Wushu taolu

The 2021 IWUF Wushu Taolu Virtual Competition attracted nearly 1,000 athletes from all over. This was the first online wushu competition held by the International Wushu Federation. Wushu taolu is a collective term for martial arts; it includes a set routine consisting of a connected set of techniques choreographed to certain principles or philosophies for attack and defense. Wushu will be included for the first time as an official sport in the 2026 Youth Olympic Games. Houstonians Jean Hoang, a current USA Wushu team member, Alex Xu, and Elaine Wang, who practice at Houston Shaolin Kung Fu Academy, represented Team USA and won awards in hand forms, sword form, and staff form. Jean, a junior at Stratford High School, Alex, a senior at Bellaire High School, and Elaine, a seventh grader at Pin Oak Middle School, have been training in martial arts since they were 4. Martial arts teacher Master Shi Xing Hao is proud. Pictured (from left) are Elaine, Alex, and Jean. 

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