For the 15th year in a row, Grandmaster Richard Lee has taken a contingent of his top instructors and students to the United States Chinese Kuoshu International Championship. For the 4th in a row they have returned as the #1 ranked school in the nation. Students of Richard Lee’s East West Kung Fu school in Alamo have competed in the international tournament, held in Baltimore every July, since 1989. Since then, they have competed against the nation’s and the world’s best in Chinese martial arts.

This year was no different. More than fifty of Grandmaster Lee’s students, coached by his top student, Master John Buckley, participated in all divisions, such as, forms, weapons, full contact lei tai fighting as well as, refereeing. John Ozuna and Morgan Newman, were certified as International A referees, meaning they can referee any regional, national or world competition.

Winning the national tournament has capped off a tremendous 2004 year for East West. Beginning in 2003, eight of Grandmaster Lee’s top students represented the United States at the World Koushu Championships in Brazil, the Chinese martial arts equivalent of the Olympics. All eight competitors placed in the top four. Grandmaster Lee has been named the official head coach for the United States three different times since 1975 and Master Buckley was named the head coach for the U.S. team in Brazil. Although both were extremely satisfied with the results in 2003, they are already looking forward to and preparing for the World Tournament in 2006, slated to be held in either Las Vegas or Singapore.

In June of 2004 Grandmaster Lee and seventeen of his students, a group of grandmasters, masters, and black belts went on a tour of China. The two week journey, coordinated by Grandmaster Huang, Chieng-Liang, offered unique traveling destinations rarely visited by tourists and a cultural exchange of knowledge between Grandmasters from the United States and Grandmasters from China.

In October, Grandmaster Lee led a small group to Germany for the 1st World Kuoshu Euro Cup. Master John Buckley and Morgan Newman (of Alamo) were invited as officials and referees. Ryan Hodge and Nicole Shimotake both turned in outstanding performances in representing the United States. Ryan placed 2nd in full contact lei tai competition.

Just another active year for Grandmaster Lee and his East West school and no doubt with thirty years of international competition on their side, East West will continue to make their mark on the world.