WUMA European Championships 2003

Sam Davis , Jack Smith, Sifu Paul Burkinshaw, Todd Flanagan Jones And Charlotte Burkinshaw

A few students from Sil Lum Kune travelled to Cheltenham on Sunday 30th November 2003 to take part in the WUMA European Championships. When we arrived we noticed many clubs from the various countries of the UK as well as several countries from Europe and large contingents from Germany and Italy.

Registration of the athletes took a few hours due to the overwhelming turn out before the competition could begin. The open-hand forms were split up into the various styles; ie Japanese, Korean, and Chinese. Weapons were grouped together including creative / musical which in my opinion should be in a separate category from traditional weapons. These categories were then divided into junior and adult sections. Again due to the amount of people that entered these categories lasted all day instead of the normal hour or so they usually take to complete. Unfortunately only two students from Sil Lum Kune, Samantha Davies and Jack Smith entered the Chinese forms category. They however performed very well and were both to win trophies. Samantha achieved a 2nd place and Jack followed in 3rd place.

Samatha Davis Performing Chinese Form

Sparring was divided into points, light-continuous and full-contact. Our fighters entered the points and light-continuous categories. Although they all fought well, the competition on the day was too great for our juniors. Charlotte Burkinshaw performed exceptionally well considering that due to her height she was placed against much older girls and was eventually beaten by the winner of the category.

Todd Flanagan-Jones has recently turned sixteen and so was entered into the adults section for this competition. Taking this into consideration Todd exceeded himself using his speed and skill to achieve a 2nd place in the Mens under 55kgs points sparring and a 1st place in the Mens under 60kgs light-continuous sparring and so become European Champion in this category.

Todd Flanagan-Jones Competing In The Adult Sparring

By the time Todd had finished his fights and received his trophies it was 1.00am in the morning and the competition was still going on. It was a long hard day but I am sure that our students gained invaluable experience for their future in martial arts.

Written by Paul Burkinshaw

(Chief Instructor of Sil Lum Kune and the

Shaolin Fist Chinese Boxing Association)