U.S.C.K.F. NEWSLETTER Volume 15 July 2004-January 2005 A Message to U.S.C.K.F. Members from U.S.C.K.F. President Huang, Chien-Liang Greetings to all USCKF members. I am pleased to announce that the USCKF recently completed our 16th annual tournament, held from 23 July to 25 July 2004. 579 competitors attended this year s event, along with many judges, spectators and support staff. Thank you to all of you who attended or contributed to another successful event. This year, at our USCKF, six higher ranked Masters and Grandmasters received recognition by The World Kuoshu Federation (TWKSF) for their achievements. They applied, and received, 9th Tuan and 10th Tuan ranks under TWKSF certification program. Erick Wang, the Representative from the President of the United States to the USCKF tournament, presented the awards. Grandmaster Huang, Chien-Liang (USA), Grandmaster Richard Lee (USA) and Grandmaster Steve L. Martin (USA) all received 10th Tuan, while Master Chang, Fu-Chen (Taiwan, R.O.C.), Grandmaster Li, Wing-Kai (Brazil) and Master Tan, Ching Ngee (Singapore) received 9th Tuan. All recipients received a certificate of awards and a personalized sash. In this issue: Message from President Huang 2004 U.S.C.K.F. Tournament Recap 2004 Hall of Fame Donation Recognition T.W.K.S.F. Ranking International Referee Certification Get the USCKF Newsletter quicker online! Send an e-mail to usckf@bcpl.net to sign up. Please include: Your Name Membership # E-mail address TWKSF also sponsored an International Referee certification program, which added greatly to the number of qualified referees in the U.S. and abroad. The next World Kuoshu Tournament, sanctioned by TWKSF, likely will be held in either Singapore or the United States. I extend my congratulations to Grandmaster Richard Lee s West Coast Team for winning the 2004 Wang Chueh-Jen Cup for the best overall team performance at the 2004 tournament. I also wish to congratulate Grandmaster Henry Look and Master Kevin Preston for being inducted into the U.S. Kuoshu Hall of Fame. I also wish to congratulate each of the Competitor of the Year winners for the outstanding performances that earned them their recognition: Youth Female, Monica Harrelson; Youth Male, Ben Hoffman; Teen Female, Sherry Van Meers; Teen Male, Collin Lee; Adult Female, Miriam Nakano; Female Internal, Christine Rice; Male Internal, Alexander King; Female Lei Tai, Morgan Malone; Male Lei Tai, Jonathan Tissue. Additional details on the tournament and the tournament event are available inside this newsletter and will be posted shortly on the USCKF website at www.uskuoshu.org. Finally, I wish that each of our friends in Florida and the southern United States a quick recovery from the recent spate of storm that have ravaged that region. Once again, thank you for your support of our programs. I look forward to seeing all of you at our 2005 Kuoshu tournament on the weekend of 22 July to 24 July 2005
2004 U.S. International Kuoshu Championship Tournament Marriott s Hunt Valley Inn, in Hunt Valley, Maryland, was host to the 2004 U.S. International Kuoshu Championship Tournament, which took place on July 24th and 25th. The tournament boasted 579 competitors, including 72 Lei Tai fighters, and more than 1,500 spectators. Teams came from all over the world, including Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Israel, Nepal, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States to compete against some of the world s top Kung Fu athletes. The tournament was sponsored by The United States Chinese Kuoshu Federation (U.S.C.K.F.), sanctioned by The World Kuoshu Federation, and co-sponsored by The International Contact Weapons Sport Federation and The International Tien Shan Pai (Celestial Mountain) Association. The U.S.C.K.F. sponsors the only tournament to have formal representation from County Executives, U.S. Congressmen, U.S. Senators, The Office of the Vice President, and The Office of the President of the United States for more than ten years. In the week leading up to the Tournament, The World Kuoshu Federation offered an International Referee/Judge Training Seminar. The course consisted of classes where the attendants learned the rules and regulations that govern Lei Tai, and forms and weapons competition. The course ended with a test that consisted of both practical and written situations for the students to evaluate and score. Graduates of the course received either an International A or B Certification (depending on previous experience), which allows them to Judge Full Contact Lei Tai Fighting, as well as Forms and Weapons divisions. For the first time, black Referee A