Beijing 2008: FEI Womens Day special: from the side saddle to the podium (photo attached)

From the marginal to the side-saddle to the top... There is little doubt that women's place in equestrian sport has been defined and redefined over and over during the past few centuries. And today, it is no longer a question of whether women have a place in equestrian sport, it has become a reality which cannot be denied. Indeed, when tracing the from then till now, as the photos show, one is faced with a fascinating demonstration of both cultural and social evolution, and thus a fitting tribute to the International Women's Day, 8th March.

Indeed, equestrian sport today is one of the very few sports where men and women compete on equal terms and this all the way up to Olympic level. This level playing field for women and men has certainly proved to be beneficial as we now see women at the top of the list in many of the equestrian disciplines. Notably, Meredith Michaels Beerbaum, currently ranked number one in the FEI World Jumping Riders Rankings, Anky Van Grunsven World Dressage Champion or even Zara Philipps, Eventing World Champion who was also elected 2006 BBC Sports Personality of the year.

Lest we forget that women and riding, and sport in general for that matter, have emerged from a rather tumultuous past. The Olympic Games were not originally intended for female participation, and if any presence were permitted, it was in select sports as most involvement of women in high level competition was deemed both detrimental for their health and appearance, that is, not particularly lady-like.

The success currently encountered by women in equestrian sport is really quite remarkable, particularly when we look back to the very fascinating side-saddle era, which by many accounts probably started in the 16th century and went on to see women competing from around 1870 up until World War I. Subsequently, side-saddle competitions were held here and there up until the 1960s, but these were more nostalgic in nature.

In the 1920s/30s, there were events for women such as the Nations Cup, but these were generally for the wives or sisters of famous riders or organisers, and it was not until the 1950s that the real emancipation for women in equestrian sport began. This was partly due to the fact that up until then, equestrian sports had mostly been run by the military, but as the military cavalries were slowly abolished, civil organisations began to take over, and this then had the positive effect of including women.

The trend was set in motion and as women began to be included in competitions and notably the Olympic Games, so did the recognition. Indeed, for the first time in Olympic equestrian history, in 1952 in Helsinki, four women were allowed to compete against men in the Dressage discipline. One of those women was Lis Hartel of Denmark, who eight years before had contracted polio and had only partly regained the use of her limbs, however remained paralyzed below the knees. In what can only be described as a magical sporting moment, she went on to win silver whilst providing posterity with one of the most emotional moments in Olympic history.

This led to the inclusion of women in the Jumping discipline at the Olympic Games of 1956 in Stockholm, which, to the surprise of many, saw Patricia Smythe from Great Britain walk away with a bronze team medal. Eventing came next, in 1964 in Tokyo, where American rider Lana du Pont became the first women to compete in the Olympic three-day-event, also as a member of the silver medal team.

This prominence of women on the field is also reflected in the administration of the sport, as the FEI is one of only two Summer Olympic International Federations to be presided by a woman, and this for over 20 years. Beginning with HRH The Princess Royal from 1986-1994, followed by HRH The Infanta Doña Pilar de Borbón (ESP) 1994 – 2006 and currently presided by HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein (JOR). It is also interesting to note that both The Princess Royal and the current FEI President are Olympic athletes. Furthermore, the FEI headquarters is also representative of women's active involvement in the sport, with women present at all levels of the organisation.

Women hold up half the sky, they say. At least...

(Credit: FEI. Click here for further information.)

Beijing 2008: International Boxing Association 2007 Calendar unveiled

The International Boxing Association is proud to confirm the Boxing calendar for 2007.

The highlights of the year include the 2007 Senior World Championships to be held from September 15-30 in the beautiful Russian capital of Moscow and the U17 World Championships, which will be hosted by the United Arab Emirates from May 20-26.

The countdown to the 2008 Olympics also begins this year with qualification tournaments sprinkled throughout the next 12 months while the annual Continental Championships also promise to be a top drawcard in the Boxing calendar.

