4th Wushu Grading Examinations

The 4th Chinese Wushu Academy UK Grading Examinations took place on the 19th December and attracted a determined group of both new and experienced applicants. All the students took part with great enthusiasm and put incredible effort into their performances. Those who were successful received their certificates from Shifu Shi Henglong and those who did not succeed this time were rewarded with words of encouragement for next time and showed their determination not to give up. The true spirit of gong fu!

Honours went to Bruce (龙贵) who took Wushu Dan III to go alongside his Taiji Dan III he took earlier in the year. Bruce will now join Luxi who scored her Wushu Dan III earlier in the year in taking part in international competition in 2010. Good luck to both of them.

Sunday Practice Marathon

It's Sunday and time for a marathon rehearsal. Longgui and Luxi really showed what team work is all about by giving each other the encouragement they needed to make it through the day long practice. By the evening with the hard work behind them they were laughing and joking around as if the agony of the morning was a distant memory.

By 6pm everyone was gathered around Shifu making the final adjustments to the music and checking on the timing, with a little help from Longgui's younger brother.

It's definitely a growing up process and the children are really showing that they have the determination to succeed. They really need everyone to get behind them to lift their spirits next week in the final countdown to the big day on Saturday.

Director Li Bohua Visits Chan Wu Yi

Renowned film director Li Bohua visited Chan Wu Yi today to see Luxi and Longgui and offer his encouragement. The children put on a great show for him and the practice went along a breakneck speed.

Mr Li pronounced that things seem to be coming along nicely and offered his admiration for the childrens' efforts. He also told us that he is making a film in London next year so who knows, he might have found his leading couple...

Timing is Everything

It's Friday and Shifu worked on timing with the kids tonight and making sure everything fits into the time they'll have on stage. It's a really tough process when it comes to choosing which parts of the routine to keep and which have to be left out. The children are really tired now after last week's of practice but they gritted their teeth and pushed on through the session.

Longgui's school teachers are piling on the homework and he's working on it in the car on the way home. At least the long journey can be put to some use!

Britain's Got Talent Practice: Paying the Price

Another gruelling 4 hour practice for Luxi and Longgui last night but the results are beginning to show - as well as the bruises. Both put in a huge effort yesterday to perfect some of the most difficult moves they will be doing, with Shifu Shi Henglong working on the choreography and ensuring the kids keep motivated to train hard.

The pressure is on though and the kids are doing their best to focus and ignore the pain. With everyone behind them over the next 10 days they will have the boost they need as the big day approaches.

Chan Wu Yi to compete in Britian's Got Talent

Shifu Shi Henglong today announced that Chan Wu Yi will take part in the next Britain's Got Talent competition. Competing on behalf of the school will be Luxi and Longgui, with the first audition taking place on November 21st.

Rehearsals started last week and students will see them practicing hard every day in the run up to the big day.

The children are training very hard - at least 4 hours a day after school. They are representing the whole school so everyone's support is really important to helping them get through the next couple of weeks and all the way to the finals.

Luxi and Longui 加油 !