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Tiger Balm Internationals
By Paul Kamon
Photos By Joe Kamon
Hidden within Vancouver's north shore mountains lies the Capilano College
Sportsplex, home to the Tiger Balm Internationals--the Pacific northwest's
premier martial arts tournament.
Promoters, Jon Funk and Colleen Butterley were thrilled with this year's
record-breaking success, evident throughout the weekend's packed floors.
This year's turn out was so large that many divisions were split to accommodate
the overflowing participants.
The Tiger Balm Internationals, already well known for the diversity of
its martial arts formats, built on last year's successful expansion. The
padded weapons point fighting divisions showed promise. This year, the
weapon fighters solidified their place in the tournament by sheer numbers
and excitement, this format is here to stay!
Alex
Da Silva from the Capoeira Aché Brasil Academy winning the "Wushu
Tricks" division.
One of the highlights
of this year's weapons division was the rematch of the three-section staff
and the katana. Josh Schafer of the Praying Mantis Kung Fu Academy dominated
last year's main event with his lightning fast three-section staff. Swordsman,
Bill Garton, who lost to Josh during last year's competition, had been
studying tape and practicing new techniques and strategies in anticipation
of their inevitable re-match. Josh and his very versatile staff once again
proved to be too much to overcome as he struck down all challengers on
his way to the gold medal. We look forward to another sequel!
An exciting addition to this year's evening show was the "Wushu Tricks"
competition. This was an acrobatic and aerial challenge that brought together
some of martial arts most exciting athletes. Brian Ho, a karate and wushu
specialist, Alex Da Silva from the Capoeira Aché Brasil Academy
were the stand outs in this thrilling event. Brian's powerful, high-spinning
tornado kicks and Alex Da Silva's flips, spins, and inhuman body contortions
that dropped into perfect landings brought the crowd cheering to their
feet. The crowd decided the winner and Alex Da Silva ruled the skies at
the Tiger Balms.
Bruce
Fontaine's Wushu Action Team performance.
The Chinese art of
Wushu continues to gain momentum with the 2008 Summer Olympics being awarded
to Beijing, China where Wushu will be a demonstration sport. Hollywood
stuntman, Bruce Fontaine's Action Team performance showcased some of Canada's
potential Olympic future.
Kickboxing also made a strong statement during the night show with the
Champions Kickboxing school bringing out a young performance team, ranging
from small kids to late teens, to show the crowd what powerful kicking
was all about.
The final demonstration brought an entire Capoeira troupe, complete with
traditional musical instruments, to perform their acrobatic and interactive
martial dance.
And of course, the championship fights; Sanchu and Sport Jujitsu showed
that skill must be accompanied with toughness to be a champion in these
formats. Well done!
Sanshu
Action.
Events this year
included: Sport Jujitsu, Sanchu, WKC Continuous Fighting, SKIL Point Fighting,
Olympic Style Tae Kwon Do, Padded Weapons Sparring, Wushu, Tai Chi, Push
Hands, Breaking, and countless forms divisions for virtually every style,
traditional and contemporary.
A salute to all those who helped take the Tiger Balm Internationals to
a new level. Congratulations to all those who took their training and
experience to a new level. See you all next year!
Sport
Jujitsu Action.