Hong Kong International Kung Fu Festival

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Hong Kong International Kung Fu Festival

2009 World Guoshu Competition



The first World Guoshu Competition (WGC) will be held at the Hong Kong International Trade & Exhibition Centre from 21st to 26th July, 2009. It will be a key event at the inaugural Hong Kong International Kung Fu Festival, and is fully supported by the Hong Kong Wushu Union, Hong Kong Tourism Association, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Songshan Shaolin Temple, the German Sports University Cologne, and Hong Kong Traditional Wushu Federation.

To ensure the highest standards of professionalism, the organizing committee has invited Shi Yongxin, abbot of Shaolin Temple, and renowned martial arts scholar, Professor Ma Mingda, to be chief advisors to the Competition, along with a team of leading experts in Chinese sports and martial arts, including Jiang Haoquan, Ma Xianda, Wang Deying, Shen Shaosan, Liang Mintao, Yang Zhenduo, Qiu Pixiang, Xia Bohua, Men Huifeng, Lin Zhenhui, and Zheng Baolin.

Our goal is to construct a competition system that will develop the full potential of traditional Chinese sports as an instrument of mental and physical health, and, through promotion of Chinese sports, to cultivate deeper understanding of Chinese culture and its values. In addition, we hope the Competition will assist in developing diversity in world sports and contribute to greater social harmony in today's transnational society.

'Guoshu' (national arts), the indigenous sports system in China, has evolved through a long course of historical development spanning thousands of years, and is a vital part of China's national culture ('Guoxue'). Together with 'guoyi' (Chinese medicine), 'guohua' (Chinese painting) and 'guoyue' (Chinese music), guoshu is an important channel for disseminating traditional Chinese culture. After nearly a century of development, the name 'guoshu' is now a well-recognized label for China's indigenous sports. At a time when global attention increasingly focuses on China, we should seize the opportunity to construct an international platform for Chinese sports, and to revitalize China's outstanding but much neglected sporting traditions.

Deeply embedded in guoshu are Chinese cultural notions of fitness and sporting values, which emphasize balance between practice and competition. Equal emphasis is placed on health and competition, sports and culture, and the physical and mental aspects of sports. Therefore, in organizing the World Guoshu Competition, special attention is paid to the cultural values and characteristics of Chinese sports, hence the division of the competition into three separate but related areas: wushu taolu (including bare-handed and weapon performances, two-man sets and group performances); agonistic matches (such as sanshou, duanbing [Chinese fencing], shuaijiao [Chinese wrestling], Taiji push-hands, Wing Chun Sticking hands, boji and xinquan); and demonstration events (including archery, shuttlecock, changbing [Chinese long weapons], feicha [Chinese juggling with steel trident] and dangong [Chinese pellet bow]).

As 2009 marks the 60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China, as well as the occasion of the East Asian Games in Hong Kong SAR, we consider this an opportune year to launch the inaugural World Guoshu Competition. To celebrate China's upcoming 60th anniversary, martial arts authorities, social celebrities, and sportsmen from around the world will gather in Hong Kong to participate in the first international competition for Chinese sports.

We would sincerely like to extend our invitation to enthusiasts of Chinese sports and martial arts from all around the world to take part in the event. We look forward to welcoming you and wish you success at the first World Guoshu Competition. Let this be an invitation to every enthusiast and exponent of Chinese sports and martial arts, to gather here in Hong Kong, to share this unique experience, make friends through exchange and competition, and work together toward the revival of Chinese sports culture.

Organizing Committee for the First World Guoshu Competition

Please Contact Organizing Committee for the First World Guoshu Competition, at the address below.

Rm A1322, Shangde Mansion,

No. 141, Wushan Road,

Tianhe District,

Guangzhou 510635, P.R. China

Tel: 86-20-38921503 Fax: 86-20-38921579

E-mail: [email protected]