Kristy sure can do taekwan-do

Dragons, acrobats, martial art experts ... the Chinese New Year Festival will be a cracker, writes Sharu Delilkan.

It will be a family affair when Kristy Leong returns for the third time to demonstrate her taekwan-do skills at the ACCC Chinese New Year Festival and Market Day next month.

Her father, Don, and her 13-year-old brother, Mitchell, will also show their moves.

The colourful, exuberant, free community event, which this year welcomes in the Year of the Tiger, has been hosted by the Auckland Chinese Community Centre for more than two decades. Among its many highlights are a 24-person dragon dance, a troupe of acrobats from China and a highly respected portrait artist, Mu Yu Ming, also from China.

"We live in such a multicultural society here in Auckland, it makes sense to educate others and share our culture with them," says ACCC's vice chairman and events organiser Kai Luey.

Besides demonstrating taekwan-do, Kristy has competed for years, gaining accolades at the 2007 and 2009 World Champs.

She was also crowned 2007's Counties Manukau Junior Sportswoman of the Year and 2008's ITFNZ Junior Student of the Year.

Kristy says she's never had to worry about competing with her brother or father. "We compete in different categories because it's defined by our age and sex. Luckily, rivalry doesn't figure in our relationship."

Chinese New Year Festival & Market Day, Feb 13. ASB Showgrounds, 217 Green Lane West, Greenlane, Feb 13, 9.30am-4pm. Contact: Kai Luey, ph 522 1840.

Sharu Delilkan | 28th January 2010 http://www.theaucklander.co.nz/living/news/kristy-sure-can-do-taekwan-do/3909098/