The National Centre for Combat Martial Arts (NCCMA) held its Official Opening night 7th April 2006. The Centre is the home for the Harrogate Lau Gar Kuen Kung Fu Club, Kickboxing and Tai Chi as well as the the Home for 'Lenny' the Lion which won the National Lion Dance competition for the second time in a row earlier this year.
The Opening celebrations were attended by many people associated with the Club, as well as friends and family of Stuart Agars (owner of the Centre and a Lau Gar Guardian) Master Yau the 'keeper' of the Lau Gar Family Style of Kung Fu, which is taught around the country and in the centre, attended the opening night and in a special ceremony Blessed the Lion in the Traditional style.
Stuart and David Eccles preformed the Lion Dance for the opening ceremony accompanied by Master Yau on the Drum - quite an honour! Joe Agars was superb as he played the part of the Buddha, complete with head mask and fan.As well as the Lion Dance, there were plenty of other demonstrations; Pete Hornby performed the Tiger Crane set, Graham Abdulla preformed the Second Sword set, David Eccles performed a Tai Chi Sword set, Stuart Agars showed us Lau Gar Luk Hup Kuin and Nathan Beer demonstrated Lau Gar Soar Hou Kwun. The audience we also asked to become more involved as the matted area was filled as everyone participated in some Chi Gung excersices led by Stuart Hunt, who also preformed the role of compair for the night events.