2000 World Martial Arts Championship, Phoenix, AZ

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Here are some of my pictures from Li Jinheng's tournament this past labor day weekend. It was a whole lot bigger than the year before, at least 3 or 4 times larger, but it was still a good competition and a lot of fun.

I took 4 rolls of pictures, but I haven't gotten my fourth roll developed yet, so these pictures only cover the first two days of the event. When I get my last roll developed (sooner or later), I'll try to add them. Also Li Jinheng mentioned getting me the results, I'll add that too if I get it.

While the competition did go a bit slow (SO much changquan!), and I had some problems with some of the judging (we had traditional judges for our flexible weapons division for one...), it was still a very well run tournament, with some top level competition, definitely worth the trip. More than the competition, I enjoyed getting a chance to see my wushu friends from across the country, some of whom I hadn't seen in years. Some of the schools represented include SCWA, Wushu West, US Wushu Academy, Zhuang Hui's National Martial Arts Academy, UC Berkeley Wushu Club, Pacific Wushu Academy and Guo Jianhua's Championship Martial Arts in Chicago.

I hope you enjoy the pictures. Unfortunately I was competing while a lot of the contemporary divisions were going on, so I missed a lot of good photo opportunites of some really skilled people. What I'm presenting here is by no means complete coverage.

If you have any really good pictures you want to share, let me know. Also Shaun of SCWA put up some of his pictures, click here to check those out.

Photos -

US Team member Nathan Tong strikes a pose while competing in Changquan, Nathan took first place.

 
Felicia Sze took firsts in Women's advanced Changquan and Staff, she also took home the Women's Contemporary Grand Championship

 
Elan Hom, master of the flexible weapons pays homage to the tournament host, former Beijing Team member, Li Jinheng by competing with the rope dart in the flexible weapons division.

 
Former Women's all-around wushu champion of China, former Beijing Team member Zhuang Hui demonstrates her double straightsword.

The first night there were five former Beijing Team athletes present, from left to right, that's Tang Lai Wei, who now resides in Australia, Zhuang Hui, now of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Hao Zhi Hua of Berkeley, CA, Zhang Gui Feng of Falls Church, VA and tournament host Li Jinheng.

 
The second night's master's demo was even more Beijing Team laden. former team member Li Jing (center), currently teaching at UC Berkeley's Wushu Club, also performed

 
James Yang of the UC Berkeley Wushu Club and Chris Wang of the University of Wisconson Wushu Club hanging out by the pool after the competition.

Results -

Li Jinheng was kind enough to share the complete tournament results with us:

2000 Grand Championship Festival

1. Grand Champions:* 

Tai Chi men adults advanced division:				Brandon Sugiyama	
Tai Chi women adults advanced division:				Siu Fong Evans
Wushu men adults advanced division: 				David Chang
Wushu Women adults advanced division:				Felicia Sez
Wushu boys (12-15 years old) advanced division:			Eddie Quintana
Wushu girls (12-15 years old) advanced division:		Jennifer Haight
Wushu boys (12 years old under) advanced division:		Jerry Taing	 	
Kung Fu men adults advanced division:				James Theros
Kung Fu boys division:						Collin Lee	
Kung Fu women adults advanced division:				Camella Morris
Hard styles men adults advanced empty hands division:		James Theros		

 




US Team member Brandon 'The Taiji Pimp Daddy' Sugiyama, performing taiji sword.  Brandon took gold in all his events and walked away with the Men's Internal Grand Champion for the second year in a row, continuing his sizzling, unbeatable streak.


			
2. Internal Arts:

Men Beginners Xing Yi Chuan
Name 				Place
Ruben Segoviano			1
Chao Oang			2


Men advanced internal weapons
Name				Place
Daniel Pesina			1
Chao Pang			2

Women advanced internal weapons
Name				Place
Siu Fong Evans			1

Men advanced Ba Gua Zhang
Name				Place
Brandon Sugiyama		1

Men beginner Ba Gua Zhang
Name				Place
Michael Schneiper		1

Women advanced other style Tai Chi
Name				Place
Siu Fong Evans			1
Tina Harris			2
Lui Guojing Evans		3

Men advanced other style Tai Chi
Name				Place
Brandon Sugiyama		1
Peter H Wong			2
Michael Ovellette		3
Chao Pang			4
James Theros			5

