Press conference: Wushu Tournament Beijing 2008

Updated：2008-08-05 13:55:55

 

 

Related story: Wushu Tournament Beijing 2008 to begin August 21

Date/Time: 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 5

Venue: Main Press Conference (MPC)

Sun Weide

Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. Welcome to today’s press conference. The topic for today is Wushu Tournament Beijing 2008. Our guests are: Wang Xiaolin, secretary general of International Wushu Federation (IWUF), president of Chinese Wushu Association, director General of Wushu Administrative Center of General Administration of Sport; Wang Yulong, chairman of Technical Committee of IWUF, vice president of Chinese Wushu Association; Chen Guorong, chairman of Technical Committee of Wushu Federation of Asia, vice president of Chinese Wushu Association; Jin Xiaobing, competition director of Wushu Tournament Beijing 2008; Li Yuqi, deputy director & general secretary of Olympic Sports Center Precinct; and Wu Zhaoyang, deputy venue manager(Media) of Olympic Sports Center Operational Team.

We welcome the team who will compete for Wushu Tournament to have a presentation.

Wushu athletes give a performance.

Wang Xiaolin gives the speech.

Wang Xiaolin

Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. On behalf of the International Wushu Federation and Chinese Wushu Association, I would like to express my appreciation for coming here on the press conference despite your busy schedule. Now I will give you some briefing on the Wushu Tournament Beijing 2008. The Wushu Tournament Beijing 2008 has been approved by IOC and is going to be hosted by BOCOG and International Wushu Federation (IWUF). It is organized by Beijing Wushu Association. The official name is Wushu Tournament Beijing 2008.

Wang Xiaolin gives the speech.

The upcoming "Wushu Tournament Beijing 2008" will be held at the Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium from August 21 to 24. There will be 10 gold medals for taolu and 5 gold medals for sanshou.

The taolu events are: Men’s Changquan, Nanquan & Nangun all-round, Taijiquan & Taijijian all-round, Daoshu & Gunshu all-round, Jianshu & Qiangshu all-round; Women’s Changquan, Nanquan & Nandao all-round, Taijiquan & Taijijian all-round, Daoshu & Gunshu all-round, Jianshu & Qiangshu all-round. The sanshou events are: Men’s 56kg, 70kg, and 85kg; Women’s 52kg and 60kg.

There will be 128 men and women athletes from 43 countries and regions all over the world, as well as 55 officials. They are the top 6 place winners of taolu and top 8 place winners of sanshou of the 9th World Wushu Championships in 2007. Over 1,300 athletes from 89 countries and regions took part in the 9th World Wushu Championships. Among128 athletes, there are 20 wild cards holders. In order to allow more countries and regions to obtain gold medals and achieve good competition results, the IWUF made the decision that each country or region may enter at most 8 events for the total of 15 competition events.

The head of taolu event will be Madam Chen Huikun, the chief coach is Mr. Tang Lingtai.

I will be the head, and the deputy heads are Mr. Wang Yulong and Mr. Chen Guorong. Another deputy head is not here because of other arrangements.

Now I would take this opportunity to the name athletes of the delegations, Mr. Yuan Xiaochao, Zhao Qingjian, Wu Yanan; for women taolu athletes are: Ma Lingjuan, Lin Fan, and Cui Wenjuan.

Chinese athletes will participate in Men’s Changquan, Men’s Daoshu, Taijiquan all-round, Taijijian all-round, Women’s Jianshu, Qiangshu all-round, Nanquan, Nandao all-round, and Taijiquan & Taijijian all-round, Men’s and Women’s sanshou 50 kilograms and 52 kilograms. The Chinese team can only participate in the above mentioned eight events.

The preparation work has been finished. All countries and athletes are preparing for the event. The athletes, coaches and referee as well as officials from International Wushu Federation are due to arrive in Beijing on August 18. The referees are all international referees selected by International Wushu Federation. The international foreign referees count for 70% of the referees of the event.

