Date: December 05, 2006
Four USAWKF Members Certified as International Judges
Shanghai, China - The USAWKF sent four of its members to participate in the latest International Judges Certification Training and Examination in Shanghai. The USAWKF contingent included Ted Fu (Maryland), Li Shu Dong (San Francisco, CA), and Qian Lizotte (Boston, MA) for Taolu, and Anthony Roberts (Manchester, CT) for Sanshou. Internationally certified judge and USAWKF Vice President, Malee Khow, also attended the event as an observer.
USAWKF President and International Wushu Federation (IWUF) Vice President, Anthony Goh, gave a welcoming speech to the group. In his speech, he conveyed the magnitude of the dedication the participants by emphasizing how this event would bring new energy to the IWUF, encourage the development of wushu, and most significantly, to prepare the way for the 9th World Wushu Championships to be in Beijing next year and the 2008 Olympic Games Beijing Wushu Tournament.
A total of 91 judges-51 for Taolu and 37 for Sanshou-from 5 continents and 28 countries participated in this near-weeklong training sponsored by the IWUF. The judge candidates took exams in one of two categories-Taolu and Sanshou. Each category had four sections: (1) a writing test for theory and judging rules, (2) a skills test-bare hands and weapons forms, (3) an oral test, and (4) a special test to determine real-time judging.
The chief instructor for taolu was Professor Xu Weijun of Beijing Sports University. The Sanshou chief instructor, also of Beijing Sports University, was Professor Zhu Ruiqi. Both the Taolu and Sanshou examinations were divided into 4 parts: (1) a lengthy written exam, (2) an oral exam, (3) a technical exam, and (4) a scoring exam. The Taolu technical exam consisted of a barehand routine and a weapon routine. The Sanshou technical exam consisted of a barehand routine and a demonstration of Sanshou skills. The class session where 90 minutes to over 2 hours long and were held up to three times a day.
During these classes, the participants learned and reviewed officiating laws and scoring regulations. Even for those familiar with the rules, the 3 to 4 days of studying required intense study, with a daily schedule of sleeping, eating, studying, attending classes, and little else. The four USAWKF candidates worked together as a team to quiz each other and share information. The USAWKF team's display of teamwork impressed the teachers and other students. The only break for students included a Wednesday visit to the Shanghai Qingpu Wushu Institute and a visit to the Water Village at Qingpu.
We are pleased to announce that all four of the USAWKF participants passed the examinations with high marks. Anthony Roberts of the Sanshou group earned the sixth-highest score among his peers with 94 out of 100 points! When you see these people, be sure to congratulate them on their success…and their dedication to improving the standing of wushu in the US!
Pictured are (left to right) Ted Fu, Qian Lizotte, Anthony Goh, Wang Xiaolin (IWUF Secretary General and President of Chinese Wushu Association), Malee Khow, Anthony Roberts, and Li Shudong
