Wah Lum Tournament 2000!

[mantisclaws]

This tournament was ok, but the masters exhibition was a joke! The actual masters were great, but there was these stupid comedy routines that took way too long! There were many masters who did not perform because of time! That was not very polite to the many masters who came from far.

Also I saw so many chop suey styles there, I think that traditional kung fu will be on the endangered species list soon.

The guy who won Grand Champion Joe Keith, I saw him compete he was real good. His sifu might have judged one of his divisions, but he competed in 5 to 6 events. The grand championship had 6 judges, and they all were grandmasters of different styles. Its not easy to impress them.

I was glad he beat the monk, because they did only clap for themselves. They thought they were so great. They were competing too. But none of them sparred!

[meltdawn]

Wow, Mantis, tell us what you REALLY feel, lol!

I thought the comedy routines were misplaced in a Master's exhibiton, also. I thought that some of the masters declined to perform because of a long day judging, at least that was what I heard.

I don't keep up with the tourney scene, so I don't know the guys' names, but I saw a guy doing some drunken stuff who was awesome. He was Asian, looked about 18, wearing black. There was another guy in a white and black shirt doing ditang chuan, I was awestruck! Then there was an Asian lady in pink who did a magnificent staff form, but wasn't called up in the placings, and promptly left. Then there was a kid in a gold shirt with matching hair doing 3-sectional staff. I watched him in warm-up, and thought he was great. But he did too much prior and geeked in competition, I was sorry for him.

I grew tired of so much mantis (no dishonor intended) but enjoyed watching all 2,000 competitors in the broadsword division. I also loved the wushu, since it's rare I get to see it. Those guys are amazing athletes. And there was a lady in red doing taiji who was also breathtaking.

The taiji masters were incredible. I gained so much insight from watching them. And I loved the monks! Their attitude outside their performance was not to be desired, but their skill is fantastic.

I hope to go next year, and maybe even compete. I heard quite a few people saying they'd like to see lung ying...

[kungfulover]

The actual masters were wonderful.
I was very happy to watch the HK term,especailly how the great master perform the monkey style. The HK term was Tai Sing Pap Kar master was it? and Grandmaster Chan Sau Chung was there was he?

Those form that HK term perform was like very old traditional chinese kung fu. Did anyone take photo with them?? Does anyone have their photo?? I would like to take a look.

I didnt like the "star war show" performing
at the middle and at the end of exhibition. It was not kung fu at all. I was wondering how come they were doing this show for.

[mantisclaws]

I wish the Monkey team performed more, I hear there style Tai Sing Pap Gar Moon has some really good weapon forms, too bad they couldn't perform longer.

[kungfulover]

hi Mantisclaws,
Check up with the following website http://www.chinesekungfuonline.com
They do have many cool weapon forms.
Does anyone know when we can see Tai Sing Pap Kar term again??

[mantisclaws]

Thanks Kungfulover!

There sight is awesome everybody should check it out, although it's not quite finished. It gives alot of insight into its members and history. If anyone knows when and where they will be I hope they will post it.

-Peace

[Sow Choy]

Grandmaster Chan Sau Chung and his team came to vist my Sifu, Master Li Siu Hung at our school and they performed many forms and weapons, and we performed for them too. We spent the weekend showing them around South Florida, they loved it here. I don't know when they will return, but they are very friendly and a few of them speak english. If you are in Hong Kong look them up.

[Lizardking]

I had problems with the tournament. Many times the judges were looking elsewhere while the competition was going on. Other competitors forgot their two man sets (TWICE!) and they scored higher than us. Other kids dropped their weapons and they scored higher than our kids. I saw a lot of showy techniques, but little emphasis on power. It was my first tournament and I wasn't impressed with the judging. I don't know if I am going to spend the money to go back or not. It was neat to see all of these martial artists there, but not when then all did the same flips, kip ups, etc. that made them indistinguishable from each other. The Teenagers impressed me the most with their ability and skill. I guess I'm not a tournament person.

[mantis boxer]

The tournament scene is sometimes a joke. It's hard enough to find a good sifu these days. Where do these guys get their judges anyways? Unqualified sifus? That's where things go wrong. Also politics play a large role. LOok at the tat mau wong tournamnet in 1997. His daughter won the 4 star female championships even though I heard she continually used her face as a shield in the sparring division. hehe The tournamnet organizer has to give an X number of trophies to every school because if they didn't, then the school won't come back. Also if you don't give trophies to a school then you're messing with the school's sifu. If I threw a tournament and you sent 20 students to compete and none of them won , wouldn't you be mad at me? That's tournaments for you.