The Buddha’s Hand School of Chinese Martial Arts was founded in January 2014 by Daniel Hunter, after 17 years studying traditional Shaolin Longfist Kung Fu under World Hall of Fame Master Chris Eagle at the Wu Jao Academy in Auckland. Daniel was the Chief Instructor, gaining recognition as a teacher in 2006 with the Black Belt award. In 2008 Daniel was invited to China to train at the Beijing Sport University and upon return to NZ continued to teach at the Academy until December 2013. Daniel has won many competitions in traditional martial arts from 2002 to 2016, in both open hand and weapons categories, including 2014 Oceania “Traditional Open Hand”, 2016 Oceania “Other Styles” and the inagural Brisbane International Chinese Martial Arts Competition “Short Weapon” with the straight sword. Recently the school has been successful with students achieving medal placings at the 2016 NZ Nationals and Oceania in Sydney with both open hand and weapons. Daniel is well known throughout New Zealand and Australia for his extensive history in martial arts, positive support and participation in the martial arts community and is the membership coordinator for International Wushu Federation (IWUF) NZ. This stong building of friendships within martial arts leads to opportunities for students to travel to competitions and workshops internationally and gain experiences such as training directly with Shaolin Grandmaster Shi De Yang.
The school is named “Buddha’s Hand” in the spirit of sharing – as the Buddha’s hand is always open to both give and receive. This is the Spirit of Kung Fu that we wish to promote. Sharing is the true nature of teacher and student as one cannot exist without the other and both must share the energy and interest. The reference also pays homage to the roots of Shaolin Kung Fu at Shaolin Temple, and the Buddhist ways that have kept their practice something special for a millennia. We aim to promote and preserve the magic that is the way of Shaolin Kung Fu.
Training in traditional Kung Fu is a deeper way of unlocking the body, connecting the mind and developing the spirit. The nature of the training is very focussed on developing each individual to their own best potential. We are all different, yet we are all together. This approach means that every student is encouraged to develop themselves and their own abilities through the skills and culture of real Kung Fu.
