Abbot Shi Yongxin's 2023 West Coast visit & Shaolin Kung Fu Games

[GeneChing]

... for posterity.

2023 North American Shaolin Kung Fu Game Rules (2023 首届北美洲少林考功大赛规程)
Compe��on Categories:
There are Individual events (个人项目), Figh�ng form (duilian) events（对练项目 2-3 人）and group compe��on
（集体项目/家庭组 4-16 人）.
Individual Compe��on (个人项目): The individual compe��on is divided into 210 divisions by age, level, and gender.
Age Divisions: A: 7-under, B: 8-9, C: 10-11, D: 12-13, E: 14-17, F: 18-40, G: 41＋
Note: Age calcula�on is based on the par�cipant's actual age on November 4, 2023.
SKILL LEVELS
Beginners: < 2 years of prac�ce
Intermediate: < 4 years of prac�ce
Advanced: 4 and above years of prac�ce
Compe��on divisions
Songshan Shaolin Fist (嵩山少林 - 拳)
Other Shaolin Fist (其他少林拳术(自選套路)
Songshan Shaolin Long Weapons (嵩山少林 - 長兵器),
Songshan Shaolin Short Weapons (嵩山少林 - 短兵器),
Songshan Shaolin Other Weapons (嵩山少林 - 其他兵器)
1. Songshan Shaolin Fist: include any of the major forms taught as part of the common curriculum at the original
Shaolin Temple on Songshan (Song Mountain) today. This includes but is not limited to: Xiaohongquan (小洪拳),
Dahongquan (大洪拳), Tongbiquan (通臂拳), Liuhequan (六合拳), Changhuxinyimen (长护心意门), Qixingquan
(七星拳), Meihuaquan (梅花拳), Lohanquan (羅漢拳), Taizu Changquan (太祖长拳), Paochui (炮捶), Xinyiba (心
意把), Shaolin Rou�ne (少林规定拳)，Shaolin Five Elements (少林五行拳)，Shaolin Thirteen Fist (少林十三
拳), Shaolin Chaoyang Fist (朝阳拳)，Shaolin Lianhuan Fist (连环拳), etc.
2. Other Shaolin Fist: Tongzigong (童子功), Drunken Fist (醉拳)，Animal Fist (象形拳)，Ditang Fist (地躺拳)，
Shaolin Zixuan Fist (少林自选拳)，Shaolin Zixuan Nanquan (少林自选南拳), etc.
3. Songshan Shaolin Long Weapons (嵩山少林 - 長兵器): Weapon length is higher than shoulder height, such as
Staff (棍), Spear (枪), Guandao (關刀), Pudao (扑刀), Tiger Fork (大虎扒), etc.
4. Songshan Shaolin Short Weapons (短兵器/嵩山少林 - 短兵器): Sword (Jian 劍), Broadsword (Dao 刀),
& any short single weapons of comparable length to a single-handed sword such as: short s�ck (短棍), hard
whip (鋼鞭) , cane (拐杖), single daggers (单匕首), etc.
5. Songshan Shaolin Other Weapons (嵩山少林 - 其他兵器): Two-handed swords (双手剑)
Three-sec�on Staff (三截棍), Shepherd’s Whips (牧羊鞭), Rope Darts (绳镖), 7 or 9 Sec�ons Whip Chain (七节/
九节鞭 ) etc. as well as Double Weapons such as Double Broadswords (双刀), Double Straight Swords (双劍),
Double Hooks (虎头双钩), Double Daggers (双匕首), Sword and Shield, etc.
（二）对练 Figh�ng Form (2-3 persons)
（三）集体套路/家庭组 Team/Family Compe��on 4-16 persons)
Each athlete must choose 2 events (can also apply for team or duilian events)
Time to complete the rou�ne: 1. Shaolin Fist, all the Weapons, Figh�ng forms are not to exceed 2 minutes 2. Shaolin
team events: 2-5 minutes; If less than or exceeding 2 seconds including 2 seconds, the chief Judge will deduct 0.1 point,
and the accumulated points will be deducted.
Compe��on results and awards
1. Division Champions (普通奖项): The compe��on results are ranked according to the score. Gold, Silver, and
Bronze medals will be awarded to the top 3 contestants in each individual event. Others were awarded the
"Outstanding Award" cer�ficate. If there are too many par�cipants in the division, they will be divided into
groups as appropriate.
2. Individual Overall Grand Champions (個人全能奖): To qualify for Individual Overall Grand Champions,
compe�tors must compete in the advanced level and in three divisions: Songshan Shaolin Fist Form and 2
Weapon Forms (each Weapon Form must be of a separate Weapon division). Individual Overall Grand
Champions earn points for placing in each of these three events. Individual Overall Grand Champions Points are
awarded as so: 4 points for each 1st place, 2 points for each 2nd place, 1 point for each 3rd place. The 3 highest
points score will get Overall Grand Champions Gold medals, Silver medals and Bronze medals respec�vely; the
others will get the cer�ficate of "Shaolin Kungfu Excellence Award". Should a �e occur, the winner will be
determined by comparing the total scores of the three divisions that garnered the Overall Grand Champion. If
s�ll �ed, add back the eliminated highest scores. If s�ll �ed then, add back the eliminated lowest score. If it’s s�ll
�ed, the rankings are �ed.
3. North American Shaolin Kung Fu Stars (北美少林功夫之星): It is the highest award in this compe��on, and the
winner can represent North America to par�cipate in the "World Shaolin Kung Fu Test Compe��on".
Par�cipants must be the top three (regardless of gender) in the individual Overall Grand Champions of each age
group before they can par�cipate in the "North American Shaolin Kung Fu Show". The judging commitee sent
by Songshan Shaolin Temple conducts the judging, regardless of gender, age, project, or content. Finally, 7 to 9
"North American Shaolin Kung Fu Star" will be selected to advance to the World Shaolin Kungfu Compe��on in
China, 2024
4. Award Cer�ficates: 1. All par�cipants can get the electronic cer�ficate issued by Shaolin Temple, which can be
registered in the official Shaolin Temple Website direct download and print; 2. The award cer�ficate shows the
signature of Abbot Shi Yongxin of Shaolin Temple; 3. The award cer�ficate shows the only code approved by
Shaolin Temple; 4. The awardees who go to the Shaolin Temple to receive the award cer�ficates can take a
photo with Abbot Shi Yongxin. In addi�on to the list of athletes' results, which will be announced by the
compe��on organizing commitee on the compe��on website, a series of publicity reports will also be carried
out through domes�c and foreign professional media co-organizers and mul�media networks.

