South Africa’s wushu team filmed at Townview
South African Wushu Federation (SAWF) thanks Townview High School for generously allowing them to use their hall to film their competition performances.
South Africa’s wushu team recently represented the country at the 2022 Brics Games. This year’s games highlighted the competitive sports of wushu (kung-fu), breakdancing and chess and was hosted by China.
The Brics Games was founded in 2016, when the leaders of allied countries Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa sought to further strengthen their bonds and spirit of cooperation through the universal platform of sport. South Africa was also successfully represented in the sport of wushu at the 2017 Brics Games. The standard of the Brics Games is incredibly high as some of the best wushu athletes from the five countries competed against each other.
This year the team who flew the flag in the wushu arena consisted of seven Protea athletes who showcased their skills in late August. The athletes competed virtually and was filmed at Townview High School in Krugersdorp, with their routines being recorded under strict conditions and submitted to international wushu judges.
The competition saw the athletes perform Taolu routines (a collection of non-contact, fast choreographed movements based on martial techniques) as well as Taijiquan routines – slow, systematised movements aimed at health and well-being.
The team comprised of the following athletes: Rutendo Ngara, Daniela Chrysostomou, Khayelihle Jali, Alexander du Plessis, Martin Venski, Nerine du Plessis and Sinead Starley. The team selection and management is overseen by the South African Wushu Federation (SAWF). President of the SAWF, Jurgens Lamprecht, was the national team coach, while the team was managed by Tammy Davey.
The SAWF was founded in 2002 as the official body governing all Chinese Martial Arts (known as wushu or kung-fu) in South Africa. In 2003 it became a full member of the International Wushu Federation (IWUF). The SAWF is recognised as a National Federation by various sporting bodies, including the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC), the African Wushu Kung-Fu Federation (AFWF), continentally, and the International Wushu Federation (IWUF), internationally.
By virtue of these affiliations, the SAWF receives recognition from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and SportAccord, among others. The SAWF furthermore works in close collaboration with the Chinese Wushu Association (CWA) and is recognised by both the Chinese National Olympic Committee and the Chinese Ministry of Sport. The role of the SAWF is to facilitate, coordinate and oversee the national administration, growth and development of Wushu in South Africa, as well as promote the interests of its members.
Wushu is a martial art which originates in China but has expanded globally. It began as a method of defence and combat, practised for more than 2 500 years and evolving into a craft and sport which is practised by thousands of people worldwide. The IWUF estimates that there are more than 120 million wushu practitioners around the world.
The SAWF would like to thank Townview High School for generously allowing them to use their hall to film their competition performances.
