Road of the Elite: Journey to the Competitive Peak:
On April 6th 2019 we have had a number of students participating at the Golden State International Wushu Championships. In this event, there was a specific competition called the USAWKF Kung Fu Team Trials. Seven of our students decided to compete in the Team Trials; Kaylee W, Karen N, Leonardo P, Vandan P, Ethan C, Ocean F and John X. All the students who participated received very great results and students who competed in the Team Trials received certificates of achievement which will be beneficial in future college applications.
After the Golden State International Wushu Championships, four students had decided to compete further in the USAWKF Kung Fu Team Trials at the 3rd Pan American Kungfu & Taijiquan Championships; Kaylee W, Leonardo P, Vandan P and Ethan C. Practitioners who further qualify at this point would receive the opportunity to compete internationally. These students continued to participate in weekly endurance training and daily practices at SKZ. They would learn new competitive forms through watching and reviewing video footage of competitive contemporary forms. They would diligently practice from opening to closing time everyday in order to inch closer to their ideal level of performance. Every Sunday, they would come early in the morning to practice and jog for a about three miles and would come back later in the day to continue to practice some more.
Although the formal goal is to compete internationally, this would mean they would have to be the best of the best at Kung Fu in the United States. Our ultimate goal in this was to ingrain a sense of hard work and determination into our students, showing them how hard they would need to work in order to achieve such a herculean task. We wanted them to know that even if you don’t achieve a specific goal, there is still so much gained from the experience. Our students came in with no expectations but left with a mountain of new goals and determined spirits. Their experience will also lay a roadmap for the next generation of students who wish to compete. Congratulations on a job well done! We look forward to your future endeavors!