Wushu Tournament Beijing 2008 is embodiment of eastern and western cultural, as well as the concept of "People’s Olympics". We are convinced that with the support of BOCOG and International Wushu Federation as well as from media friends, this competition is going to be a complete success. Thank you very much.

Sun Weide

Thank you for the brief briefing. Now the floor is open.

Kyodo News

I would like to ask the athletes participating the tournament. Are they staying in the Olympic Village? If they don’t, it is unprecedented. How would you assess it?

Wang Xiaolin

The athletes will not be here until August 18. Now it is only the 5th. There is about two weeks of time. As for the lodging for the athletes, we are still doing the arrangements. I don’t have any confirmed news. In a short time we will have the information of their lodging.

China Youth Daily

You mentioned earlier that this tournament is an exchange of the Chinese and western culture. So do you suppose there will be other similar events?

Wang Xiaolin

I think everybody knows that Wushu has thousand of years of history in China. The core thought of Wushu is about harmony. Beside Wushu Tournament Beijing 2008, we also organized some excellent Wushu athletes who will perform for the athletes in the Olympic Village. Moreover, there will be performances of Wushu in other venues. I think competition is one thing. But through Wushu Tournament Beijing 2008, it will promote the exchange of western and Chinese culture further and this is a very good showcase. This is very important. I also believe that through Wushu Tournament Beijing 2008 and the entire related Wushu exhibit, I believe the foreign friends will further understand China. Thank you.

Yomiuri

I would like to have a follow up question. Do you think these athletes are going to be moving in the Olympic Village? What are their identities going in and out the Olympic venues?

Wang Xiaolin

During my briefing, I talked about it. Please note that this tournament will be hosted by BOCOG and IWUF and also hosted by Chinese Wushu Association. The athletes will not be reported until 2 weeks from now. So we don’t even know the lounging arrangements. We are still negotiating with the related agencies. So in this regard, as being the president of Chinese Wushu Association, I don’t even know where the athletes will be staying. We are still making arrangements. As for the identity of the athletes, since Wushu is not a formal competition or event of the Beijing Olympics, these athletes has been protected through the nice Wushu championship and by the IWUF, and the tournament will be hosted by Chinese Wushu Association, which actually send the invitation to the Wushu athletes. When they arrive in Beijing, we will give them special IDs in accordance to the Wushu rules. Thank you.

Beijing Daily

For Mr. Wang. Could you tell me the proportion of the all the Wushu athletes and then the 20 wild cards holders and could you please tell us some information about them and where they are from?

Wang Xiaolin

This is the first time I provide the numbers. I mentioned earlier that there will be 8 Chinese athletes, 6 for taolu and 2 for sanshou. There are 128 athletes in total aside from the 8 Chinese athletes. The specifics are as follows:

Athletes from Europe are 28. Athletes from America are 14. There 7 from Africa, 2 from Oceania, 77 from Asia. Among the 77, there are 8 Chinese.

As for the wild card holders, on March 8, we had a technical meeting of the IWUF and we talked about the rules and the principles of the wild cards. The wild cards are mainly given to the athletes who did not win the first 6 places of the 9th World Wushu Championships. The reason why we give these wild cards is for more athletes to participate. Each country can only used one wild card. So 20 wild cards are distributed to 20 countries and regions. This is decision by IWUF which has been praised by everybody. This can promote the development of Wushu in the world.

China Daily

A lot of readers still don’t understand. This is a special tournament. The medals that the athletes win will not be listed in the medals for the Olympic Games. Will the athletes participate the Opening Ceremony in the Olympic Games? What is the possibility that Wushu will be accepted as one of the events in the Olympic Games?

