For the 16th year in a row, Grandmaster Richard Lee has taken a contingent of his top instructors and students to the United States Chinese Kuoshu International Championships. For an unprecedented 5th year in a row they have returned as the #1 ranked school in the nation. Since 1989, students of Richard Lee’s East West Kung-Fu in Alamo, have competed in the annual tournament, facing off against the nation’s and the world’s best in Chinese martial arts.

This year was no different. More than 100 of Grandmaster Lee’s students made the trip to Baltimore, comprising the largest team ever to compete in the tournament. Coached by his top student, Master John Buckley, students participated in all divisions, such as, forms, weapons, and full contact lei tai fighting. The highlight of the tournament came at the end of the weekend, when East West won the Wang Cheuh-Jen Cup, awarded to the school with the most overall points.

Several outstanding performances helped garner those points for the school. Allan Parco and Angie Dominguez defended their national titles in the full contact lei tai fighting. Collin Lee, named the top youth competitor at the World Championships in 2003, won six gold medals in the youth divisions. Norma Futini and Morgan Newman were invited as officials and referees. They are two of only four women certified as International A referees, meaning they can referee any regional, national or world competition.

While Grandmaster Lee and Master Buckley were extremely satisfied with winning the nationals they are already turning their focus to the world’s stage. Training has begun for the 2006 World Championships to be held in Singapore in November of next year. Members of the U.S.A. team will travel to Germany in October and Switzerland in March to prepare for the World Championships, the Chinese martial arts equivalent of the Olympics. No doubt with over thirty years of international competition on their side, East West will continue to make their mark on the world.