General
The Championships are organized by Malee Khow and Malee’s School of Tai Chi & Kung Fu and sanctioned by the USA Wushu Kungfu-Federation and USA National Tai Chi Chuan Federation.
Registration discounts are available for USAWKF and USANTCCF members.
New England International Chinese Martial Arts Championships
The 13th New England International Chinese Martial Arts Championships is an open event with eight age groups and three experience levels.
The New England Wushu Kungfu Grand Champion Cup is an add-on event in which competitors can win a first, second, or third place trophy.
The USAWKF National Team Trials is an odd-on event in which competitors can qualify to compete at the 10 World Kungfu Championships (2025) and Pan American Kungfu and Taijiquan Championships (2024).
Competition Date: Saturday, November 11, 2023
Competition Venue: Manchester, Connecticut, at Malee’s School of Tai Chi & Kung Fu
Registration
All registrations will be through an online form. Competitors will receive email confirmation of registration and payment.
The registration forms will go live on July 1.
The last day to register is September 15.
Age Groups
Individual competitions are divided into 8 age groups:
- 5 & under
- 6-8
- 9-11
- 12-14
- 15-17
- 18-39
- 40-59
- 60+
Group and sparring set competitions are divided into 5 age groups:
- 7 & under
- 8-12
- 13-17
- 18-49
- 50+
Placing and Awards
Events with fewer than 3 competitors will be combined with similar events when possible.
The top 20% of scorers in each event will be awarded first place; the next 30% will be awarded second place; the next 30% will be awarded third place.
Medals will be awarded for first, second, and third place competitors for each sex, age group, and experience level.
Full results of the competition will be published after competitions have ended.
New England Wushu Kungfu Grand Champion Cup
The New England Wushu Kungfu Grand Champion Cup is an add-on event in which competitors can win a first, second, or third place trophy in each age group and experience level.
USAWKF National Kungfu Team Trials
The USAWKF National Kungfu Team Trials are an add-on event to the regular New England International Wushu Championships individual competitions, requiring no additional competitive performances. Instead, your regular competition forms will determine your qualification for the team. Any competitor with at least one third-place finish qualifies for the team.
Any traditional kung fu, contemporary wushu, or internal (tai chi, etc.) event can qualify an athlete for the team.
The administrative fee to add the Traditional Wushu Team Trials is $60.
You must be a member of the USAWKF to qualify for the team.
Members of the USAWKF Kungfu Team can compete at the 10th World Kungfu Championships (2025) and Pan American Kungfu and Taijiquan Championships (2024).
TIME LIMITS: Individual Events
Contemporary Wushu (barehand and weapons)
Beginning-Intermediate: minimum 45 seconds, maximum 2 minutes
Advanced: minimum 1 minute, 20 seconds for compulsory routines or optional taolu.
Advanced: minimum 1 minute for other forms
Traditional Kung Fu (barehand and weapons)
All levels: minimum 30 seconds, maximum 2 minutes
Taijiquan and Other Internal
24 Form: minimum 4 minutes, maximum 5 minutes
42 Form Taijiquan: minimum 5 minutes, maximum 6 minutes
Other Taijiquan: minimum 3 minutes, maximum 5 minutes
Other Internal Barehand: minimum 1 minute, maximum 2.5 minutes
Internal Weapons
Taiji Straight Sword: minimum 2 minutes, maximum 4 minutes
All Other: minimum 1 minute, maximum 2.5 minutes
TIME LIMITS: Group Events
Choreographed Fighting – External: minimum 30 seconds, maximum 2 minutes
Choreographed Fighting – Internal: minimum 1 minute, maximum 4 minutes
Group External: minimum 30 seconds, maximum 2 minutes
Group Internal: minimum 3 minutes, maximum 7 minutes
Experience Levels
There are three individual competition experience levels: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced.
There are two group and sparring competition experience levels: Beginning and Intermediate/Advanced.
Definitions of Experience Levels
Beginner: (1) still mastering the basics: (2) less than 2 years experience if training multiple days a week, or less than 3-4 years experience if training once or twice a week.
Intermediate: (1) good technique and stances, but may be less than perfect in power, speed, coordination, and/or balance; (2) 2-4 years if training multiple days a week; 4-6 years experience if training only once or twice a week.
Advanced: (1) excellent technique, stances, power, etc.; (2) several years training consistently several times a week.
Traditional vs. Contemporary Events
In order to encourage the practice of traditional wushu, please follow these guidelines when registering for traditional events.
Only traditional taolu styles are permitted. Examples include: Shaolin Quan, Cha Quan, Hua Quan, Mizong Quan, Tongbei Quan, Wing Chun, Hung Gar, Choy Lay Fut, Mok Gar, and traditional animal styles such as Seven Star Praying Mantis or White Crane.
Excluded from traditional events:
- Standardized wushu forms, such as 3rd duan changquan (elementary changquan), 5th duan changquan (youth compulsory form), and standardized weapons taolu;
- International compulsory taolu;
- “Traditional” styles with excessive modern elements, such as tumbling movements that would not traditionally be found in that particular style;
- Metal weapons with flexible/floppy blades; and
- Staves or spears made from non-wood materials, such as carbon fiber.
The organizers and officials reserve the right to move a competitor from traditional wushu to contemporary wushu based on these requirements.
Sanda / Sparring
Sparring competitions will be continuous light contact, with no throws or takedowns.
Permitted techniques: Punches, kicks.
Scoring areas: front or side of head, torso, upper thigh (between knee and hip)
Prohibited areas: groin, back of head, neck
Best of three rounds. Each round is 60 seconds, with 30 seconds rest between each set.
Required equipment (bring your own): mouth guard, groin guard, headgear, chest guard, gloves, foot guards.
Music
Musical accompaniment is permitted.
New England International Chinese Martial Arts Championships 