Wang Xiaolin

For the first question, the schedule of Wushu event is late, which is form August 21 to 24. After the end of Wushu tournament, the very night will be the Closing Ceremony of the Olympic Games. The athletes will get registered on August 18, so they will not participate in the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games. As for the possibility of the athletes participating in the Closing Ceremony, I’m not so sure yet. But we will arrange activities for these athletes. These activities will be arranged by IWUF and BOCOG. Even though Wushu is not the formal event of the Olympic Games, Wushu is a special event. That is the first on the Olympic history. So what we have arranged is that there will be a welcome reception on the evening of August 20. This will be hosted by the IWUF and the Chinese Wushu Association. The purpose of the reception is to welcome the international athletes participating in the tournament. As for the gold medals of Wushu and the relationship of the gold medals and the Olympic Games, since Wushu is not a formal event in the Games, the gold medals of Wushu won’t be counted as Olympic medals. There is no relationship between these types of medals.

As to the 2nd question about the possibility of Wushu to be accepted as a formal event of the Olympic Games, we appreciated IOC and IFs that they have given us a very positive assessment of Wushu development. But I personally think that if Wushu is to be accepted as the formal event for the Olympics, this is our goal to strive. We are very confident. But I personally think that there is a long way to go.

There are 2 deciding factors. First of all, IOC is trying to trim down, as everybody knows. Four years from now, in the London Olympic Games, the 28 sports will be reduced to 26. In this kind of situation, if Wushu wants to become a formal event, I don’t think it will have any advantages. The second deciding factor is that a lot of the Wushu aficionado and friends have promoted Wushu. Our members spread out to 120 countries and regions. But as everybody knows, a lot of events are trying to apply to be the formal event of the Olympic Games. Wushu itself has its own advantages. But on the other hand, it has to work harder to complete itself. So on this issue, of course we are very resolute but each step we take has to be firm.

Beijing Sports Radio

In the past experience, there are a lot of events entered into continental events and then be called as international event. As far as you know, which continental event Wushu used to be in?

Wang Xiaolin

Wushu has been a formal event of Asian Games since 1990. It is a formal event in East Asian Games, Southeast Asian Games, and South Asian Games. Next year, in Bangladesh, Wushu will be the formal event of South Asian Games. Right now, West Asian Games are still thinking about of accepting Wushu as a formal event. Wushu has a very positive development in Asia. It also has a pretty good development in Europe. We have more than 40 members in Europe. In the last few years, the level of Wushu in Europe has been very good, both in women’s and men’s taolu and sanshou. So from Wushu Tournament Beijing 2008, you will definitely see that kind of performance. So if everything goes well, European athletes will possibly get the gold medals in Wushu Tournament Beijing 2008 including taolu and sanshou. Currently, what we are doing is to make efforts that Wushu would enter in African Games and Pan-American Games.

We have to meet a few conditions but we still need time to work it out. For example, for the African Games, we have to go to the countries. There are 38 countries there. We will be participating in the Games. We have 21 countries in Africa as members for the time being. We still have to meet the remaining conditions before being titled in those Games. We are determined and we are confident. We can try step by step. Wushu can become a comprehensive sports event. Wushu is not only a sport; it is also a good way of the fitness of the body. We want to promote it in the world so that everyone in the world can take advantage of taking this sport.

Shaanxi Huashang Newspaper

Mr. wang, I came from Shaanxi. At MPC, I have seen journalists wearing vests of kungfu. So maybe it is a hot topic. For many people Wushu coming as a tournament, it is a very exciting thing. My question is whether Wushu is going to be taken part in the opening and closing ceremony of the Olympic Games. What is the actual situation for Wushu?

