WIRRAL IS HOME OF GREAT BRITAIN WUSHU ( KUNG FU ) TEAM … AND THEY NEED YOUR HELP
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WIRRAL IS HOME OF GREAT BRITAIN WUSHU ( KUNG FU ) TEAM … AND THEY NEED YOUR HELP
Last month at the Oval Sports centre in Bebington , Wushu ( kung fu ) athletes across the UK were invited to attend the Great Britain Traditional squad and team selection . After a successful selection lasting over 3 hours the new Traditional squad and team were carefully selected . Thirteen athletes were selected as part of the team to represent Great Britain at the 9TH World Kung Fu championships in China this August .
The team is made up of a diverse family of athletes including 5 children and 8 adults . 4 children and 5 adults are from Wirral , who train each week at China Spirit UK , which is based in Seacombe under the guidance of Master Xingbo Liu who is a 6th Duan Chinese Martial Arts Master having trained at the Shaolin Temple in China is also the Head Coach of the Great Britain Traditional Wushu Team , governed by BCCMA ( British Council for Chinese Martial Arts ).
This opportunity is the chance of a lifetime for them to compete at the highest level in their sport . As a club and team , they have travelled to many competitions both in the UK and abroad over the years . In November last year the team went to the European championships in Greece where they successfully secured 2 Gold medals , 3 Silver medals and 2 Bronze medals .
Training in Wushu is the thing that links them altogether , the thing that makes us a family . Several of the young people have additional needs such as Autism , anxiety , mental health , and wellbeing worries . Being part of this amazing team gives them the opportunity to meet and train together with other young people and adults from across the UK , which in turn provides support , encouragement , belief , and self-discipline . The weekly training sessions at China Spirit UK and the twice monthly training sessions for the British team and squad has helped young people feel they matter and have something to offer a place where they belong whilst also helping to develop their resilience and determination .
Unfortunately , Kung Fu / Wushu is not yet an Olympic sport , meaning all costs involved with competitions from travel , accommodation , health certificates , visas etc are self-funded , either
by the athletes , their family or through individual fundraising endeavours . The cost for each person to be able to make this trip to China and to compete in the championships will be between £ 2000- £ 2500 . This is currently way beyond their financial limits meaning that the children may not be able to make the trip .
Research shows that children who compete in competitive sports are more likely to report feeling happy and successful as adults . Unfortunately , there is not enough financial support to help our talented but disadvantaged athletes with funding for travelling to competitions . It is getting increasingly harder for families to find the additional money needed especially on top of their normal training , uniform , equipment costs .
These young people and adults train religiously in their sport working hard to be the best they can be , pushing past the barriers , the injuries , the low mood , and wellbeing . They pull together to support each other not only with their training and the sport they love but as individuals , with acceptance , patience , and kindness .
Wirral is a beautiful place to live , a place to be proud of , a place we call home . The British team and especially the children and adults who live in Wirral need your support so that this amazing opportunity , the pinnacle of competitions , the one they have been training for does not slip away .
The children and young people from Wirral who are members of the British team need financial support or financial sponsorship to help make their dreams of competing in the World championships , the chance to bring a medal home and a chance to represent their country and more importantly their community .
We are asking Wirral businesses and residents to help us find a way to help get them to China this August . Please get in touch if you think you can help , no matter how small , every little helps . Help us to represent everyone with a dream and help it come true .
10 wirrallife . com