Men beginner other style Tai Chi
Name				Place
Tom Kuo				1
Vi Tang 			2
Lawrence Au			3
Nicholas Edmonds		4

Women advanced Chen style Tai Chi
Name				Place
Siu Fong Evans			1
Liu Guojing Evans		2


Men advanced Chen style Tai Chi
Name				Place
Daniel Pesina			1
Chris Wong			2
Tom Kuo				3
Michael Ovellette		4
Courtney Muhammed		5
Tony Ou				6

Women advanced Tai Chi weapons
Name 				Place
Siu Fong Evans			1
Liu Guoling Evans		2




Men advanced Tai Chi weapons
Name 				Place
Brandon Sugiyama		1
Rick Clark			2
Dwight Campbell			3

Men Beginner Yang style Tai Chi
Name				Place
Vi Tang				1
Tom Kuo				2
Lawrence Au			3
William Steinberg		4
Mark Gadia			5
Glen Rodriguez			6

Men Intermediate Yang style Tai Chi
Name				Place
Michael Ovellette		1
Dwight Campbell			2
Michael Schneider		3

Men advanced Yang style Tai Chi
Name				Place
Chao Pang			1
Rick Clark			2
Courtney Muhammed		3

Women Beginner Yang style Tai Chi
Name				Place
Pui Lan Ng			1
Desree Dilucente		2
Stephanie Countryman 		3

Women Advanced Yang style Tai Chi
Name				Place
Siu Fong Evans			1
Tina Harris			2
Lui Guojing Evans		3


Senior Women  Yang style Tai Chi
Name				Place
Siglinde Goodson		1


Men advanced Chi Sao
Name 				Place
Mitch Mayberry			1

Men advanced restricted Tai Chi push hands
Name 				Place
Mitch Bayberry			1
Courtney Muhammed		2
Rick Clark			3

Men advanced Tai Chi moving push hands
Name 				Place
Mitch Mayberry			1

Men beginner Tai Chi restricted push hands
Name 				Place
Ruben Segoviano			1
Dwight Campbell			2
Gabriel Flores			3

Men beginner Tai Chi moving push hands
Name 				Place
Rick Clark			1


3. All Kung Fu Division:

Kung Fu southern empty hands (Men beginners 16 years old and older)
Name 				Place
Ladislao Lopez			1
John Ross Mihiloff		2
Seth Gordon			3
Glen Rodriguez			3

Kung Fu southern empty hands (Men int 16 years old and older)
Name 				Place
Tony Heineman			1
Charlie Donovan			2
Michael Schneide		3
Kung Fu southern empty hands (Men advanced 16 years old and older)
Name 				Place
Coutney Muhammad		1
Bryan D Donovan			2
Juan R Shannon			3

Kung Fu northern empty hands (Men beginners 16 years old and older)
Name 				Place
John Ross Mihiloff		1
Adam Drake			2

Kung Fu northern empty hands (Men int 16 years old and older)
Name 				Place
Wesley	 Chu			1

Kung Fu northern empty hands (Men advanced 16 years old and older)
Name 				Place
Bryan Walson			1
James Theros			2
Peter H Wong			3
Tony Ou				4
Juan R Shannon			5

 




Newcomer Lisa Liu competing in Beginner Northern Traditional.  The second day of the tournament Lisa chewed through her opponents with a second place in the Chanbara Weapon's sparring division.


Kung Fu northern empty hands 
(Women beginners 16 years old and older)
Name 				Place
Zran Veirosario			1
Erica C Ernst			2
Aya Shira			3
Lisa Liu			4
Molly Furin			5

Kung Fu open empty hands (northern or southern) 
(Men advanced 16 years old and older)
Name 				Place
Charles Watson			1

Kung Fu open empty hands (northern or southern) 
(Men intermediate 16 years old and older)
Name 				Place
Jose Espinosa			1
Donovan Charley			2
Juan R Shannon			3
Stephen Ferradino		3

Kung Fu open empty hands (northern or southern) 
(Women advanced 16 years old and older)
Name 				Place
Camella Morris		1

Kung Fu open empty hands (northern or southern) 
(Men advanced 40 years old and older)
Name 				Place
Daniel Pesina			1
Ralph Peluso			2

