Oceania Kung Fu Wushu President, Walt Missingham, recently visited Apia to facilitate the formation of the newest Oceania Kung Fu Wushu Federation.

President of Kung Fu Wushu, Travis Lamb, confirmed this to the Samoa Observer. 

He said Samoa joins Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and Australia in what is the expanding presence of Kung Fu Wushu in the Oceania region. 

“This is an important step as we move to achieve the recognition of Kung Fu Wushu as a Pacific Games sport,” said Mr. Walt.

“Travis and his team have my complete confidence in their capacity to advance Kung Fu Wushu participation in Samoa.”

According to Mr. Lamb, this is an opportunity for Samoa to be a part of one of the fastest growing martial arts sports in the word today. 

“As the new President of the association, we will be conducting training clinics among our membership to lift the technical level of both our athletes and trainers and to move to a point where Samoans can compete in the Oceania Championships and the World Championships.” 

“We will also be planning on conducting the Samoan Kung Fu Wushu Championships as a means of selecting athletes to compete at these international events.”

Asked how Samoa will benefit from this?

“Samoa will benefit in having another global sport that Samoans can participate in both locally and on the international stage,” he said.

“There is a strong need for sports in Samoa as part of improving the general health and wellbeing of our people.” 

“Kung Fu Wushu Association with Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Jet Li make it a very attractive activity to young people while the Tai chi component makes it a unique sport in that people into their eighties still learn and compete.”

So what is Kung Fu Wushu?

“Kung Fu is Chinese martial arts also known as Wushu,” said Mr. Lamb.

“In China there are two languages ‘Mandarin’ (in northern China) and ‘Cantonese’ (in southern China). In Cantonese it is Kung Fu, in Mandarin it is Wushu.”

“Kung Fu Wushu is being prepared as an Olympic sport and as a recognised sport for the Pacific Games.”

“When we became aware of this, Walt Missingham (not Mr. Walter) visited Samoa at our invitation to provide us technical and administrative support so that Samoa will be properly included in this sport.”