The representatives of Lithuania‘s traditional Wushu association „Shaolin“ have won 10 prizes in Baltic Olympiad of Martial Arts which took place in Riga on the 5-6th of April.
Baltic Olympiad of Martial Arts was organized for the first time. More than 1200 representatives of different martial arts from Latvia, Estonia, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Italy, Russia, Afghanistan, Poland, Bulgaria, Moldavia and Lithuania were participating in this Olympiad. It was one of the biggest martial arts event ever held in Baltics countries by the number of participants.
One of the most important part in Baltic Olympiad of Martial Arts was the 4th open contest of Riga‘s Wushu cup contest. Even 20 representatives of traditional Shaolin martial art have became one of the prize winners. The representatives of Lithuania‘s traditional Wushu association „Shaolin“ measured their strength in the category of traditional Wushu styles.
In children group, the second and third places were taken by the representatives of Lithuania‘s traditional Wushu association „Shaolin“ – Gustas Pranckietis and Liudvikas Racys.
In women Taolu group, Lithuanians have shared all prizes. Golden medal was taken by Paulina Traskeviciute, silver medal –Vaiva Zostaute, bronze medal – Dovile Grazeliunaite.
In traditional Wushu Taolu men group, all the winner places were also taken by Lithuanians. Egidijus Kanaporius has won golden medal, Evaldas Karosas – silver medal, Tomas Vosylius – bronze medal.
In the traditional arms contest group of adults, the first place was taken by Karolis Lapenis, the second – P. Traskeviciute.
According to the coach of Lithuanian team, the head of Lithuania‘s traditional Wushu association and the president of Lithuania‘s sportive and traditional Wushu federation Tomas Lapinskas, it is really delighting that the skills and excellence of „Shaolin“ club members certainly are not weaker than those of competitors from neighbour countries. Surely not, they even surpass them by their mastery: „We have been participating in foreign contests for a few years now and the talent of our athletes is always highly evaluated. There are not many serious competitors in the traditional Wushu Taolu category. In my point of view, the biggest factor which determines such our high results in the contests is the fact that our club instructors have been annually taken internships in China." – the country of martial arts.
According to him, it is really nice to see that traditional Wushu has also founded a place in sports contests. The main reason for that is people’s interest in the roots of traditional Chinese martial arts which is highly increasing in recent years: „Not only the roots of contemporary sportive Wushu but also the roots of almost all Eastern martial arts are resided in traditional Chinese martial arts. Speaking about Shaolin martial art, it is one of the most archaic traditional Wushu example which has preserved all of the inseparable components such as philosophy, specific etiquette, close relation with Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism and also practical application of martial movements“, - said the head of association.
The organizer of Baltic Olympiad of Martial Arts is Aleksandras Dudoladovas who is also a president of sports centre „Marsals Asahi“. The event was sponsored by Latvia‘s martial arts union and local government in Riga.