Kung Fu children beginner empty hands (northern or southern)
Name 				Place
Chris Norman			1
Steve Ayala			2

Kung Fu children int/adv empty hands (northern or southern)
Name 				Place
Cindy Taing			1
Jerry Taing			2

Kung Fu children int/adv empty hands (southern)
Name 				Place
Mari Lee			1
Collin Lee			2

Kung Fu children advanced short weapons (11 years old or under)
Name				Place
Philip Anderelli		1
Peter Anderelli			2
Chris Norman			3

Kung Fu men adult beginner broadsword  (16 years old or under)
Name				Place
John Ross Mihiloff		1

Kung Fu men adult intermediate broadsword  (16 years old or under)
Name				Place
Juan R Shannon			1

Kung Fu men adult beginner broadsword  (16 years old or under)
Name				Place
James Theros			1

Kung Fu men adult beginner sword  (16 years old or under)
Name				Place
Stephen Ferradino		1

Kung Fu women adult beginner sword  (16 years old or under)
Name				Place
Camella Morris			1

Kung Fu all other weapons forms  (men all age/levels)
Name				Place
Chaarls Watson			1
Ralph Peluso			2
Toney Heineman			3
Jose Espinosa			4

Kung Fu kids advanced long weapons forms  (11 years old or under))
Name				Place
Collin Lee			1

Kung Fu men beginner staff forms  (16 years old and older)
Name				Place
Ladislao Lopez			1
Adam Drake			2

 




Local Phoenix Area practicioner Robert Franklin performs the Monkey Staff during the masters demonstration the night before the tournament.


Kung Fu men advanced staff forms  (16 years old and older)
Name				Place
James Theros			1
Juan R Shannon			2

Kung Fu men advanced spear forms  (16 years old and older)
Name				Place
Bryon Watson			1

Kung Fu men advanced staff forms  (40 years old and older)
Name				Place
D J Wachter			1

Kung Fu men advanced flexible weapons forms  (16 years old and older)
Name				Place
Elan Hom			1
D J Wachter			2

4. All Wushu Division:

Wushu Chang Chuan/Long Fist (Beginner boys 11 year old and under)
Name				Place
Collin Lee			1
Frank Ho			2
Joshua Li			3
Philip Andereli			4
Steven R Juarez			5
Peter Andereli			6

Wushu Chang Chuan/Long Fist (Beginner girls 11 year old and under)
Name				Place
Marlene Nguyen			1
Lisa Ta				2
Bobbi N Juarez			3

Wushu Chang Chuan/Long Fist (Int/Adv boys 11 year old and under)
Name				Place
Jerry Taing			1

Wushu Chang Chuan/Long Fist (Int/Adv girls 11 year old and under)
Name 				Place
Cindy Taing			1
Nicholas Liu			2


Wushu Chang Chuan/Long Fist (Int/Adv boys 12-15 year old)
Name 			Place
Eddy Quintana			1
Rolando Lee			2
Rene Jose Herrera		3
Jason Earl Kooi			4
Clinton Wong 			5
Olivia De Meo			6

Wushu Chang Chuan/Long Fist (Int/Adv girls 12-15 year old)
Name 				Place
Jennifer Haight			1
Amie Vu				2
Mallory Gracenin		3


Wushu Chang Chuan/Long Fist (Men beginners 16 years old and older) 
Name 				Place
John N Bui			1
Richard To			2
Eric Razote			3
Johnny Phan			4

Wushu Chang Chuan/Long Fist (Men intermediate 16 years old and older) 
Name 				Place
Xuenhua Tang			1
Masayuki Harada			2
Luis Herrera			2
Aaron Pinder			3
Charlie Y Chen			3
Wesley Chu			4
Aum Mu Ra			5

Wushu Chang Chuan/Long Fist (Men advanced 16 years old and older) 
Name				Place
Nathan Tong			1
David Chang			2
Chris Wang			3
Steven Kam			4
Andy Mai			5
Pablo Bernardson		5
Michael Mcloed			6

Wushu Chang Chuan/Long Fist (Women beginner 16 years old and older) 
Name				Place
Tina Vo				1
Aya Shira			2

Wushu Chang Chuan/Long Fist (Women intermediate 16 years old and older) 
Name				Place
Cheri Haight			1
Elena Lee			2
Amber Kuo			3
Mariko	 Suga			4


