First Tuishou tournament in Italy: An unforgettable success for five young WCTA talents from Germany

The excitement was palpable when our five young Norderney athletes - aged just 8 to 11 - stepped onto the mat in Italy. Their first Tuishou tournament was imminent. They had trained, practiced and sweated for weeks. They knew the procedures, the technique, the strategies - but nothing could prepare them for the real feeling of competition: the tingling in their stomachs, the tension before the first fight, the amazement at the impressive atmosphere. They have been training for more than three years now and enjoy taiji.

Five times in the final - a triumph of heart and willpower

With incredible fighting spirit and impressive technique, our young talents fought their way through round after round. Every grip, every move, every dodge was the result of hard work and tireless training. They had to hold their own against strong opponents, cope with setbacks, get up again and carry on. And that's exactly what they did.

They reached the final five times - an incredible success for such a young team! In the end, they were rewarded with two gold, three silver and one bronze medal. But the medals only tell part of the story. The real achievement lies in what the children showed on the mat: Courage, perseverance, discipline and, above all, an unbridled passion for Taijiquan.

The trainers: Proud and full of hope for the future

For us as trainers - Vera-Dorothea Neumann and Kai Flagge - there is hardly a more moving moment than seeing our protégés grow like this. We are immensely proud of what they have achieved. Because these successes did not come about by themselves. They had to be fought for. Each and every one of these young athletes has proven that they are prepared to face challenges, rise above themselves and never give up.

Thanks to the great work of Master Jan Silberstorff and the WCTAG, the young talents would like to experience even more of the WCTAG's Chen Taijiquan and are looking forward to starting for the association.

The future of Taiji in Germany

These children are not only our hope, they are the future of Taiji in Germany. With their enthusiasm and ambition, they have proven that our martial art is alive and well - and that it is in good hands with the next generation.

Italy was just the beginning. We are looking forward to everything that is yet to come - to more tournaments, more challenges and many more moments in which we can proudly say: This is the future of Taiji. Hand form, weapon form and pushhands, they start early and want to learn it. As we realize that in Taiji people are getting older and older with all their experience, it is now up to all of us to teach this wonderful art of movement to the younger generations.

We would all be very happy if even more WCTAG teachers would offer Taiji training for children!

Vera-D. & Kai