shirts and white Referee B shirts were available to the qualified participants. The Tournament officially began on Saturday morning with Grandmaster Huang, Chien-Liang, President of the U.S.C.K.F., and 64th Generation Tien Shan Pai, hosting Opening Ceremonies. Lion Dance Teams from Siu Lum Pai Chinese Boxing Academy (PA), Jow Ga Kung Fu Athletic Association (MD), and U.S. Martial Arts Academy (MD) escorted the VIPs and Government officials into the main ballroom. The guest speakers in attendance included The Honorable Erik Wang, representing President George W. Bush, Ms. Michele Brown, representing U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski, and a Representative from Congressman, C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger s office. Following the speeches, several high ranking certificates and gold sashes were presented by the World Kuoshu Federation. Master Wing Kay Li, Master Ching Ngee Tan, and Master Fu Chen Chang received 9th degree certifications, and Grandmaster Steve L. Martin, Grandmaster Richard Lee, and Grandmaster Chien Liang Huang received their 10th degree certifications. Official competition began after opening ceremonies, with Adult and Youth Light Contact, and Forms and Weapons divisions in the Hunt Valley Ballroom (the hotel s main ballroom). Wushu and some Youth divisions took place in The Maryland Ballroom, and Tai Chi divisions used the Garden Room. Elimination rounds for the Lei Tai Full Contact fights began at 1:30 p.m. in the main ballroom, as other events continued around them. Prior to the finals for the Lei Tai fighting, a number of people received their World Kuoshu Federation Ranking Certifications. Grandmaster Huang presented the certificates and sashes for 1st degree to Jeremy Harlow, Bryan Prindiville and Affa Michael Weaver; Lauren Canas and Diane Spoor received 2nd degree; John Green, Ryan Velivlis and Jonathan Miller were awarded 3rd degree; Ken Saunders, Jeffrey Zukor and Ian Chisholm were
awarded 4th degree; and Martin Sewer received 5th degree. U.S.C.K.F. Support awards were also given prior to the final fights. Following the Lei Tai finals were some of the Master s Demonstrations. The U.S.C.K.F. was honored to welcome Grandmaster Song, Guang Hua from Taigu in the Shanxi Province (the birthplace of Hsing I Chuan) performing Lin Chaio Dao (Special Double Weapon), and Grandmaster Chiu Chi Ling from Hong Kong. Sunday brought the remainder of the events, including more Youth events, Light Contact Sparring, Two-Man Sets, Shuai Chaio, Chi Sao, and Push Hands divisions. Closing Ceremonies were held at the end of the day, where the team trophies were given out. The Forms/Weapons Team trophies were given to Richard Lee s West Coast Team (Alamo, CA) for 1st place, Zhong Yi Kung Fu Association (Madison, WI) in 2nd place, and Wah Lum Kung Fu (Boston, MA) taking 3rd place. Lei Tai medals were presented to first through fourth place, with first place medallists also receiving Championship Belts. The Lei Tai Team trophies were awarded to Richard Lee s West Coast Team (Alamo, CA) for 1st place, Zhong Yi Kung Fu Association (Madison, WI) in 2nd place, and Canadian Martial Arts (Canada) taking 3rd place. The Grand Champion trophy, (the Wang, Chueh-Jen Cup, in honor of Supreme Master Wang, Chueh-Jen, Grandmaster Huang s Shih- Fu) goes to the team with the best all around score. Once again, Richard Lee s West Coast Team, from Alamo, CA won 1st place. Additional Master s Demonstrations also took place during Closing Ceremonies, as well as the presentation, by Grandmaster Huang, of more plaques and awards of appreciation. Some of the Masters featured throughout the weekend were: Grandmaster Guang Hua Song, Grandmaster Chiu Chi Ling, Xiao Ling Liu, Jun Hai Lu, Grandmaster Fernand Morneau, Master Robert Simpson, Master Bill Fong, Wei Yu Hu, Martin Sewer, and Marilyn Cooper. The weekend came to a close with the Annual Kuoshu Hall of Fame Banquet. This banquet brings together competitors, Judges and other officials in a celebration of martial arts and friendship. The Competitor of the Year and Judge of the Year awards were presented from sealed envelopes, insuring surprises for all winners. All Competitor of the Year nominees received a banquet ticket and a T-shirt, and were recognized during the presentation. The categories included Youth Female, Youth Male, Teen Female, Teen Male, Adult Female, Adult Male, Internal Female, Internal Male, Lei Tai Female, and Lei Tai Male. The winners, who each received an engraved cup, were: Youth Girl-Monica Harrelson; Youth Boy-Ben Hoffman; Teen Girl-Sherry Van Meers; Teen Boy-Collin Lee; Adult Female-Miriam