Wang Xiaolin

During the Beijing Olympic Games, with the approval of BOCOG, Wushu can hold a tournament in Beijing and have 15 medals to be delivered, we are very proud and we are really thankful to IOC that it is supporting Wushu. It is not only recognition of Wushu, it is also the attention paid to the Chinese culture and respect to the Chinese culture. There are people saying this is not enough. Wushu should be a formal event. I think it is because IOC has its own rules, according to the rules of IOC, in order to be a formal events, you have to apply 7 years ahead before the Beijing Olympics. In 2001 when Beijing won the bid in Moscow to be the organizer of the Olympic Games in 2008, we announced that there will be a Wushu tournament. As I remember, there are 28 sports and 302 events, according to IOC’s charter and rules, there are really restrict rules to be respected, to be observed. On December 6, 2006, we got the approval of IOC that there will be the event tournament this time. This is a very good result. This is a recognition as I said for Wushu. If you want Wushu to be a former event, overnight it is impossible. You have to go through procedures. We have to go through the application, demo, you have to have the green light, the roting system, you have to be approved and accepted. I personally believe in 2001, when we won the bid to organize Beijing Olympics in 2008, we also gain the recognition of Wushu. It is a good support of Wushu. Thank you.

Reporter from Spain

I heave two questions for Mr. Wang. As far as I know, there is some kind of debate if Wushu should be a formal sport and if it will become an Olympic sport. If it becomes an Olympic sport, then it is in contradiction with the traditional Chinese martial arts. I would like to know your opinion.

Wang Xiaolin

Thank you for your question. Let me say this: Wushu, as a sport, has common points with other sport. But Wushu is very unique. Wushu is not only a sport, but also embodies a long history of China. Wushu is closely linked to the long history and culture of China. If Wushu becomes a sport of Olympic Games, it is not in contradiction with Chinese culture and spirit. I remember that in 2007, Mr. Rogge, president of IOC, came to Beijing. He went to Henan and visited the Shaolin Temple. He watched Shaolin Kong Fu performance. After the performance, he said, ‘I think Wushu is really inline with the Olympic spirit.

That is why I believe in Wushu are two parts. One of them is the competing side of the martial arts, and the other is the traditional martial arts. Wushu promotes both of these two aspects at the same time. Wushu Tournament Beijing 2008 is a very big event. This year later from October 28 to November 3, World Traditional Martial Arts Championship will be held in Hubei. The first and second were held in Beijing. But this time, it is the first time that this event being held in Hubei, Wudangshan, a mountain. This means that Wushu people from outside the world also pay attention of the credo of Wushu in Hubei.

If one day, Wushu becomes a formal event in the Olympic Games, this would help boost the spirit of Wushu. It won’t be in contradiction with the tradition, because I think that the current situation of the international sport will make people understand that when Wushu becomes an official event in the Olympic Games, it will attract more attention of the world. As the president of Wushu Association and secretary general of International Wushu Federation, I also believe Wushu is a very hard working sport. I know the training is very demanding. I think that if it becomes the comprehensive and intercontinental sports, even further will become official sports of the Olympic Games, it will be in favor of the future development of sports. Of course, we have met many conditions before achieving the goal. I don’t think it is in contradiction with the tradition and the spirit of martial arts.

France 24

My question is very practical, when will the competition of Wushu take place? Are you disappointed that Wushu is not officially in the Games?

Wang Xiaolin

I already announced the actual time for the tournament. It will be at 9 o’clock of August 21. There are competitions every day in the morning, afternoon and evening. And you will have a sanshou and taolu. Sanshou will be at 9:30 a.m. on the morning of August 24. In the morning or evening there will be more taolu, men’s and women’s taolu. So media from foreign countries, you are most welcome to see the competitions. And your comments will be mostly welcome.

As for the second part of your question, actually my previous answer has already replied to your question. Wushu, if it wants to be become an official event of the Olympic event, it should go through a procedure. I am not unhappy because Wushu is not a formal event. I am realistic. On the contrary, I can say, for the Olympics is the top event of sports, if we can take advantage of this Games, and take it as a show case to the Chinese Wushu, we can get benefit from it. Thank you.

AFP

One question is on figures. Could you tell me the number of the people who are practicing Wushu, particularly in China and throughout the world? Second question is about the fact that you raised before. There are fewer disciplines in the next Games. If Wushu comes in, it will take place of the other sports. What other sports will Wushu take in order to get in?