2007 AIBA Events Calendar

2/1-9 Pre-Panamerican Eliminatory - Venezuela

2/25 – 3/1 African Championships Qualifier Zone 1 - Algiers, Algeria

March

3/1-4 African Championships Qualifier Zone 2 - Bamako, Mali

3/13-20 Pre-American Eliminatory, Argentina - Buenos Aires

3/15-20 African Championships Qualifier Zone 3 - Ivory Coast

3/15-21 African Championships Qualifier Zone 4 - Cameroon

April

4/13-15 African Championships Qualifier Zone 7 - Madagascar

4/13-20 Pre-American Eliminatory - Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago

4/22-29 Oceania Continental Championship - Samoa

May

5/15-22 African Championships - Madagascar

5/20-26 Under-17 World Champs - U.A.E, Dubai (may move to August)

June

TBD Pan American Cadet Championships

6/4-10 Continental Championship 1 - Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

6/28 – 7/1 Europe Champ Cup 1 - Rome, Italy

6/25-31 European Cadet Championships - Hungary

July

7/6-15 European Junior Championships - Sombor, Serbia

7/11-23 All African Games - Algeria

7/13-29 Panamerican Games - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

7/28 – 8/10 AfroAsian Games - Algiers, Algeria

August

TBD Indian Ocean Games - Madagascar

8/24 – 9/1 South Pacific Games - Samoa

September

TBD Africa Champ Cup 2 - Sun City, South Africa

9/15-30 SENIOR 2007 World Champs - Moscow, Russia

TBD European Schoolboy Championships - England

October

10/14-21 European Women's Championships - Vejle, Denmark

10/20-26 Panamerican Women's Championships - Brazil

November

11/15–23 Test Event of Beijing Olympic Games ''Good Luck Beijing'' - Beijing, China

December

TBD Qualifier Asia 1 - Bangkok, Thailand

TBD Qualifier Asia 2 - Korea

TBD Qualifier Europe 1

(Credit: AIBA. Click here for further information.)

chinese wushu: Points to Remember: For Foreigners in Learning Wushu

Chinese wushu, which attracts a large following throughout the world with its incomparable charm, has been accepted by an increasing number of people as a health-keeping sport. What should foreigners do in order to learn and master wushu? And what are the points that merit their special attention? This article will deal with these and other questions.

Generally speaking, foreigners learn wushu for the following purposes:

1) To keep fit and prolong life;
2) To learn some combat skills for self-defence;
3) To take part in competitions;
4) To study the traditional Chinese culture.

Though their purposes may differ, they have all to be diligent in practice in order to achieve the desired result, for there is no shortcut to success.

When a foreigner starts learning wushu, he usually asks, "Can a foreigner master Chinese wushu?" The answer is positive.

Since wushu consists of body and limb movements, all human beings, irrespective of their race or nationality, can achieve their goal so long as they proceed in an orderly and systematic way according to the principles of teaching and training characteristic of wushu.

Chinese wushu experts require that all trainees should have confidence, determination, perseverance, patience and earnestness. With these conditions, trainees can be sure of success.

Following are some of the problems that often trouble both Chinese and foreigners learning wushu:

1. Overanxious for Quick Results

To learn wushu from experienced trainers, foreigners often invite Chinese masters to their countries to give lessons on a short-term basis, or they may come to China specially to learn this art for a few months. In both cases, the learners who are pressed for time tend to be overanxious for quick results. Instead of starting from and mastering the basic skills, they just follow the movements of their coaches and learn by imitation. In this way superficial resemblance is achieved to a certain degree, but the specific requirements and intrinsic value of the movements have been ignored. Once an incorrect form or some bad habit has been acquired, it would be difficult for them to get rid of it. So, in order to have a good command of wushu, one needs to accumulate experience and skill from several such short-term courses. And one should always remember there is no quick way of learning and mastering wushu. Basic skills, accuracy of movements, diligence and patience in practice are prerequisites for anyone wishing to become a wushu master.

2. Ignoring Basic Skills

A beginner should start from basic skills and proceed step and step from the easy to the difficult and from the simple to the complicated. He also has to keep in mind that he must gradually improve his qualities for certain special wushu movements in order to perform those movements well. Some beginners like to learn certain boxing routines or routines with weapons right from the start, but they have to give up halfway for lack of the required physical qualities.

3. Neglecting Practice

Beginners should pay special attention to daily practice. Not a few of them, however, tend to neglect practice after they have learned some special techniques or routines; their only excuse is they are "two busy." Thus they fail to improve their acquired skills and in the end all their past efforts come to naught.

4. No Clear Purpose in Choosing Wushu Events

There are two big categories in Chinese wushu: one is for competition and the other health-keeping. The standard routines for competition, which are stipulated by the State Physical Culture and Sports Commission, are pretty difficult to master and require a large amount of strength and stamina. Thus they are suitable for young people with good physical qualities. The health-keeping routines, on the other hand, are easy to learn and can be popularized among people of all ages. It is advisable that beginners refrain from choosing competitive routines lest they might do something beyond their ability. So, in order to benefit from practising wushu, it is necessary first of all for every trainee to choose events most suitable to his or her physical conditions.

