Kids Martial Art Tournament

TCSL YOUTH TOURNAMENT
2009 RESULTS

The TCSL Tournament was a kids martial art tournament with a difference. TCSL stands for Traditional Chinese Sword League. These kids are doing more than playing sword games. They are training in traditional taiji jian and dao styles, as well as miaodao skills. But they are not just learning forms and a few exercises. They are translating the basics into real Chinese sword fighting skills. This tournament was full speed and full contact. The younger group used padded boffers with handles shaped from an antique jian. The older ones used shinai. We padded them up with gambesons and cricket gloves. Fencing masks were standard equipment. But the skill was real.

After the main Chinese sword fighting tournament, there was a form competition. The contestants were allowed to perform any sword form they knew and results were judged on body mechanics, correct execution of the series of movements, flow and martial correctness of strikes and footwork. One judge assessed each of these areas for every competitor.

The youngest competitor in our TCSL Youth Tournament was nine years of age. He began his training four years earlier in our very first Sword Club. He also attended a seminar with teacher Scott Rodell. The oldest competitor was sixteen years of age and had been training steadily for four years as well.

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