The goal is the Youth Olympics in Dakar

With great success and record participation, it was held on the weekend (20-21/4) 24th Panhellenic Wushu Kung Fu Championship which is the crown of the sports events of the Hellenic Federation of Wusou Kung Fu.

At least 950 athletes from 72 sports clubs gave their best on the four mats and one ring set up at the Georgios Stephanopoulos Olympic Boxing Stadium, with the entries in all three categories (A, B, C) approaching the 1,600 in the two events Tao Lu (forms) and Sanda/Light Sanda (full contact combat with throws).

In many cases the spectacle enjoyed by those who were in the stands of the closed Peristeri was reminiscent of movies martial arts by Chucky Chan and Bruce Lee.

The precision in the execution of techniques, the choreography and the handling of swords, poles and anything else that can be used as a weapon, such as umbrellas and fans, was truly impressive.

8 athletes with disabilities from 5 different clubs participated in the championship, who impressed with their technique but mainly with their will.

The president of the Hellenic Wushu Kung Fu Federation was satisfied with both the level of the athletes and the flow of the matches. THE Christos Papachristos spoke to protothema.gr about the organization, the level of Kung Fu in our country and the objectives of the Federation.

The president of the Hellenic Wushu-Kung Fu Federation, Christos Papachristos (bottom fourth from the left) together with the judges of the competitions

Christos Papachristos (President of the Hellenic WuShu-Kung Fu Federation): “This weekend the Hellenic WuShu Kung Fu Championship was organized by the Hellenic Federation. On Saturday, there were competitions of intermediate level experience and beginners, athletes who have been involved in Kung Fu for a few years. The organization was very good, as was the flow of the games. On Sunday we had the Panhellenic A’ category of high-level athletes, recognized by the General Secretariat of Sports.

Over the two days, 950 sportsmen and women participated, from 72 sports clubs that are registered in the GGA register, something that has never happened before in the history of WuShu in our country. In other words, so many clubs should participate. Entries exceeded 1600. We had two events Tao Lu (forms) and Sanda (full contact throwing combat).

Greece is currently among the 10 best countries in Kung Fu, as evidenced by the results of our athletes both globally and at the pan-European level. For example, at the European Championship that took place this year in Istanbul, we were the 2nd country in medals behind the host Turkey. So at the European level we are in the best 4th and globally in the best 10th.

Our goal is to be able to include within the federation, clubs that practice Kung Fu and are not registered in the general secretariat of sports. So for us it will be a great success to include these unions within the federation. On an administrative level, to have a better operation of the federation, which also means a better operation on an economic level.

At the competitive level we want to provide our athletes with the best possible facilities to train, the best possible equipment whether it concerns uniforms and weapons to physiotherapists and doctors and generally the potential that should surround a federation and a national team.

We still aim to see one of our athletes at the Youth Olympics in Nakar, as WuShu is on the official program of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics with four events. We hope through qualification to see a Greek athlete or a Greek athlete in the Youth Olympics.

At the level of events, at the General Assembly to be held in Stockholm, Sweden, there is a proposal by the Hellenic Federation to organize the European Men’s-Women’s and Youth-Juvenile Championships in November 2024″.

Gold medals in the 1st category of Adolescents (15-17 years old)

NAN CHWAN: KOSTOPOULOS SOTIRIOS IASON (A.S. ASIAN POL. TECH. VERIA)
NORTH FIST: DINAKOU ALEXANDROS (A.S. AETOS GALATSIOU)
NORTH FIST: KOUVELA BUCKET (A.S. KERAMEIKOS)
SHAOLIN FIST: NIANIAKOUDIS-COEN ALEXANDROS (A.S. OF CHINESE TRADITIONAL POL. TECH. AND PODOPTRISIS)
SHAOLIN FIST: CAPPADUKAKI ALIKI (A.S. OF CHINESE TRADITIONAL POL. TECH. AND FOOTFLYING)
SOUTH GROTHIA: BRUSALIS PANAGIOTIS (COLL. CHOY LI FAT GREECE)
SOUTH GROTHIA: VARELIDI CHLOI (ATHL. OMILOS IKAROS AGIAS PARASKEVI)
LONG WEAPONS: TASOPOULOS IOANNIS (AS AETOS GALATSIOU)
SOUTH KONTARI: BRUSALIS PANAGIOTIS (COLL. CHOY LI FAT GREECE)
OTHER WEAPON STYLES: LONG PANAGIOTIS (COLL. CHOY LI FAT GREECE)
SOUTH KONTARI: PANTAZI ARTEMIS (ATH. N. MAKRIS ATTICA ASSOCIATION)
CLOSE WEAPONS: CLARK ACHILLES (A.S. OF TRADITIONAL AND MODERN MARTIAL ARTS UPPER RETHYMNO)
LONG WEAPONS: SPYRIDOU MELINA (A. S. KINEZIKON POL. TECH. AGIOS STEPHANOUS)
OTHER WEAPON STYLES: GRASS BARREL (ATH. OMILOS IKAROS AGIAS PARASKEVI)

1st Category Men-Women (18-39 years old)

SOUTH FIST: CHRISTINA VATZAKA (NORTH AEGEAN KUNG FU ACADEMY)
LONG WEAPONS: GEORGIOS VASILAKIS (A.S. KERATSINIOU FOR THE PROPAGATION OF SHAOLIN KUNG FU)
SOUTH FIST: LAMPADAS KONSTANTINOS (COLL. CHOY LI FAT GREECE)
OTHER WEAPON STYLES: BEKIARI MARIA -IOANNA (TSOI LI FAT GREECE)
CLOSE WEAPONS: BARBAGIANNIS DIMITRIS (ATH. N. MAKRIS ATTICA ASSOCIATION)
LONG WEAPONS: MATHIOPOULOU PANAGIOTA-AIKATERINI (A.S. SHAOLIN WU KUNG NORTHERN SUBURBS)
OTHER WEAPON STYLES: CRICKET KON/NOS (SOURCE OF THE YOUNG FOREST OF CORINTH)

A Category – Mixed DUI LIEN (SCHEDULED) 15 years +: A.S. OF TRADITIONAL AND MODERN MARTIAL ARTS OF UPPER RETHYMNO – CLARK ACHILLES, KOUTRAS KOSTAS

A Category – Mixed GI TI (TEAMS) 15 years +: ATH. IKAROS GROUP OF SAINT FRIDAY – EFI MEMMOU, ELENA MEMMOU, DANAI ANAGNOSTOPOULO, CHLOI VARELIDI, SILIA MEMMOU, DIMITRA PAPADIMITRIOU