Wushu Chang Chuan/Long Fist (Women advanced 16 years old and older) 
Name				Place
Felicia Sze			1
Sarah Chang			2
Desiree Dilucente		3
Melissa Gee			4
Aurora Pena			4
Camella Morris			5

Wushu Nan Chuan (Boys 12 years old and under)
Name 				Place
Jerry Taing			1
Don Tran			2
Dennis Tran			3

Wushu Nan Chuan (Girls 12 years old and under)
Name 				Place
Cindy Taing			1

Wushu Broadsword (Boys beginner 15 yr old & under)
Name				Place
Tuan Tran			1

Wushu Broadsword (Boys int/adv 15 yr old & under)
Name				Place
Rolando Lee			1
Eddy Quintana			2
Dennis Ta			2
Don Tran			3 corrected
Jesse Rio			4 corrected
Nicholas Liu			5 corrected


Wushu Broadsword (Girls int/adv 15 yr old & under)
Name				Place
Jennifer Haight			1
Mallory Gracenin		2
Rene Jose Herrera		3 corrected
		
Wushu Broadsword (Men beginners 16 yr old & older)

Name				Place
John N Bui
Wushu Broadsword (Men intermediate 16 years old and older)
Name				Place
Xuenhua Tang			1
Charlie Y Chen			2

Wushu Broadsword (Men advanced 16 years old and older)
Name				Place
Andy Mai			1
Rich Brandon			2
Steven Kam			3
Christopher Burns		4
Raffi Kamalian			5

Wushu Broadsword (Women advanced 16 years old and older)
Name				Place
Melissa Gee			1
Cheri Haight			2
Sara Chang			3
Aurora Pena			4

 




Your webmaster, Raffi caught in mid-air performing a butterfly in the Changquan division.


Wushu Nan Dao (Men Beginner)
Name				Place
John Bui			1
Larry Tran			2
David Chen			2

Wushu Nan Dao (Men intermediate)
Name				Place
Matt Wong			1
Simon  Eurita			2
Luis Herrera			3

Wushu Nan Dao (Men advanced)
Name				Place
Philip Chen			1
Brandon Huynh			2


Wushu Nan Chuan (Boy beginners 12-15 years old)
Name 				Place
Scott Huy Nguyen		1
Mathew Tran			2
Michael Nguyen			2


Wushu Nan Chuan (Boys Int/Adv 12-15 years old )
Name 				Place
John  Nguyen Bui		1
Larry Tran			2
Jason Earl Kooi			3

Wushu Nan Chuan (Men beginners 16 years old and older)
Name				Place
Cabansag James			1
Long Nguyen			1


Wushu Nan Chuan (Men intermediate 16 years old and older)
Name				Place
Matt Wong			1
Simon Lee			2
Simon Zurita			3

Wushu Nan Chuan (Men advanced 16 years old and older)
Name				Place
Philip Chen			1
Ted Fu				2
Pablo Bernarson			3
Mark Moran			3
Michael Mcloed			4
Brondan Huynh			4
Michael Shagan			5

Wushu Nan Chuan (Women advanced 16 years old and older)
Name				Place
Jennifer Haight			1
Kasandra Lara			2

Wushu open empty hands (Men advanced)
Name 				Place
David Chang			1
Kyu Hwang			2
Michael Chew			3

Wushu open empty hands (women advanced)
Name 				Place
Cheri Haight			1
Jennifer Haight			2


Wushu double weapons (men all levels/age)
Name				Place
David Finkelstein		1
Jesse Rios			2

Wushu double weapons (women all levels/age)

Name				Place
Jennifer Haight			1
Cheris Haight			2
Mariko suga			3

Wushu Flexible weapons (men all levels/age)
Name 				Place
Ricky Nowinski			1
Pablo Bernardson		2
Raffi Kamalian			3
Kyu Hwang			4
Elan Hom			5
Jason Earl Kooi			6

All other Wushu weapons (men all levels/age)
Name 				Place
David Chang			1
Simon Zurita			2

Group Set
Name				Place
National Martial Arts		1
Southern CA Wushu		2
Southern CA Wushu		3
Southern CA Wushu		4