5. Being Content with Superficial Understanding

Some people, with a gift for learning things quickly and a good physique, are often inclined to learn a little of many different routines, and think that wushu is easy to master. They do not care to understand the true essence of wushu but content themselves with what little they have already known. They even have the cheek to call themselves masters and teach others, thereby leading many people astray. This should be discouraged by all means.

6. Stiff and Uncoordinated Movements

Wushu movements require flexibility and high coordination. For a beginner, the movements of body and limbs are often stiff and not well-coordinated, for he cannot apply his force properly and he has difficulty in breathing freely and holding himself in a steady position in performance. To overcome these defects, all he has to do is to keep on practising, preferably under the guidance of experienced instructors.

chinese wushu: How to Learn Wushu by Oneself

Learning wushu is not easy, especially when there is no teacher giving the necessary instructions. Nevertheless, with the help of an adequate guidebook and by dint of persistent effort, one can attain a relatively high level in wushu techniques. To achieve this, the following points must be kept in mind.

First of all, one should pay attention to practising and mastering the basic movements. As a Chinese saying goes: The deeper the root is, the more luxuriant the foliage will be. With a good command of the basic skills, one can improve quickly and reach a high level in techniques.

The basic skills can help the wushu trainee increase his strength and speed of movement, as well as his stamina, flexibility and dexterity. They include exercises of the shoulders, waist and legs, the forms and movements of the hands, feet and body peculiar to wushu, as well as the various stances. They also include exercises in leaping and balancing, and in rolling and tumbling. Solid basic techniques can be acquired only through persistent training over a long period, in the process of which concentration of mind, strict adherence to the requirements, and unflagging effort are of vital importance.

Second, one should get a full understanding of the correct style and requirements of the movements so as to achieve the desired result. A beginner should not proceed too quickly and apply force blindly, but should acquire the correct style, proceed in a systematic way and do his best to meet the requirements. This should be done from the outset, for incorrect styles and bad habit, once acquired, would be difficult to rectify. When practising the "forward horizontal punch," (Fig 1,2,3) for instance, be sure that the head and neck are held erect, the body is upright, the shoulders are sunk and the punches are delivered with the turn of the torso. To master the movement, first do it slowly and in a relaxed way for a period of time until you get the hang of it. Having laid a good foundation, you may increase the speed and force of the punches.

Let's take "punch in a bow stance" for another example. This movement requires the bending of the front leg so that the thigh is horizontal and the knee and the toes form a perpendicular line, while the rear leg is straightened, with the toes turned inward. This movement may be practised in separate parts. After mastering it, one may go on practising other movements such as "driving the rear foot against the floor," "bringing the thighs together," "turning the torso," "extending the shoulders and directing force to the fist." In a word, these requirements are essential to the practice and mastery of wushu routines. In competitions, if ten points are offered for each routine, six will be awarded to performers who do the movements according to the requirements.

Third, one should know which movement is for attack and which is for defence. Attack and defence are the basic contents of wushu routines, without which all routines would be meaningless. In the movement "swing left hand and punch with right fist in bow stance," (Fig 4, 5) for instance, one should know that the "left hand swing" is for defence while the "right punch" is for attack. In warding off an opponent's blow from the left side, one may grab his arm with the left hand and pull him inward and at the same time punch his chest or abdomen with the right fist. In swordplay, the hand movement "rotating wrist leftward and rightward" appears to be ornamental and useless. Actually it is not. When an opponent attacks the lower and middle part of the body with a weapon, one can by means of this movement push off the weapon leftward or rightward with his sword and follow it up by thrusting his sword forward and upward at his opponent.

Having grasped the offensive or defensive character of each movement, the trainee will in practice be able to execute every movement with a purpose in mind. For trainees who do not know the meaning of each movement, though they may perform the movements in a quick and beautiful way, their performance would amount to mere form without substance. These trainees will of course not be able to grasp the essence of wushu.