Wang Xiaolin

To your first question, maybe as Secretary General of International Wushu Federation, I don’t have the figure of people practicing Wushu in the world because we don’t have common statistic system. I can only say that outside China in the five continents, because of my work, wherever I go abroad, I can meet people practicing Wushu everywhere. The Chinese delegation went to Africa, America, Australia, Europe, and wherever we go, we were warmly welcomed. Sometimes, people came to us after the performance. Sometimes the public doesn’t allow us to leave because they have so many questions. Once in a small city of Spain, by the end of the performance, all the spectators were standing up and they don’t want to sit down, because they were so excited. I think there are 200 million people but I don’t have the exact number. I hope it is not wrong. I think 200 million is a conservative estimation. It could reach more.

For the second question, I already answered, I think. If Wushu wants to be a formal Olympic event, it has to overcome a few difficulties, because IOC is decreasing the sports numbers but not increasing them. Yet we are determined and confident we will take it a step by step. We will go and try to become an official event and official sport of the Olympic Games one day. We sincerely hope that during the period we will have your support and IOC’s support.

Japanese reporter

Earlier, I was able to experience the fantastic performance, I also practice myself so I plan to watch the tournament. My question is not directly related to the tournament. Yesterday, there was an incident in Kashi, also there is a bombing in Yunan province, so a number of these events occurred prior to the opening ceremony. How do you feel about the individuals taking such actions?

Wang Xiaolin

I can only answer half of your question. First of all, thank you for the compliments for our athletes. You come from Japan. We have a very good exchange in Japan. In Japan, Japanese people have a very huge Taiji boxing team, and even disabled people practice Taiji boxing. This allowed Taiji boxing to become a cure for disabled people in Japan. Usually in a tournament there are thousands of people attending the tournament in Japan, so they are king in this sport. Sometimes, we can even learn from the Japanese practitioners of Wushu. To the second half of your question, I’m not in the position to answer, so Mr. Sun will answer.

Sun Weide

Let me add a few words, you mentioned the explosion in Xinjiang Kashi and the case is under the investigation, the 2 suspects have been arrested and detained. We should point out that the security work for the Games is the foundation for the success of the Games.

The Chinese government and Beijing government as well as BOCOG play high attention to the security of the Games. Each special team is composed of personnel from different government departments to ensure the safety of the security of the Games. In light of the international practice and law of China, we have taken necessary and effective measures and protection and security. With regard to the various measures which have been fully implemented, we have been prepared for any threat to the security of the Games. I believe that under the leadership of the government and the support of the international community, we are convinced and confident that the Games will be secured and safe. Now that is the end of the press conference, thank you for coming.

Here is an article with some clarification on whether taolu wushu and sanda will be part of the Beijing Olympics and what role it will have at all for the Olympics.

Original Article and Title:

Wushu competitors at the 10th National Games yesterday had more than a medal to look forward to the martial arts genre will for the first time be included in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) sprung the pleasant surprise on wushu aficionados who had been pushing for the sport to be made an official event.

"There will be a wushu competition during the Olympic Games. It’s not going to be one of the official 28 sports but we will organize with BOCOG (the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad) a wushu competition," said Rogge at the opening ceremony of the Sixth Art Exhibition of Sports in China in Nanjing yesterday morning.

When Beijing won the right to host the 2008 Games, proponents wanted wushu, one of the traditional sports in China to be listed as an Olympic sport for the home Games. The IOC turned down the proposal but kept the door open for it to be a representation sport.

But Rogge did not clarify if wushu will be regarded as a demonstration sport like taekwondo and tennis, which were earlier demonstration sports and have now become official events at Olympic Games.

While medals will be awarded for demonstration sports, they will not count towards the official tally of nations.

In 2002, the IOC decided to cap the number of Olympic sports at 28.

