ABOUT PETER
ABOUT SHIFU PETER WARR
Shifu Peter Warr started his training in the early 1960s and has been training in and teaching Chinese Martial Arts (Wu Shu) for over 50 years.
Peter’s Chinese ex-father-in-law, with whom he studied the family systems of Kung Fu Chinese wrestling and Taijiquan for over 16 years, introduced Peter to the arts. In 1980 Peter formed his own Federation, the Wu Kung Federation.
Peter joined the Governing body, the British Council for Chinese Martial Arts (BCCMA), in the early 1980s. Peter was elected to the role of Treasurer of the BCCMA in 1986, to Vice-Chairman in 1995 and to Director of Taolu in 1999. He was re-elected to the role of Vice-Chairman in 2001, 2005, 2009, 2013 in 2017 to the Hon President.
In 1985 Peter met Master Jifu Huang. Peter’s role in Chinese Martial Arts was enhanced after training with Master Huang. In 1987 Master Huang introduced Peter to his Master, Grand Master Chen Yuhe, from the famous Nanjing Academy in China. Grand Master Chen Yuhe accepted Peter as his disciple (his adopted son).
In 1988 Grand Master Chen Yuhe asked Peter to study in China with his older Brothers. Whilst in China, Peter also studied at the Shanghai Physical Education Institute, where a Judges Course had been organised by the Chinese Wushu Association, under the auspices of the International Wushu Federation (IWUF). Peter passed all the examinations and was the first European to qualify and achieve an IWUF Judge’s Degree. Since then Peter has officiated at all European and World Championships.
In 1995 the IWUF World Congress, which at that time represents 86 countries, elected Peter to the prestigious position of Vice Chairman of the IWUF Technical Committee. This is the highest position to which a Westerner may be elected; the Chairman will always be Chinese.
In 1999 Peter was elected for a second term and again in 2003 for a third 2007 for a fourth and 2012 for a fifth term 2015 for a sixth term as Vice-Chairman of the IWUF Technical Committee in recognition of his hard work and dedication to Chinese Martial Arts.
Peter also received his 8th Degree Master in 1999; this level is equivalent to a professor of Chinese Martial Arts. The highest grade achievable is 9th grade (10th grade is awarded posthumously, something Peter is a long way off from achieving!).
The IWUF Technical Committee is responsible for formulating a progressive education programme for Chinese Martial Arts (Wushu), for setting the rules and standards for all IWUF recognized Championships throughout the world.
In order to raise the international standards of Wushu, Peter Warr and the IWUF Technical Committee’s top eight Professors of Chinese Martial Arts in Beijing developed a new international teaching and training syllabus in 1998 for the 10 competition disciplines (Taolu), which includes Taijiquan and Taijijian (Taiji Sword).
The International Wushu Federation is now a full member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Peter is a former Secretary of the EWUF Technical Committee and Traditional Commission Chairman to the European Wushu Federation (EWUF). His responsibilities have included training all 26 European countries Judges and working as Technical Director at all EWUF recognized Championships.
In 1999 Peter was recognized by a major martial arts magazine, Combat, for his ‘Commitment and Devotion to Chinese Martial Arts’. Peter’s name was placed in the Combat Martial Arts Hall of Fame.
In 2003 he was again placed in the Combat’s Hall of Fame for his ‘Diligent Efforts to bring to a global audience the benefits of Chinese Martial Arts’.
In 2004 Peter wrote his first book which is called The Kung Fu Handbook, and has proven to be a very popular book for the beginner as well as advanced Kung Fu practitioners and instructors.
In 2008 the IWUF invited Peter to the prestigious position of the Chairman of the Beijing Wushu tournament which was held during the Olympic Games under the IOC cultural section.
As well as working hard to promote Chinese Martial Arts in the UK, Europe and Internationally, Peter and his ex-wife Lavinia, were the former proprietors of Morningside Health Workshop, a complementary healthcare clinic, and the Wu Kung Federation.
In 1989, Peter and Lavinia bought a Grade II listed farmhouse in Bletchley and converted the barns and stables into treatment rooms and a training hall. The centre was called Morningside and was open for 25 years and was one of the first complementary clinics in the area to offer a range of treatments, including Traditional Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture, Chiropractic, Physiotherapy Podiatry and Sports Massage etc.