Last but not least, one should grasp the styles and characteristics of the routines. Different wushu schools have different styles. In learning the different kinds of wushu routines with or without weapons, it is imperative that the trainees grasp the accurate styles of each and not mix them up. In practising changquan (long-range boxing), for example, the movements are extended, fast and forceful, flexible and rhythmic, interspersed with leaping, rolling and tumbling. The style of taijiquan, on the other hand, is totally different. In performing taijiquan, the movements are slow, gentle, continuous and in circles, like the drifting clouds and flowing streams. Exercises with weapons vary in style, as the weapons differ in shape and size. Broadswordplay is characterized by vigorous and rapid movements, while performance with the spear or cudgel features sudden thrusts and flails.

In short, to have a good command of the styles of different routines, one should practise untiringly. Only with perseverance can he reach his goal.

chinese culture: A Brief Introduction to Ancient Sports in China

China is well known as an ancient country with a civilization several thousand years old. But few people know that sports in China claim a history as long and honorable as the country's civilization. Ancient relics that have been un-earthed indicate that people in China 4,000 to 10,000 years ago already knew how to do physical exercises to limber up themselves. Such physical activities as shejian (shooting arrows) and juding (lifting metal tripods) which were carried out as far back as in the Western Zhou Dynasty (c 1,066- 771 BC) may well be compared to what we call sports today.

During the several millenia of Chinese history, sports in China grew in pace with economic, political and military development. A great variety of sporting activities were practised, in different ways at different times, some even bearing different names in different places. In terms of the purposes they served, they may be classified into the following groups:
1. Performing and entertaining sports, such as swordsmanship and touhu (throwing arrows into wine pitchers) of the Spring and Autumn and the Warring States periods (770-221 BC), cuju (football) and baixi (acrobatics) of the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220), jiju (polo) of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and bingxi (games on ice) of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Hunting, which is only for amusement, also falls into this category.
2. Keep-fit activities such as daoyin (physical and breathing exercises combined with automassage) and wuqinxi (Five Animal Play) of the Han Dynasty, and all kinds of traditional life preserving exercises that have been handed down to this day.
3. Various forms of physical training for military purposes, such as archery and charioteering in the Western Zhou Dynasty and long-distance runs in the army camps of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

There were also exercises for two or more of the above purposes. Jueli (wrestling) and wushu (martial arts), for example, may be practised as performing arts, or as fitness exercises, or as military skills.

Sports in ancient China were extremely rich and diversified, each with distinct features of its own. Traditional Chinese life preserving arts, in particular, combine bodily movements and mental activity in a way rarely seen in sports practised in other parts of the world. With their unique values in promoting health and combating disease, these arts are invaluable assets to mankind.
With their unique national features, Oriental charm, health-keeping and therapeutic values and entertaining effects, ancient sports form an intrinsic part of Chinese civilization. Today, they are being steadily improved on a scientific basis and have taken their place in the sporting world, enriching the treasure house of human civilization.

Beginning from this issue, we shall introduce to our readers ancient sports relics of different historical periods, including coloured pottery, bronzeware, bronze mirrors, chinaware, murals, brick paintings, Yungang grottoes, Dunhuang murals, and paintings of the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties. These precious relics and exquisite Pictures will enable our readers to obtain glimpses into the history of sports in China.

chinese culture: Embryonic Forms of Primitive Sports

Among the multitude of fairy tales told by the ancient Chinese, there were moving stories like those about "King Yi Shooting Down Nine Suns" and "Kua Fu Chasing the Sun". Such fairy tales reflect not only our ancestors' fond dreams but also their confidence and fortitude in developing bodily skills for the purpose of conquering nature.

The large numbers of stone balls unearthed in Yanggao County, Shanxi Province, were used as hunting tools by primitive men in the Paleolithic age some 100,000 years ago. The movements of the hunter's legs, arms and hands in his productive labour may be said to be the earliest forms of sport in human society.

A pottery basin unearthed in Datong County of Qinghai Province, which dates back 4,000 to 10,000 years, has three groups of dancing figures painted on its inner wall. On an ancient stone carving in Cangyuan, Yunnan Province, dating back about 3,000 years, there are not only dancing figures but also pictures of runners and acrobats forming a pyramid. From these relics we an see that in the latter part of China's primitive society, primitive sports were gradually breaking away from productive labour to merge with recreational and health activities. This marked a big step forward in the development of sports in ancient China.