Editor: Yan
 

WORLD WUSHU TOURNAMENT IN THE 4th BUSAN TAFISA WORLD SPORT FOR ALL GAMES
REGULATION OF TAOLU COMPETITION

1. DATE AND PLACE

The World Wushu Tournament in the 4th Busan TAFISA World Sport for All Games will be held from September 26 to 29, 2008 in Busan, Korea.

2. COMPETITION EVENTS

Men’s Event: Changquan, Nanquan, Taijiquan (Optional Taolu)

Daoshu, Gunshu (Optional Taolu or International Competition Taolu)

Women’s Event: Changquan, Nanquan, Taijiquan (Optional Taolu)

Jianshu, Qiangshu (Optional Taolu or International Competition Taolu)

3. PARTICIPANTS
1. The member federations who have entered the top 8 places of the 9th World Wushu Championships are eligible to participate in the Tournament. Those teams who have entered the top 8 places in more than 8 events may enter one (1) team leader, two (2) coaches, and eight (8) athletes. Those teams who have entered the top 8 places in less than 7 events may enter one (1) team leader, one (1) coach, and six (6) athletes.
1. The teams from China, Macau, China, Hong Kong, China, Chinese Taipei, Vietnam, Malaysia, Japan, Russia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Korea, and Canada may enter one (1) team leader, two (2) coaches, and eight (8) athletes.
2. The teams from the Philippines, Italy, Iran, USA, Singapore, Ukraine, Netherlands, Cuba, Spain, and Israel may enter one (1) team leader, one (1) coach, and six (6) athletes.

3.2 Those member associations which have not paid the IWUF membership fees of the years 2007 – 2008 are not allowed to participate in the competition.

3.3 Those associations which are applying for the IWUF membership are permitted to participate after their application are accepted by the IWUF.

4. PARTICIPATION METHODS

4.1 Each competitor may at most enter 1 bare-handed routine and 1 weapon routine.

4.2 Competitors are required to hand in: j Health Certificate (including electrocardiogram, pulse and blood pressure). The Health Certificate is valid within 30 days before the competition. k Life Insurance Certificate.

4.3 The Application and Assessment Form for Degree of Difficulty of Optional

Taolu (Changquan, Nanquan, Taijiquan) shall be sent to the IWUF Secretariat two months prior to the competition (before July 26).

5. COMPETITION METHOD

5.1 The Competition shall be individual competition.

5.2 The competition will be conducted in accordance with the “Rules for International Taolu Competition” endorsed by the IWUF.

5.3 The competition will implement the relevant regulations of the IWUF.

5.3.1 Changquan, Nanquan and Taijiquan will be implemented according to optional routine of the competition rules.

① The athletes can choose the degree of difficulty of movements of categories A and B. If they choose the degree of difficulty of movements of category C, the value will be awarded according to the value of degree of difficulty of movements of category B.

② At the same category of degree of difficulty, the movement with the same degree of difficulty can be done two times at most, but the movement with degree of difficulty of connecting movements cannot be repeated.

5.3.2 Daoshu, Jianshu, Gunshu and Qiangshu

The Scoring Criteria for Non-Degree of Difficulty of Movements will be implemented.

5.3.3 The athletes should complete the movements of the optional routines required by the rules.

5.3.4 Music shall be accompanied to Taijiquan and Taijijian. 0.2 point will be deducted if there is no music (Lyric is not permitted.) accompanied to the said routines.

4. The power of interpretation of the Rules rests solely with the IWUF. In the event of disagreement in the interpretation of the Rules, the Chinese Text shall prevail.

This years 2008 Pan American Wushu Games held in Brazil was a competition involving competitors from North and South America. Countries included USA, Canada, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Peru, Argentina, Bermuda, and others.

Though it was a good tournament with a good showing of taolu (forms) and shanshou (sparring) competitors, the tournament couldnt help but be overshadowed by the Olympic Wushu Competition to be held in August 2008.

