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Posted by The Scoop

New Zealand Kung-Fu Wushu Team 2007
Sunday, 28 October 2007, 1:24 pm
Press Release: NZ Kung-Fu Wushu Federation

NEWS RELEASE

New Zealand Kung-Fu Wushu Team 2007

The New Zealand Kung-Fu Wushu Federation Incorporated is sending a team to the International Wushu Federation’s 9th World Wushu Championships in Beijing China to be held between 11-17 November 2007. The World Championships will be held at the Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium and will include, Sanshou (full contact fighting) and Taolu (forms routines).

The Olympic Sports Centre has a capacity of approximately 7,000 people with coverage of the event extending to various local, national and international media. As a popular Chinese martial art, the event is expected to be sold out for the entire competition.

A placing in either the sanshou or taolu events is required to qualify for entry into the prestigious ‘Wushu Tournament Beijing 2008’, to be held simultaneously to the Olympic Games as a tribute to Chinese culture.

The event will be between 21-24 August 2008, (Day 13-16) of the Olympic Games at the Olympic Sport’s Centre Gymnasium (Olympic Green). The 2008 event will be another key milestone towards sport wushu evolving into an official Olympic event.

The New Zealand Community Trust and Asia New Zealand Foundation have kindly contributed towards team costs; however a key sponsor is still being sought. A profile of the New Zealand Wushu Team 2007 and contact details is attached. Please feel free to contact individual team members direct should you wish to promote or document the activities of the team. For more information visit www.iwuf.org.

Yours sincerely

格兰 凯思

Glen Keith
President
New Zealand Kung-Fu Wushu Federation (027) 249 3298

P.O. Box 24-456 Manners Street, Wellington, New Zealand
Ph +64 4 239-9454, Fax +64 4 239-8453, Mob +64 27 249-3298
www.wushu.org.nz president@wushu.org.nz

NEW ZEALAND KUNG-FU WUSHU TEAM MEMBERS 2007
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Posted by Wicklow People

Kung fu man Robert to represent Ireland

Arklow kung fu black belt Robert Wolohan is set to travel to China to represent Ireland in the World Wushu Games next month.

Wushu is a collective of different martial arts focusing on self-defence, rather than actual fighting. It is related to kung fu but is regarded as more an athletic and acrobatic performance, while kung fu remains the traditional fighting practice.

Selection means a return to the competitive arena for Robert, from Mill Meadows.

He had taken a break from formal competition for the past few years after winning a bronze medal at the world kung fu championships in America in 2000 and also capturing two British titles.

Robert has been practising kung fu for 15 years as is a 5th dan black belt. He has represented Ireland internationally on several occasions.

It the first time Ireland has put a team together for this,’ Robert said.

Athletes from 38 countries will be taking part.’

The games will be held in Beijing from November 9-17 and the governing body hopes to have the sport included as a demonstration sport during next year’s Olympics.

Robert said a good showing from the Irish athletes would mean an invite back for the Olympics.

The six-person Irish team is looking for funding from potential sponsors for the trip, which will cost up to €4,000 per person.

We are a new sport so we get no government funding at all,’ Robert said.

Robert, a carpenter, said he intended to compete in the middleweight or heavyweight broadsword demonstration and fighting categories at the games.

Potential sponsors should contact Robert on (087) 914 9335 or Irish coach Sam Lee on (087) 242 3063.

From The Herald

By Augustine Hwata

ZIMBABWE have been invited to the International Wushu Federation World Championships set for the Olympic Stadium in China next month.

Four fighters — Fanuel Mutimbanyoka, Talkmore Gamanga, Given Dube and Tinashe Tembo — are set represent the country at the event which will serve as the final selection for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The team won a berth to the qualifiers after coming first at the Central and Southern African qualifiers held in South Africa in June this year.

Wang Xiaolin from the IWUF sent an invite to the Zimbabwe Wushu Association president Gilbert Makowah last week, furnishing him with the qualification criteria for the 2008 Beijing Games.

Makowah will also accompany the four fighters to China where he will represent Zimbabwe in the third IWUF congress meeting running concurrently with the championships.

“We were the best team at the African championships in June when we beat fighters from Cote d’Ivoire, Benin, South Africa, Ethiopia and hosts South Africa.

“If we do well in China, then we qualify for the Olympic Games in 2008,” he said.

Wushu, a Chinese full contact martial art, commonly referred to as kung-fu, is now an Olympic sport, separate from semi-contact karate which is also a Games discipline.

“Wushu has been accepted at the Olympics and that is why we are a full affiliate of the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee.

“Our sport is coming as a demonstration event in 2008 but will be an official medal sport in London 2012,” said Makowah.