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Saturday March 22, 2003 Martial Artistry came out to support the Fight for Life Karate Tournament in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Even testing was rescheduled so that students and instructors could be free to attend the event. As all proceeds from this tournament benefited the worthy cause of Organ Donation Awareness, we were only too happy to help. (right: Erich Vera scores a point on his opponent. Well, should have scored a point on his opponent...) |
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As usual, our students made the crowds real
happy, if not some certain of the hard style judges. For some
small-minded folk, it's humbling to watch these wushu athletes do the kind
of stuff that they can only dream about. And the only way for these
small minded folk to regain their sense of power is to sit in the judges
chair, scowl and smack the athlete with an outrageously low score. "You may take all
the applause," they seem to say, "but I'll make darn sure you don't take
home that trophy . . ." It's sad, really. The kids are taught to politely ask the judges what they may do to improve. They've been answered with turned backs, snarled depreciations of their chosen style, claims that they were compared to Jet Li - found to be not on a par with him (no duh!) - and therefore given the lowest score possible. |
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I thought integrity was supposed to be an important aspect of all martial arts. When one sees such behavior, one wonders if some schools are negligent in instilling this martial virtue. (above left: Amir Shirkhorshidian competes with a wushu mantis form.) (left: Albert Vera competes with wushu broadsword, or dao) (right: Danielle Stender competes with kung fu warfan) |
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It is sad to think that the majority of these folks are instructors. Sad, because where the head leads, the tail will follow. These people are teaching others. And, just what are they teaching them? That it's okay to ignore, demean or rob someone, so long as they are different? I'm not sure what dictionary these folks are using, but in mine that's a definition for prejudice. (right: James Esparza (red) spars) |
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Fortunately, not all judges are that way.
But enough are that, if you're a Chinese (soft) stylist -- a real Chinese
soft stylist, and not someone claiming to do "Chinese Karate" (can you say
"oxymoron"?) -- that competing in an open tournament is less a competition,
and more a gambling expedition. (left: Kris Klarer competes in the open hand division with a modified kung fu form) (right: Paul, Kris's dad, competes in the weapons division with a modern wushu broadsword routine) |
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Okay, okay .... time to step off the old soapbox. So, how did our wushu - kung fu crew do? Let's start with our only female competitor at this tournament, who showed those boys who put the grr in grrl. Danielle Stender 1st Place: Intermediate
Youth Forms (right: Ms. Stender competes in open hand with a traditional kung fu routine.) |
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Danielle, a Junior Instructor's Aide at Martial
Artistry, competed in the open hand division with a modified (to fit in a
karate ring) version of Xiao Hu Yan, or "Little Tiger Swallow", a
Shantung Shaolin kung fu form. In the weapons division, she competed with He Shan, or Crane Fan.
(left: Ms. Stender does a reinforced grab during the Little Tiger Swallow routine) |
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James Esparza 2nd Place Adult Weapons Known to one and all as "Sparky", this pre-med student and Martial Artistry Instructor's Aide competed in all three events, forms, weapons and sparring. (left: James does a classical kung fu tornado kick - and landed that booger in horse stance, too!) (right: Mr. Esparza displays the difficult three section staff move, "Dragon whips tail") |
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| (right: Martial Artistry instructor's aide James Esparza impressed everyone with his wushu three section staff routine) |
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(left: James Esparza backfists in bow stance during the Kung Lik Kuen, or Power Fist Form, a classical kung fu routine) |
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Mr. Esparza has a natural gift for the
three-section staff, not the least of which is his innate boldness. Flexible weapons, such as the three section staff, whip chain or rope dart, are notorious for punishing the wushu player for any mistake. These weapons don't stop when the practitioner does, and the injuries that result can be very off-putting. In short: for many, the first time they play with a flexible weapon is also the last. Sparky, however, takes the hit and keeps on training. And, in the end, that's what separates the best from the also-rans. They just keep on trying. (Right: James does a carp kip-up to his feet with three section staff) |
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ALBERT VERA 2nd Place:
Intermediate Youth Forms Albert chose to compete with more modern wushu routines, using a Changquan, or long fist, form in open hand, and competing with the dao, or broadsword, in weapons. (Left, right, and lower right: Albert competes with changquan) (lower left: Albert chops in dragon with the sabre) |
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ERICH VERA 2nd Place: Youth Weapons Affectionately known as "Erbert", he got a bit too nervous in forms to make a good showing in that division. And, though he couldn't get a lot of his shots called in sparring, he was a good sport about it. (left & right: Erich
competes in weapons with warfan) |
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AMIR SHIRKHORSHIDIAN 3rd Place: Black Belt
Forms Amir was not in the best of form at this tournament; he was very nervous, especially in weapons (Sifu being on the judging panel may have had something to do with that). He was bested by several worthy competitors in forms, but the crowd certainly thought that he outclassed all his weapons competitors. |
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That's tournaments, though.
(above left: Amir presents his jian,
or straight sword) |
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KRIS KLARER 3rd Place: Youth Intermediate Forms Kris competed in both weapons and forms. For forms, he chose a combination of two classical kung fu forms, Xiao Hu Yan and Kung Lik Kuen. In weapons, he opted for Dao Yi, a beginner's modern wushu broadsword routine. (left, lower left and lower right: Kris competes in weapons) (right: Kris backfists in bow stance during forms) |
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PAUL KLARER Kris's dad also came out and competed. Like his son, Paul chose the wushu set Dao Yi for his weapons routine, but went with the traditional kung fu set, Xiao Kai Men, or Little Open Gate, in forms. |
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As three of our competitors and several of our
spectators were lion dancers, we were very excited to see another lion dance
team perform for the opening festivities. Sifu Frank Rivera's team brought two lions, a blue and a flower-face, both with the traditional long tails. |
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It was great fun to watch, and they have an
excellent drummer. Congratulations and thanks to Sifu Frank Rivera's Hung Gar lion dance team!
Questions? Comments?
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