Sparring Set		
Name 				Place
Brian Watson			1

Wushu Straight Sword (Boys beginner 15 years old and under)
Name				Place
Frank Ho			1

Wushu Straight Sword (Girls beginner 15 years old and under)
Name				Place
Melissa de Rosario		1	

Wushu Straight Sword (Girls int/adv 15 years old and under)
Name				Place
Cheri Haight			1
Cindy Taing			2
Amie Vu				2
Jennifer Haight			2
Ngoc Ha Ta			3
Ngan Ha Ta			4

Wushu Straight Sword (Men beginner 16 years old and older)
Name				Place
Richard To			1		

Wushu Straight Sword (Men intermediate 16 years old and older)
Name				Place
James Yang			1

Wushu Straight Sword (Men advanced 16 years old and older)
Name				Place
David Chang			1
Nathan Tong			2
Chris Wong			3
Jarik Sikat			4

Wushu Straight Sword (Women beginner 16 years old and older)
Name				Place
Tina Vo				1
Cathy Q Le			2

Wushu Straight Sword (Women advanced 16 years old and older)
Name				Place
Mae Hsu				1
Felicia Sze			2
Tina Harris			3
Melissa Gee			4
Kasandra Lara			4

Wushu spear (Men intermediate 16 years old and older)
Name				Place
Massayuki Harada		1

Wushu spear (Men advanced 16 years old and older)
Name				Place
David Chang			1
Chritopher Burns		2

Wushu spear (Women advanced 16 years old and older)
Name				Place
Sara Chang			1
Cheri Haight			2

Wushu Staff (Adults men beginner 16 and older))
Name				Place
Cabansag James			1

Wushu Staff (Adults men intermediate 16 and older)
Name				Place
Luis Herrera			1
Aaron Pinder			2
Aum Mu Ra			3

Wushu Staff (Adults men advanced 16 and older)
Name				Place
Richard Brandon			1
Ted Fu				2
Brandon Huynh			3
Cheney Jorn			4

Wushu Staff (15 years old and under)
Name				Place
Jerry Taing			1
Eddy quitana			2
Don Tran			3
Dennis Ta			4

Wushu Staff (Adults women advanced 16 and older)
Name				Place
Felicia sze			1
Melissa Gee			2

Wushu southern staff (Boys beginner)
Name 				Place
David Chen			1

Wushu southern staff (Men advanced)
Name 				Place
Philip Chen			1

 




Raffi and Jenny Tang stop for a photo after her performance in the Masters Demos. 


5. Free soft weapons saprrings

Soft long weapons free sparring 
Name				Place
James Young			1
Mitch Maybarry			2
Raffi Kamalian			3
Seth Gardon			4
Lisa Liu			5
Pablo Bernarson			6


Soft short weapons free sparring 
Name				Place
Erich Yeh			1
Lisa Liu			2
James Young			3
Michael Mcleod			4
Raffi Kamalian			5
Jeanne Fitzsimmons		6

6. Breaking:
Name				Place
Jason Kahler			1
Jerry Cook			2

7. Hard Style Empty Hand (Karate, TKD, Kenpo Ect)

Youth Division  (11 years old or under).
Name:				Place
Collin Lee 			1
Mari Lee 			2
Jayne Marie Kramer		3
Rachael Brackett		4
Tanner Brackett			5

Youth Division  (10-13 years old ).
Name:				Place
Sara Ayaz			1
Rhine Melstrom			2

Adult Division (16 year old over)
Name:				Place
James Theros			1
Ernie Kimberly			2

8. Light contact for all styles
Adults men beginners division
Name:				Place
Gabriel Flores			1
Jelani T Harrison		2
Ladislao Lopez			3

Adults women intermediate division
Name:				Place
Darin Stellwas			1

Adults women advanced division
Name:				Place
Desree Dilucente		1

Kids 9-11 years old beginner division
Name:				Place
Anthony Mc Graw			1
Joshua Durfee			2
Sara Ayaz			3

Kids 9-11 years old advanced division
Name:				Place
Ryne Melstrom			1
Philip Anderelli		2
Peter Anderelli			3

Kids 12-14 years old boys beginner division
Name:				Place
Daniel Mc Graw			1
Mike Collins			2 

Kids 12-14 years old boys intermediate division
Name:				Place
Brisan Dones			1
Charles Hammond			2