This years showing of US competitors included 5 taolu athlets and 1 shanshou athlete.
Medalists included Alfred Hsing, Dennis Ta, Lucas Gellar, Stephanie Lim, and Teresa Wong.
Alfred Hsing brought home a silver and bronze for the US in straight sword and spear while Dennis, and Lucas took silvers in staff and broadsword respectively. The female athletes Stephanie and Teresa also medaled in straight sword and tai chi respectively.

When US athletes were asked on their thoughts of the competition they said that Canada and Brazil also had a good showing of athletes placing well in the competition. Also, the US athletes thought that the Brazil Wushu Team were very warm and friendly in showing them around Sao Paulo, Brazil. The tournament though intense during competition was also a showcase of friendship towards other countries and united individuals.

The sparring was very intense. There were some powerful fighters from Brazil, Venezuela, and Peru. Canada had a very strong female competitor as well.

Changquan Competitor at the 2008 Pan Am Wushu Tournament

http://www.youtube.com/v/Db4B_yS0V2U

From the Bermuda Sun

There’s only one real way to train to be a fighter and that’s to fight.

Bermuda’s San Shou team have been preparing for the regional championships for the brutal full contact Chinese fighting art - with full-on, no holds barred fight sessions.

Garon Wilkinson, president of the Bermuda San Shou association, said the four fighters who head to Brazil on July 13 and their sparring partners had been slugging it out at regular Wednesday ‘fight club’ sessions to prepare their bodies and brains to react under the extreme pressure of fight conditions.

“You can do all the running, skipping and jumping in the initial stages but the only way to truly prepare cardiovascularly for a fight is to actually fight.

“Ordinary sparring doesn’t really prepare you for the sort of oxygen debt you experience when you get hit so we’ve introduced weekly fight sessions to our training regimen.

“Basically we just warm up and then go at it as hard as we can.

“We find our fighters are getting nervous before Wednesday fight sessions. We want them to be nervous because that’s what they will have to deal with in a fight.”

The full programme is actually extremely sophisticated, incorporating plyometrics, mitt work, boxing training, strength and conditioning, spinning and beach work as well as fight techniques and tactics.

The team Sentwali Woolridge, Wilkinson, Jermal Woolridge and Leroy Maxwell, all of whom competed in the World Championships in Beijing in November last year, have been in training since January, a minimum of five times a week.

Despite the heavy sessions on Wednesday there is no let-off on Thursdays, one of the toughest days of the week.

“You need to prepare your body for back-to-back fights. My fight in Beijing was at 11.30 at night.

“If I’d have won I’d have been fighitng again at 7.30 in the morning. You have to be able to take a bruising and a battering and still get up the next morning and do it all again, so we’re training hard on Thursdays too.

“In some sports you can not train and the worst that can happen is that you are going to get a bad result. If we don’t train, well….”

The team have adapted their programme over the past few years, incorporating features from the other countries they have met at past tournaments.

“Our programme has become pretty developed over the past few years. Every time we go to compete we learn something new.

“Going to the World Championships was just amazing. We got to see how our style of fighting in the west measures up to the European and Asian styles.

“We tend to use more of a boxing/kick boxing style. They really use their martial arts skills more.

“There’s a lot more straight knockouts with kicks.

“Our basis is in traditional martial arts so we have the skills to fight that way. It is just a matter of being able to blend everything together, which is really tough.”

Wilkinson believes that, though the competition will be tough at the PanAm Wushu Championships, it will not be as competitive as the worlds.

And he believes that Bermuda, who picked up two silvers and two bronzes at this event last year, has genuine medal prospects.

“All of us are experienced fighters now. We have had at least five fights. If everything goes well I don’t see why we shouldn’t come away with gold.”

Pan Am Wushu Championships
San Shou section

Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil

July 13 - 20

Bermuda team: Sentwali Woolridge (Under 70kg), Garon Wilkinson (under 75kg), Leroy Maxwell (under 85kg), Jermal Woolridge (Over 90kg), Oscar Lightbourne (judge), Damion Wilson (coach), Khalid Pitcher (coach) Talia Iris (manager).