Team Trials
This competition is a qualifier event where athletes will be selected to represent the United States at three major international kung fu competitions that will take place in 2025:
10th World Kungfu Championships (WKFC) in Emeishan, China
2025 5th Pan American Kungfu & Taijiquan Championships in Cancun, Mexico
2025 Shaolin World Games in China
Shaolin Regional Team Trials
Shaolin Regional Team Trials will qualify athletes to attend the North American Shaolin Continental Team Trials in 2025 against the 23 countries that comprise the North American continent.
Athletes at the North American Shaolin Team Trials will competing for a spot on the 25-person North American Shaolin Team to represent our region at the Shaolin World Games in 2025.
USAWKF Traditional Kungfu Team
Athletes who wish to qualify for the World Kungfu Championships (WKFC) and the Pan American Championships must have an active USAWKF membership at the time of registration to compete for a spot on the USA team/delegation. Athletes can also fulfill the USAWKF membership requirement if their entire school has USAWKF membership and they compete under their school’s name.
Athletes must acquire USAWKF membership before registration to ensure eligibility for the USAWKF Traditional Team Trials competition. We ask that all Team Trials competitors abide by this rule set forth by the USAWKF.
Athletes without a USAWKF Membership are welcome to compete at our tournament and will be eligible to compete for the Grand Champion title. However, they will not qualify for the USA Traditional Kungfu Team.
Requirements
World Kungfu Championships (WKFC) & Pan American Championships
Register as an advanced competitor in at least two events in the Wushu & Traditional Forms Category or Shaolin Forms Category
Have an active USAWKF membership at the time of registration
Select Traditional Wushu Team Trials on the registration form ($50)
Qualifies athletes to attend the World Kungfu Championships in Emeishan, China in 2025 and the Pan American Wushu Kung Fu Championships in 2025
Shaolin World Games
Register as an advanced competitor in at least two events in the Shaolin Forms Category
Select Shaolin World Games Team Trials on the registration form ($50)
Qualifies athletes to attend the Continental Team Trials for the North American continent (USA, Canada, & Mexico) in 2025, leading to the 2025 Shaolin World Games in China.
COMPETITION RULES
The 2024 USA SHAOLIN OPEN & Traditional Kung Fu Team Trails will adhere to the latest ruleset set forth by the IWUF. Please review the rules and plan your competition routine accordingly.
Showcase your skills at the USA Shaolin Open
Rules for Online/Virtual Division
Competitors in the online/virtual division will only compete against others in the online/virtual who are doing the same online category. The rules for the online competition remain the same as the in-person competition with the exception that athletes will NOT be able to qualify for the USA Traditional Kung Fu Team.
Athletes can still qualify for the North American Continental Shaolin Team Trials under the online/virtual division.
The online competition will be judged by our professional team of judges. The competitor will receive their medal (if they placed Top 3) along with a tournament certificate and a feedback sheet (what they need to improve on) signed by our professional team:
Zhao Qingjian (Former Beijing Wushu Team & 2008 Olympic Wushu Champion)
Shi Decheng (31st Generation Shaolin Temple Grandmaster)
Wang Tao (Former Sichuan Wushu Team & IWUF Internationally Certified Judge)
Shi Yanchan (34th Generation Shaolin Temple Master & Tournament Host)
Steven Li (Former USA Taolu Wushu Team Member & Tournament Host)
This is our promise to every competitor that they will be viewed and judged fairly. The goal of this online division is to give every competitor an opportunity to compete and improve their skills with input given by some of the greatest names of Chinese Martial Arts in our generation.
Starting on 1 October 2024 through 28 October 2024, a share drive labeled “USA SHAOLIN OPEN ONLINE/VIRTUAL COMPETITION” will be available for the competitor for video submission. Competitors are also welcome to upload their video via YouTube and send our team the link.
Online/Virtual competition standards:
Competitor will salute while announcing their “name, age, category they are competing in, and name of form they will be performing”. Prior to beginning their routine.
The video must be one full take, no piecing clips together. All the rules of in-person competition and dress code will still apply.