The 27th annual Chinese Martial Arts Tournament (CMAT27) hosted by the University of California Martial Arts Program at the University of California, Berkeley was held on March 23-24, 2019, featuring divisions for Traditional, Contemporary, and Internal Chinese Martial Arts. Over 500 United States and international competitors participated in the two day tournament.
Shaolin Division:
This year’s tournament pioneered a new division for Shaolin Kung Fu including fist and weapon forms. Master Yanran, Executive Director of Shaolin Temple USA, served as Head Judge of the Shaolin Division.
"CMAT has 27 years of history and extensive experience in tournament management," remarked Yanran. "The Shaolin Division provides a platform for international Shaolin Kung Fu practitioners to learn from each other and improve their martial arts skills. Guided by international competition rules and essential Shaolin Kung Fu requirements, it's a good start toward formalizing the rules and standards for international Shaolin Kung Fu competitions outside of China."
On March 23 at the Masters Demo, Shaolin Temple USA enchanted the audience with "Magnificent Shaolin," a Shaolin Kung Fu showcase to kick off the new division.
On March 24th, Shaolin Temple's ancient and profound martial art revealed itself in youthful vitality on the Shaolin rings. Over 100 Shaolin Kung Fu practitioners launched a fierce competition in the whole-day tournament.
As CMAT27 successfully concluded, Shaolin Temple USA's 60-member team with members aged 5 years old to over 60, achieved outstanding results garnering 137 medals, including 78 gold, in addition to two major awards: the Traditional Wushu Advanced Division Male All-Around Champion and Traditional Wushu Advanced Division Female All-Around Champion. School Teams from Fremont, San Francisco and Silicon Valley Shaolin Culture Centers respectively placed first, second and third in traditional group event.
Team Shaolin Temple USA: 60-member strong, aged 5-60, all levels.
Kaitlyn Tran (2nd left) — Traditional Wushu Advanced Division Female All-Around Champion
Richard Chin (3rd left)— Traditional Wushu Advanced Division Male All-Around Champion
Master Yanran (1st left), Shifus Hengyuan and Hengxiu (4th & 5th left)
Media Interviews
"I feel very happy because it's really fun doing Shaolin," exclaimed seven years old Shaolin Temple USA student Arya Brooke who won three gold medals with Shaolin Tongbi Fist, Yinshou Staff and Plumb Blossom Broadsword. Her mother Lara appreciates the many benefits associated with the practice. She told XinhuaNet that "compared to other children, Arya has a really great capacity to follow instructions and discipline. And of course there are physical benefits of being active and flexible."
"I'm in much better shape now than I ever was. I'm more flexible, and competitions like this make you more confident. I feel I'm happier when I do this," Bogdana Marchis, a librarian at Stanford University told China Daily. Marchis won 2 silver medals in the Shaolin Division. She regularly attends a Shaolin Kung Fu class on Stanford campus, a wellness program that is a partnership between Shaolin Temple USA and the Stanford School of Medicine's Health Improvement Program (HIP).
Reporters also caught up with (from left) Elena Sfecla, Perry Zimblidge and Michel Jaczynski.
About CMAT
The University of California, Berkeley is a world-renowned institution of higher learning and a leader in many academic fields. The university's athletic programs, or Cal Athletics, also excel in many sports.
In 1989, the first Chinese martial arts program among universities in the United States was established on the UC Berkeley campus, setting off a wave of Chinese martial arts programs emerging in universities across the country. Bryant Fong, founder of the program, held the first Chinese Martial Arts Tournament at UC Berkeley in 1992. Open to competitors worldwide, with senior Chinese martial artists serving as advisors and head judges, CMAT has become the most authoritative and the largest Chinese martial arts competition in the Western hemisphere. In view of the growing number of Shaolin Kung Fu practitioners in the United States and responding to Master Yanran's proposition for a Shaolin Division at CMAT, the 2019 tournament added a division specifically for Shaolin events judged by Shaolin Kung Fu professionals. Adopting international Chinese Wushu competition rules, scoring is also guided by the essential requirements and unique characteristics of Shaolin Kung Fu.
Bryant Fong, founder of CMAT and tournament chair (center), told China Daily: Besides the martial and ethical aspects, "Shaolin Kung Fu has a long history and rich cultural heritage. Basic movements, postures and stretching activities are all health benefiting and great exercises for people of all ages."
With the inception of Shaolin Kung Fu classes at Stanford University in 2011 and the creation of a Shaolin division at CMAT27, Shaolin Temple USA continues its efforts in sharing Shaolin and Chinese culture on university campuses in the United States.
• photos by Robert Ho, Stuart Goldkrantz and others
