Beijing / Xi'an 2008: Day 5 - Men's Nationals Starts (11/6)

At last the competition had arrived!  We got up super early at 6:30 to get ready and make sure we were able to grab some breakfast before it started.  Once again we had the free breakfast buffet offered by the hotel.  Once again, it wasn't very good.

x2 and shahaub at breakfast

Four of us (Zane, Shahaub, x2 and I) grabbed a taxi out to the venue, which was about 30 minutes outside of town, and set up camp in the bleachers.  We were sitting with a few of the Hong Kong team folks, including Collin (who for some reason I never see in Hong Kong, but always see at competitions in other places) and a few of the Beijing Team folks.

opening ceremonies

mr khaki pants himself

the venue

taking place in the tennis arena

This year they changed the order a bit.  Usually they have Changquan and Nanquan as the first morning events, but this time they had taiji quan and duilian (sparring sets).  This was probably a good idea, as all of the multitude of Xi'an's morning taiji tai tai's came out to watch the event and the place was packed.   Unfortunately it did nothing to increase my attention span with taiji and I kept nodding off while filming.

x2 keeping herself busy with some mario

shahaub catches some taiji z's

don't let x2 catch you sleeping.

this is what you get if you get strangled at a wushu competition

After taiji most of them left and duilian had fewer people watching, but it was pretty fun none-the-less.  Lots of high energy moves, but a lot less 3 man open hand sets this time (just 2) so lots of weapon ones.  Not as dynamic, but I suppose they are easier on the athletes.

After the morning events Shauab, x2 and I grabbed a taxi back to the hotel (Zane got a ride with a friend of his) and lunch was the same dumpling place we went to in the Muslim Quarter on the first day.  It was still delicious.

shahaub a little too excited about wushu

After a post-meal nap, we headed out again to the venue and watched the evening events.  Nan quan and Chang Quan.  Lots of great stuff and we cheered on our various friends and comrades as they added lots of oil to their forms.  A guy who's name I forget from the Beijing team got second in Chang Quan.  I forget who got what, though, as I filmed everything so I wouldn't have to remember it.  The magic of digital media.

I did get to see Yang Yu Hong and it was great to connect with him.  He did a good job in Chang Quan but got a deduction for something.  He said his knee was hurting so he wouldn't be competing in broadsword and staff. 

athletes warming up for nanquan

After the competition we headed back to the hotel and Shahaub, x2 and I got some hot pot in (where else?) the Muslim Quarter.  It was pretty good and we filled up on tons of food for just a few bucks.

awesome lamb sticks

hot pot galore

shahaub approves of the food

Of course, by night time we were again all wiped out so it was time to hit the sack.  This whole trip seems to be turning into a eat-sleep-watch wushu festival.