[GeneChing]

Read The Shaolin Temple and the Shaolin Diaspora ~ my latest feature for YMAA.com



Abbot-Shi-Yongxin-s-2023-West-Coast-visit-amp-Shaolin-Kung-Fu-Games
Northern-Shaolin-styles

[GeneChing]

Posted to our Facebook album again.

I always add a photo sample from these fb collections even though they only last for a few days until fb shifts its URLs and it disappears.

[GeneChing]

See http://shaolintemple.org.au/2023-shaolin-kung-fu-games/

[GeneChing]

A mislabeled installment - READ Shaolin Trips: The Abbot’s 2023 Trip to the City of Angels by Gene Ching

[GeneChing]

The Oceania Games were held after Europe.

Shaolin Kung Fu competition enthralls martial arts enthusiasts in Oceania
By Liang Youchang (Xinhua) 08:56, December 05, 2023


A participant demonstrates Kung Fu during the 2023 Oceania Shaolin Games held in Sydney, Australia, Dec. 2, 2023. (Photo by Hu Jingchen/Xinhua)

Shaolin Kung Fu, a world-renowned intangible cultural heritage, is practised by many in Australia. A Shaolin Kung Fu games competition held in Sydney featured various Kung Fu styles and weapon categories, and was believed to enhance understanding, friendship and cooperation among Shaolin disciples around the world.
SYDNEY, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- A Shaolin Kung Fu games competition was recently held in Sydney and attracted more than 300 martial arts enthusiasts from Australia, New Zealand and other regional countries.
The 2023 Oceania Shaolin Games include various Kung Fu styles and weapon categories such as Shaolin Fist, Animal Styles and Seven Star Fist.
"Shaolin Kung Fu is a world-renowned intangible cultural heritage and an important cultural heritage shared by mankind," Shi Yongxin, abbot of the Shaolin Temple, told the opening ceremony of the competition at the Quaycenter in the Sydney Olympic Park.

A participant demonstrates Kung Fu during the 2023 Oceania Shaolin Games held in Sydney, Australia, Dec. 2, 2023. (Photo by Hu Jingchen/Xinhua)
Once a year, the abbot would assess and confirm the Shaolin disciples' eight kinds of practice such as preaching, chanting and etiquette. The Shaolin Kung Fu games competition is part of these contents.
"The contest has enhanced understanding, friendship and cooperation among Shaolin disciples around the world, and also reflects Shaolin Kung Fu's core values of strengthening the body and clarifying the mind," Shi said.
Blake Brown, a 22-year-old man who achieved a high score of 9.05 with a spectacular set of monkey fist, told Xinhua that Shaolin Kung Fu gave him the meaning of life and dreams.
"I found my purpose in life, my dreams. I was a bit lost beforehand and Kung Fu training told me to find peace," said Brown from Brisbane, Australia, who was elected as one of 10 Shaolin Kung Fu stars at the games.

Photo taken on Dec. 2, 2023 shows the scene of the 2023 Oceania Shaolin Games held in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Hu Jingchen/Xinhua)
So far this year, the Shaolin Temple has held Kung Fu games in Africa, Asia, Latin America, North America and Europe. The Oceania competition was the final one.
According to the organizers, more than 2,300 Shaolin disciples from more than 100 countries and regions participated in the examination contests this year.
"This competition serves as a testament to the universal appeal and profound impact of Shaolin martial arts," Wang Shuyu, consul for cultural affairs at the Chinese Consulate General in Sydney, said at the opening ceremony.
"In seeing participants from different cultural backgrounds, we recognize the unique opportunity this competition presents for cultural exchange and collaboration," she said.

A participant demonstrates Kung Fu during the 2023 Oceania Shaolin Games held in Sydney, Australia, Dec. 2, 2023. (Photo by Hu Jingchen/Xinhua)
Riley Greenland from Sydney told Xinhua that he had practised martial arts for more than 20 years since he was three years old and he went to China three times to learn Kung Fu.
"Kung Fu for me is everything. Everything, no just training," Greenland said. "I love the way it makes me feel. The energy, the power, the mental strength, everything."
(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)