B.C.C.M.A British Championships 2009

This years BCCMA British championships were held at the Moorways Leisure Centre in Derby. 11 members from Sil Lum Kune’s Kung Fu clubs entered this event to put their skills to the test against other clubs from around the country. The style of Kung Fu Sil Lum Kune members practice is Sil Lum Hark Fu Mun which translates to Shaolin Black Tiger style. Most of the group met at the club’s academy in Bedworth before then traveling on in convoy to the event in Derby.

As soon as we arrived the students registered themselves and then after finding their seats started to warm up and practice their various routines they would be performing during day. The first categories of the day were the youngest group of 10 years and under. We had 2 members in this category, Bodie Miles and Callum Burkinshaw. Bodie had entered 5 events and Callum 4. The first category was the Northern Traditional forms and both youngsters competed in this event doing the same Preying Mantis form. After all the competitors had performed the final scores were read out which gave the club its taste of things to come. Callum was awarded the Gold medal and Bodie received a Bronze medal. The next event for the two boys was the Northern Traditional Long Weapon. Again both boys performed the same staff form with Callum achieving another Gold followed by Bodie with the Silver.

The next categories were the Southern Traditional forms and weapons. These events were dominated by Shawn Meadows from the Nam Yang Association who took Gold medals in both events, with Callum getting 2 Silvers and Bodie achieving the Bronze in the open-hand forms.

After these categories were completed, it was the turn of the older kids to compete. The Northern categories were dominated by our club, achieving first, second and third in both events. First event was the Northern Traditional open-hand form with all our students performing the same routine. Cameron Burkinshaw was awarded the Gold medal, and Rebecca Currie beat her older brother taking Silver, with Alex achieving the Bronze medal.

This event was followed by the Northern Traditional Long Weapons with Cameron Burkinshaw again achieving Gold, this time followed by Alex Currie getting Silver and Aaron Tarling getting the Bronze medal.

The categories then moved onto the Southern Traditional sections with Cameron Burkinshaw again taking Golds in open-hand forms and long weapons and Alex Currie followed behind achieving Bronze medals in both events. The next events were the Short Weapons followed by the Twin Weapons. Cameron again performed in both these events taking Silver with his Iron Rod, and another Silver with the Butterfly Knives.

The event then moved onto the adult categories. Although Charlotte Burkinshaw is only fifteen, she was moved into the adult section due to lack of competitors in her age group. This first adult category was the Northern Traditional Open hand forms and both Charlotte and Andy Watson from our club competed for this title. This category was hotly contested with our students performing Preying Mantis forms against 7 Star Preying Mantis members. This was the first surprise of the day as Charlotte won the Gold beating the Preying Mantis members by performing one of their own forms and Andy followed suit taking the Bronze medal. This scenario was the replayed in the Northern Long Weapons and again Charlotte took the Gold but Andy unfortunately missed out on the medal position in this category.

The next category was the Southern Traditional Open Hand forms which put all four of our adult entries in the same group. Andy Watson performed Sam Sing Bo, Robert Buckler performed Kam Kong, Charlotte Burkinshaw performed Yah Fu (Night Tiger) and Paul Cowley bravely performed the recently learnt Dan Cheng (Single Elbow) form to an excellent and confident standard. The judges were impressed with the unusual Single arm form giving Paul the Gold and Charlotte received the Bronze for her performance.

The category then moved onto the Southern Traditional Long Weapons. Our club dominated this event by taking all three medals. Charlotte won another Gold, and Andy a Bronze for performing Infant Boys staff, while Paul took the Silver with his performance of the spear.

The last category was the Traditional Short weapons with Robert just missing out on the medals with the Rattan Ring and Charlotte winning yet another Gold for her performance of the fan.

As Chief Instructor I was very pleased with every ones effort and impressed with standard of many of our students performances.

For me, three students stood out on the day. Paul Cowley performed two recently learnt forms with grace, power and confidence achieving Gold and Silver. This last year I have watched Paul mature into an excellent Black Sash and an example of what hard work and dedication can be achieved by all who are willing to work for it. As also father to Charlotte and Cameron, I am doubly proud of their dedication and skill winning medals in every category they entered. (Charlotte won 4 Gold’s and a Bronze and Cameron won 4 Gold’s and 2 Silver’s). To me this proves beyond any doubt that not only are our students and children very hard working and dedicated, and that our coaching methods get results, but our style of Hark Fu (Black Tiger) is a style to be revered.

Written by Paul Burkinshaw
(Chief Instructor)