Today was the long awaited National Wushu Display held at the Indoor Stadium. To me, this is not just a display, but a big wushu gathering, because almost every wushu practitioner in Singapore will come for this event. Interestingly, my favourite number 7 also shows up three times: 7th Display 2007, starting at 7.00pm.
Anyway, when I reached the stadium, I could see the crowd ranged from the very old to the very young. Other than the current NUS wushu batch, glad to see some old NUS wushu faces too like Zu Ming, Jin Quan, Donny, and Loon Chew. Also from KE7 wushu, the lovebirds Jeremy and Sharon, Han Wei, Wu Hong, Ye Dan, Huey Shin and Colin. Only saw Kang Hao from ATS wushu though, but I was surprised that he knew Vincent Ng who was there too. Chatted with both of them for a while. Also met my very own teacher Xue, and also Coach Liu who used to teach Ke7 wushu. And of course Coach Guo and Xu from NUS wushu were there too. Pity some who could not make it due to other events on this day as well, like the MAF in HCJC, and Dance Reflections in NUS.
Overall, I thought the display was much better than the previous one. There was still a lot of Taichi, but they were placed in the second half. This means the young children can watch all the exciting performances and go home early, while the older folks who do not need as much sleep can stay on to watch the Taichi performances.
Some highlights from the performances which I thought was interesting:
1) Lion dance had stands which were moved using an electronic control system! One was when the lion jumped off the platform, the whole platform dropped. The other was when the lion posed, and the stand rotated the lion.
2) The Russian Wushu performers was not too bad, but I think they were too ambitious to perform 7 to 8 items with just 2 people. They were looking so tired halfway through.
3) Tao Nan Primary School performed the Tao Nan Fist! The Tao Nan Fist is compulsory for the school's PE lessons! To think I used to be from there.
4) Performers from China... Need I say more? Although they seem to be the best performers for the night, I really think China sent their lousiest to come here and gain experience. Talk about a big gap in standard. There was also a few new and surprising moves I have never seen before. Really well done!
5) Silat was very artistic. They transitioned in and out so flawlessly that it was not noticed.
6) Shaolin monks from China and North America really showed the vast variety that wushu had to offer, from Eagle claw to monkey staff, from carpet fist to breaking poles and unbelievable flexibility. And to further emphasize the point, wushu is not just long fist and southern fist!
7) There was a couple of chain whips and double chain whips which I think had some unique moves that I do not know of. But every time when a chain whip performer comes out, everyone around me will look at me.
8) There was this old grandma doing a group routine of Taichi fan, but she really looked so professional and healthy, and her moves were executed so well that I really think she deserves the best performer award. See who can now give the excuse of being too old for wushu. I think her name is Liu something.
9) The Singapore Taichi coach also did a very difficult routine involving sudden jumps and unnatural balances, almost of equal standard to the Taichi performer from China. Then again, both of them are from China.
10) The Indian martial art coach spins the cudgel in a very unique way, almost as if he was handling a two-hand sword.
11) The Ba Kua Sword was really huge, like from a video game.
12) The Malaysian Wushu performers had a couple of nice choreographed team movements.
13) I really wished there was a soundtrack made for this event. From the traditional chinese music and those of slower tempo, to techno, rock and new age music. Some were familiar while others were fresh and interesting, especially the new age ones.
14) Some Singaporean wushu group called Xing Xiu i think, who performed pretty well. Apparently they are suppose to be famous, but i do not know of them.
15) The team from China performed again towards the end of the second half. The pu dao qiang duel was very fierce and impressive!
16) The last item was dragon dance, but i had already left as it was quite late.
Guo Yuan and I also had this interesting discussion, that when an wushu practitioner reaches a certain standard, there will be two paths from there. One is the path of the ego (bad), and the other the path of the humble (good). Really sounds like some comic book, but it does have some truth in it from our experiences with wushu people.