Nakano; Internal Female-Christine Rice; Internal Male-Alex King; Lei Tai Female-Morgan Malone; Lei Tai Male-Jonathan Tissue. The Judge of the Year award is decided through a peer vote, where each judge completes a ballot stating who they think has had the best attitude, and has been hard working, fair, and impartial throughout the Tournament. The winner for 2004 was Othal Thomas. The final award of the evening was for the Kuoshu Hall of Fame. This is the prestigious and unique lifetime achievement award to recognize the individual who has promoted Chinese Kuoshu and martial ethics. In order to be considered for this honor, the applicant must be nominated, and is required to answer a series of questions relating to their martial arts career. The response is reviewed by the Hall of Fame Committee, who then votes on
the nominees. Subsequently, the nominee must receive two-thirds of the votes before being accepted. To signify this great honor and achievement, the inductee is presented with both a certificate and trophy, and this year, the U.S.C.K.F. was proud to present Hall of Fame rings to all previous inductees. The new rings, which are made by the same company that makes NFL Superbowl rings, are set with a diamond, and feature the inductee s last name, and the Kuoshu logo. Previous inductees include Grandmaster Chien Liang Huang, Grandmaster Richard Lee, Master Joe Dunphy, Grandmaster Steve L. Martin, Grandmaster Pui Chan, and Grandmaster Wai Hong Eng. This year, Grandmaster Henry Look (CA), and Shih-Fu Kevin Preston (PA) were the Hall of Fame recipients. Grandmaster Look is the Director of Hsing I Chuan for the U.S.C.K.F., as well as a Kuoshu Hall of Fame Committee member. Shih-Fu Preston has been on the U.S.C.K.F. Board of Directors since 1996, is a Certified Referee A, and has received Kuoshu Medals A and B. Upon the conclusion of the awards ceremony, the Banquet turned into a party, complete with a DJ playing dance music, and door prizes donated from Tournament vendors like World Martial Arts Supply, Warrior Emporium, One Moon, Phoenix 5, KCV Burnley, Virtual Blade, Capital City Tai Chi, Jonie Collections, KungFuMovies.net, and Liu Xiao Ling, and Century Martial Arts Supply, who donated an adult Wavemaster. A Special Congratulations to this year s U.S.C.K.F. Hall Of Fame Inductees Grandmaster Henry Look Master Kevin Preston The 2004 U.S. International Kuoshu Championship Tournament, as well as the United Stated Chinese Kuoshu Federation, promotes friendship, unity, physical fitness, harmony, martial ethics, and peace around the world by bringing together martial artists from every walk of life. This year s tournament brought teams from over fifteen countries, and exhibited to the world how friendly competition and dedication to the martial arts can help to advance world peace. From the competitions, to the demonstrations, spectators were given a glimpse of the dedication and powerful artistry that exists in the practice of martial arts. In recognition of this dedication and the great achievement exhibited by participants throughout the weekend, guests also witnessed the bestowal of awards to those who excelled in competition during the tournament. Altogether, this year s tournament exhibited all that is worth celebrating in the practice of Chinese Kuoshu and martial arts. The annual event emphasizes the Chinese martial art s ability to unify people from all walks of life, and promotes both a healthy body and moral character. The honor, accomplishment, and true harmony that exists when those who appreciate martial arts come together on an occasion such as this, truly demonstrates the benefits of being a practitioner of the martial arts.
Congratulations to the following martial artists who have received Ranking or International Referee Certification from The World Kuoshu Federation: RANKING: Tenth Degree: Grandmaster Steve L. Martin Grandmaster Richard Lee Grandmaster Chien Liang Huang Fourth Degree: Jeffery Zukor Ian Chisholm Ken Saunders Third Degree: John Green Ryan C. Velivlis Jonathan P. Miller Second Degree: Lauren Canas Diane Spoor First Degree: Jeremy Harlow Bryan Prindville Affa Michael Weaver INTERNATIONAL REFEREE CERTIFICATION Certified A: John Ozuna Morgan Newman Certified B: Gary Vita Warren Prender Steve Frush Michael Quach Kevin Raphael Fitch John Velasquez We thank and appreciate the following people for their continued support of U.S.C.K.F. over the years, keeping this non-profit Kuoshu federation reaching its goals. Co-sponsor: Jiang Jing Sung Baek Donors: Joe Dunphy Ernest & Fay Lee Arthur Panella Emma & George Grenier Wayne Hunt Tsiwen M & May Law- $2,500