The Institute and its affiliated schools around the world offer a variety of classes, seminars, and publications.
Grandmaster Bow Sim Mark is a world renowned expert in tai chi and wu dang sword. She was named Inside Kung Fu magazine’s Woman of the Year in 1994 and 1996, and has been extensively featured in media coverage of Chinese martial arts in the US and internationally. She is the author of a popular series of books on wushu. Her son, Donnie Yen, is one of Asia’s top action stars.
Donnie Yen’s newest film, LEGEND OF THE FIST: THE RETURN OF CHEN ZHEN, opens in Asia in September, after premiering at the 67th Venice International Film Festival. Two new trailers have been released.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTYgWwrBGWk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRK-SvUfNAg
Grandmaster Bow Sim Mark will teach a seminar on her Rooting Pine Chi Kung exercise on Sunday Aug. 29 at the Boston school. The seminar is from 1 to 3 PM, and the fee is $40. Beginners welcome.
The Bow Sim Mark Tai Chi Arts Association performance team has been invited to appear at the annual Boston Chinatown film festival, Films at the Gate, on Saturday Aug. 28. The demo will be rather informal, consisting of a “practice” in the space next to the screen on the Greenway Park in Chinatown, between 7 and 7:30 PM. The film selection for that night is the 1961 animation HAVOC IN HEAVEN, based on the story of the Monkey King. In addition, The Thursday night film will be Donnie Yen’s recent hit BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS.
For more information, go to http://www.filmsatthegate.org/
Donnie Yen’s next kung fu film, LEGEND OF THE FIST: THE RETURN OF CHEN ZHEN will screen on the opening night of the Venice Film Festival on Sept. 1, prior to its Asian release later that month. The film, which was directed by Andrew Lau and choreographed by Yen, will have a US theatrical release early next year.
Master Bow Sim Mark and her performance team celebrated the Year of the Tiger at Boston’s Children’s Museum on Feb. 28 2010. See highlights of the performance in the “Video” section.
The New York Times website just posted an article about Donnie Yen’s latest films and his current superstar status in China. Read “An Action Star Moves to the Lead” here: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/20/arts/20iht-donnie.html?ref=arts
Boston’s top daily newspaper just published an article about Grandmaster Mark and her daughter Chris Yen. Read the article here: http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/03/08/kung_fu_daughter/
The online version doesn’t have the pictures that accompanied the print version, so we’ll post them in the photo section of this site.
On March 14 2009, the World Martial Arts Federation will give a Lifetime Achievement Award to Grandmaster Mark in recognition of her many years of teaching and performing wushu. If anyone is interested in attending the banquet, contact the Boston school at 617–426-0958.
Group warm up exercises