| | |  News from Around Banderas Bay 
International Festival of Martial Arts - Saturday, April 24th
 Boob Cohen - PVNN
April 21, 2010
| | From left to right at the press confernce held at El Torito Sports Bar and Restaurant are Barry Cohen, Executive Vice President of the Paradise group, balack belt and student of Tao Te Chia, Ruben Garcia, the founder of the Tao Te Chia martial arts movement and Santiago Manzanares, owner of Round Dragon Gym in Puerto Vallarta. | |
The International Festival of Martial Arts will be held at the CUC campus of the University of Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta in the Campus Theater in Ixtapa for two big shows on Saturday, April 24th. The two shows which are non-combative feature 17 different choreographed acts in all disciplines of martial arts. Show times will be at 5:00 PM and again at 8:00 PM.
Spearheaded by Barry Cohen, the Executive Vice-President of the Paradise Group and under the tutelage of Ruben Garcia, the founder of the school named Tao Te Chia, who has taught the art for 40 years, this promises to be an event that Barry has called worthy of a Las Vegas show. Tao Te Chia stands for "the power of balance, path and virtue of life". It promotes physical and emotional development with an emphasis on deeper family and community ties. The physical part is just one aspect of the all encompassing art.
Cohen, a resident of Puerto Vallarta for 18 years has been studying martial arts for 3 ½ years and recently achieved black belt status and decided it was time to give back to the local community he has lived and worked in. The stress of his work had him seeking ways to deal with life in a healthy manner and after exercise, yoga and other methods, he was referred to Garcia and thus began his quest in martial arts in which he has found the tranquility and serenity to deal with the rigors of work and life. He is also in fantastic shape at 60 years old.
Ruben Garcia has taken kids with all types of societal problems off the streets for 40 years at no cost and trained and disciplined them all over the world. His teachings have taken him to the United States, Canada, Mexico, France, Italy, Spain and almost every South and Central American country. In speaking with Ruben and watching him at the press conference it was obvious that this is his only life's passion and he tackles it with all the effort that one can. His whole life has revolved around the teachings of martial arts.
Barry was in Veracruz, Mexico last August at an international convention testing for his black belt at a similar festival and was so impressed that he decided to bring a show to Puerto Vallarta and his dream has come to fruition.
The shows itself is made up of 38 individuals ranging from 17 years olds to 60 years old and are second generation students. The first show was 30 years ago and those performing were just kids then. The only person in the show from Puerto Vallarta is Barry, the others are traveling from all over Mexico; Los Cabos, Culiacan, Oaxaca, Guadalajara, Mexico City, Puebla, Toluca and Zacatecas.
All Puerto Vallarta martial arts schools are invited to the event to set up booths and inform the public of what they are doing at their gyms. Tao Te Chia has no permanent gym; they are here to support all gyms.
For those that cannot drive to the CUC Theater in Ixtapa, free bus service was set up to take people to and from the campus in two locations. One location is the bus stop outside of Sam's Club and the other at Plaza Pitillal. The first show pickup time is 3:30 PM and the second show pickup time is 7:00 PM. The buses will return to the pick up locations after each show.
Without the sponsors that are supporting the event, the show would not be able to be put on. Many have stepped up to the plate to provide free travel and lodging for the performers as well as providing the wonderful venue.
Sponsors include the City of Puerto Vallarta, VIP Magazine, Vallarta Opina, Crown Paradise Resort, the Villa group, NH Krystal Resort, Tani Tours, CUC (University of Guadalajara, El Torito Sports Bar and Restaurant and EXA Radio FM 99.9.
Tickets are available prior to the show at Gold's Gym and at the ticket window at CUC at the event. The cost for Adult/VIP tickets are $250 pesos, adult general admission $150 pesos and kids get in for $100 pesos. Seating capacity is 600 in the campus theater.
Come out and experience the event, it's possible that some of Barry and Ruben's enthusiasm and passion might rub off on you too!
|
|
| |
Vallarta Weddings
Tell a Friend
Site Map
Print this Page
Email Us