While most students will still be relaxing after a demanding term, Oregon student Phillip Dang will be facing an entirely different type of test. Dang is one of 10 Americans and among 800 athletes worldwide selected to participate in the Eighth Wushu World Championships Dec. 8-15 in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Wushu, commonly known in America as kung-fu, is routine-based when used in competition. An emphasis is placed on athletic ability, especially the speed of the routine as well as the height of the various jumps. The jumps in the routine make up 20 percent of a competitor’s overall score, with the remainder awarded for presentation and technique.
“There are lots of punch-kicks and sweeps; we mimic self-defense and attacking with an athletic twist,” Dang said.
Dang took a chance to prove his skills at the United States Wushu Team Trials this summer. More than 100 athletes from across the country traveled to Virginia trying to make the 10-person team – five men and five women – that would make the trip to Vietnam for the World Championships held once every two years.
At the trials, the entrants completed routines in three categories: Empty-handed, short weapon and long weapon. Their efforts were scored by a panel of 10 judges on a scale of 0-10. The athletes were given only one attempt at each event, and to increase the pressure, the judges were empowered to enforce deductions as small as one-hundredth of a point.
Dang received a score of 9.0 in the empty-handed event and followed that with marks of 9.2 with a sword in the short weapon portion and 9.21 with a staff in the long weapon event. His performance placed him solidly in the top five male entrants and scored him a spot in Hanoi.
The only male representative from the western United States, Dang differs from the rest of his teammates in another way: He is self-trained. Dang acknowledges that not having a coach makes succeeding in wushu more difficult, but the added challenge suits his personality well.
“I learned the hard way, and I’m that much better for it,” Dang said.
Learning the hard way includes a rigorous training program, featuring cross-training and other activities to build fast-twitch muscle and increase stamina. Top physical condition is necessary for wushu because some of the aspects of the routines, especially the jumps, are dangerous. Knee injuries are common and most athletes retire from the sport around the age of 25.
The greatest challenge of Dang’s career awaits him at the World Championships and marks the culmination of 12 years in the sport.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If you asked me four years ago, would I be here, I would have said no,” Dang said. “I’ve wanted it so bad.”
Dang will be facing not only other amateurs from around the world but professional teams as well, predominantly from east Asian countries such as China and Japan.
“I’m the underdog, but I’ve got nothing to lose,” Dang said.
A rule change at this year’s World Championships could work in Dang’s favor. Instead of requiring all athletes to complete compulsory routines, competitors will now be able to craft their own, suited to their ownstrengths and style. Dang prides himself on his intensity and the cleanliness of his routines.
“Others concentrate on the flashy moves and don’t work on core movements,” Dang said. “Core technique – that’s my advantage.”