First Competition Day
Today was the first day of Nick and Tessa’s competition. It was really interesting to see all the other competitors and there is a clear difference between any Chinese team (like Shanghai and Tianjin), Malaysia and the rest of the world.
The rest of the world trains pretty much like we do, a couple of times a week, while the Chinese teams practise hours and hours and it clearly shows. I don’t know the practises of the Malaysian teams, there are three different ones, but they have very big teams and I suspect they also train many hours a week, looking at their performances. The other information I heard today was that two of the Malaysian coaches were in fact taught by our coach!
So with all that in mind, the little Kiwi team performed well, in particular in comparison with the other non Chinese teams.
Ngaroma got two gold medals, one in her spear form and another one in a non weapon form (I forget the name, they are all in Chinese), her daughter Rangiatea got a silver for her non weapon form, Jenny received gold for her sword form and a silver for her bare handed form, Helen got silver for one of her forms and Tessa received silver for her staff form. The girl who got gold was from Shanghai and she got 8.68 points while Tessa got 8.65…very close and Tessa probably had some points deducted as she slipped on the carpet, although she caught herself.
Nick is a bit disappointed that he didn’t receive any medals but most of his competitors were from an above mentioned Chinese team and therefor all very good.
He had improved his form significantly over the week practising with the Tianjin team at the school however and I believe he has been inspired with the level of training and skill he has seen here since arriving.
I videoed all performances of our team and am hoping to share some with you in the fullness of time.
So, that is it really for today, that’s all we have done, other than the usual buffet lunch and dinner for which we get bused back to the hotel for. Another day of competition tomorrow, although Nick has finished, Tessa and Rangi have a combat form to complete and Ngaroma and Jenny, too. Jenny also has a performance in the afternoon. Traditionally competitions finish with performances that aren’t ranked and are for entertainment, and perhaps inspirational purposes, only. I will try and film some other people, too, but today I had run out of battery on the iPad as Ben used it to entertain himself during the day.
I will have an early night, too as the wake up call will be at six am again…bus leaving at 7:20am, no rest for the wicked.
Good night
Tanja