B.C.C.M.A  Southern Championships 2003

This years Southern Area Championships started with the Lion dance, which was performed by Iain Armstrong’s Nam Yang Pugilistic Association. The troupe was led by Ian James, and we saw a lot of high lifts and some rolls, which was a different take altogether on some of the other Lion Dances we’ve seen in recent years. It reminded me a bit of something I saw in a Jackie Chan film, especially the fast and percussive drumming.

The hall was sectioned off into three areas. The first area was for the Open-hand forms and weapons section, the second area was for the semi contact Qingda sparring and the third area was for the full contact San shou and later Pushing hands section. All three areas started on time and were controlled expertly as always by the qualified B.C.C.M.A officials.

The lower weight divisions in the Qingda are always hotly contended, and this year was no exception, some fine performances were seen throughout the day. Juniors and then females started this section before leading onto the adults. Robert Buckler from Sil lun Kune was on top form this year winning the Gold, an improvement on the bronze from last year. I have seen this guy fight on several occasions and this was without doubt his best performance yet. Good day all round for Robert as he won a gold medal in the Sourthern Open-hand Forms section as well.

In the adult Qingda the issue of power raised its ugly head again as it does every occasion. Difficult one this, because from a judging point of view, a kick can sound more powerful than a punch but not have anywhere near the power level. The sound of foot pads on the body protection can be fairly loud purely because of a clash of materials. It has caused issues in the past and I am sure it will again. Saw a weapons forms section for two people for the first time, which I found very interesting. Weapons take a lot of practice if they are to show their true function.

Whether sword or staff, the basic concepts behind their use as weapons or use as a tool to display a form can sometimes be forgotten. You have to ask yourself, could or would that form look any different if you were holding a bag of frozen peas and an extra large cucumber? As far as I’m concerned weapons are dangerous thing by their function and that’s what they should look like if you display them. The age range throughout the championship seems to be extending as well, over 35 years are now competing, but why is it that if youre in the upper age range in any other sport they call you a master, but in Qingda they are called veterans. Seems a little unfair I think.

The veterans section was a very popular category, and had to divided into two weight categories Draw your own conclusion what they could call those two categories. On the whole, a very competitive afternoon of Chinese Martial Arts. It really would be nice to see it included in the 2008 Olympics, bigger prizes always increases the competitive edge and drives people to achieve higher goals. A full results list of all the days events can be found on the B.C.C.M.A’s web site.

Witten by Mark Pritchards BCCMA Qingda Official & Instructor within Sil Lum Kune

Results for Sil Lum Kune Junior Traditional Short Weapons

Nathan Hill                               2nd Place

Steven Hill                               3rd Place

Junior Girls Traditional  Southern Open-Hand Forms
Samantha Davies                         1st Place

Chelsea Baker                             2nd Place

Junior Boys Traditional Southern Open-Hand Forms
Nathan Hill                               1st Place

Junior Traditional Long Weapons
Nathan Hill                               1st Place

Adult Southern Open-Hand Forms
Robert Buckler                        1st Place

Alexandra Hyde                       2nd Place

Kevin Redgrave                       3rd Place

Junior Girls Traditional Northern Open-Hand Forms
Samantha Davies                         2nd Place

Junior Boys Traditional Northern Open-Hand Forms
Nathan Hill                               1st Place

Boys under 14 yrs Qingda Sparring               
Todd Flannigan-Jones  1st Place

Nathan hill                               2nd Place

Boys over 16yrs Qingda Sparring
Thomas Pritchards                   2nd Place

Mens Under 90kgs Qingda Sparring
Lee Johnson                           2nd Place

Mens under 85kgs Qingda Sparring
Robert Buckler                        1st Place

Mens under 75kgs Qingda Sparring
Paul Blundell                           3rd Place

Male Veteran over 85kgs Qingda Sparring
Mark Pritchards                   1st Place

Girls 13 yrs & under Qingda Sparring
Rebecca Pritchards                   1st Place

Chelsea Baker                          3rd Place

Girls 14 yrs & under Qingda Sparring
Samantha Davies                      1st Place

Female under 55kgs Qingda Sparring
Alexandra Hyde                       1st Place