A game called jirang (literally, "hitting the soil"), which is recorded in ancient books, was popular some four of five thousand years ago. A kind of throwing exercise in which a player had to hit a target on the ground 20 to 30 steps away to win a point, it could be called a competitive sport in its embryonic form.

chinese culture: Military Sports in Ancient Times

IN ancient China there was a fairy tale called "Kuafu Running After the Sun." Untrue as it is, the story does reflect people's admiration for great runners. Walking and running are the most fundamental abilities of man in daily life as well as in fighting. In ancient times when the means of transport were extremely simple and crude, people attached great importance to improving their walking and running abilities.

"The quality of troops lies in speed" was one of the most important maxims in ancient Chinese art of war. Eminent strategists of all times, from Wu Qi of the Warring States Period (475-221 BC) to the Ming Dynasty patriotic general Qi Jiguang (1528-1587), required their men to "run light-footedly" while carrying their weapons and with their coats of mail on. In ancient times, when dukes and princes travelled around in carts, their bodyguards had to run behind them. These bodyguards, called "brave warriors, " were selected through stringent tests" and enjoyed high esteem.

By the Yuan Dynasty (1271- J 1368), a long distance running race was held every year by the ruler inspecting his guards. According to a Yuan Dynasty history book titled Chuo Geng Lu, the race covered a t distance of about 180 Ii (90km) and the winner was awarded a silver disc while the others were given satin of different lengths. This was actually a kind of cross-country race that was held at regular intervals.

Hunting was one of the productive activities carried out by the primitive man as a means of survival. In the latter stage of the primitive society it began to be incorporated into the military training programmes of the ruling class. By the Spring and Autumn and the Warring States periods (770-221 BC) it assumed enormous dimensions as the rulers "taught the civilians ways to fight" by training them in such combat skills as marching, archery on horseback, and hand-to-hand fighting.

In the early Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 24), hunting gradually became a kind of recreation for the emperors and the nobility. Emperor Liu Che (140 BC- AD 88) had a hunting ground opened up in a forest west of the city of Xi' an. Named Shang Lin Yuan Park, it covers a large area with a circumference of hundreds of kilometres. Li Yuanji, son of the Tang emperor Li Yuan, is said to "prefer going without food for three days to going without hunting for one day." This shows what a great favour hunting was among the nobility.

Rulers of the Oing Dynasty ( 1644-1911) hailed from northeast China where people depended on hunting for their livelihood. Following an old tradition, they practised marching and fighting through hunting. Emperor Kangxi (1662- 1723) had a hunting ground named Mulan Ranch opened up in Rehe (a region comprising parts of today' s Hebei, Liaoning and Inner Mongolia), where large-scale hunting was carried out in the seventh and eighth months of the lunar year for six decades on end. Oianlong ( 1736- 1796 ) , another Oi ng emperor, issued a decree in which he gave his officials to understand the importance of hunting to both military exercise and physical training.

chinese culture: Daoyin -An Ancient Way of Preserving Life

Daoyin, or "xingqi," is a kind of callisthenic exercise combining breathing with bodily movements mimicking animals. Dao means to regulate qi, or vital energy, by guiding its flow in the body. Yin means to limber up the body and limbs through physical movements.

"Epigraph on Circulation of Oi, " an inscription on a piece of jade of the Warring States Period (475-221 BC), shows that people at that time already knew how to nourish qi and guide its flow in the body. Monographs on daoyin began to appear in the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 24). The daoyin diagrams painted on silk, unearthed from Tomb No.3 of the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220) in Changsha, Hunan Province, are the earliest extant and most complete paintings on ancient callisthenics. The paintings depict in colour 44 persons of both sexes and different ages doing daoyin movements of various descriptions, Hua Tuo, a famous physician of the Period of the Three Kingdoms (220-280), adapted over I 40 daoyin routines into five groups of movements mimicking tigers, deer, bears, apes and birds to create a set of exercise called Five Animal Play. By the Song Dynasty (960-1279), daoyjn had developed into baduanjin (eight-section brocade), which has remained popular to this day. Other exercises like wenbaduan and yijinjing, which appeared in the Ming (1368-1644) and Oing ?1644-1911) dynasties, are a blend of qigong and massage.

Daoyin exercises have proved very effective in prolonging life. Dougong, a blind musician during the reign of Emperor Wendi of the Western Han Dynasty, kept practising daoyin until he died at the ripe old age of over 100. Sun Simiao, a noted medical expert of the Tang Dynasty (618- 907), performed doayin three times a day and lived to an age of 110. Lu You, a celebrated scholar of the Song Dynasty, was still going strong when he was well over 80. No wonder daoyin was called an art for achieving longevity in ancient times.