Kung Fu Wushu Victoria hosted the 2018 Oceania Kung Fu Wushu Championships on Sunday, 21 October. Over 150 competitors from all over Australia as well as from New Zealand came to compete, in categories for kung fu, contemporary wushu, sanda full-contact fighting, tai chi and duel and group routines.
The action-packed day began with an exciting dragon dance that got the attention of everyone – spectators, judges and officials, and athletes, young and old. The dragon marched the officials onto the arenas and then it was time to perform. Athletes from as far as New Zealand, Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia joined forces with their Victorian hosts to provide a spectacle of colour, action and excitement.
Mr Glen Keith, Senior Vice President of the Oceania Kung Fu Wushu Federation and Cr Sean O’Reilly of the local Dandenong City Council kicked off the competition with some welcoming speeches.
A contingent from the Melbourne promoters of Wu Lin Feng, the international sanda fighting circuit that showcases sanda all over the world was also on hand, to support the sanda fighters on the day, as well as to give out some free tickets to their upcoming Melbourne contest in November to some of the winning sanda competitors at the Championships.
Wu Lin Feng is the most watched martial arts TV channel in China, and sponsors sanda competitions worldwide.
Mr Bingchen Ye, Secretary General of Kung Fu Wushu South Australia, also set up a signature wall, whereby athletes, officials, spectators and other supporters were encouraged to sign a petition in support for getting Kung Fu/Wushu into the Olympics.
The 2018 Oceania Kung Fu Wushu Championships was a long and full day of martial arts action and competition. See some of the highlights of the event in the gallery below.
