2007 Beijing City Dongxu Cup Chinese Wrestling Invitational
The 2007 Beijing City Dongxu Cup was held at the Tianchi Chinese Wrestling Center on the 22nd of December.
The Dongxu Cup is a local competition attended by athletes representing most of Beijing’s Shuaijiao clubs.
The day started early with registration at 0800 but ran smoothly with all the fights and prize giving completed by 1630.
As expected Tianchi came out on top in terms of medals, but each of the clubs put on a fine display of technique with some sensational throws.
Throw of the day was from Li Junlei a Sanda fighter from the Beijing Sanda Team. A perfectly executed “tao tui” movement which sent his opponent flying for 3 points. I wasn’t fast enough with my new video camera so i failed to catch it on tape. I got the rest of the fight, but it seems that my memory card is faulty and needs to be reformatted… so i guess that means i’ll lose that footage, along with a special Christmas message i taped for you all from Master Li Baoru 
Another hightlight was National Champion Wang Yanlong of the Tianchi team winning his weight class easily. Putting on a show of some very subtle movements that won point after point after point. Each of his matches including the final was stopped in the first round due to a 9 point advantage, which is automatically declared a win in Shuaijiao.
I may have lost the video, but i did manage to get some nice photos…hope you enjoy.
Warmest Christmas Greetings to you all,
Michael Wix
ps. Tianchi Shuaijiao Center is a sensational place to learn and master Shuaijiao. Their champions train 6 days a week two or three times a day with awesome coaches. If that sounds like something you would like to experience in 2008… email me!
In the 2007 rule revision, Xiao De He now MUST succeed in throwing the opponent. If not, you lose 1 point.
Although he lost, it didn’t stop the guy in red from succeeding with it twice in this bout
National Champion Gao Yu in Niujie fighter’s corner
Da Kui in blue attempts the double leg. He is an ex-Army National level freestyle wrestler
He did manage to beat his opponent in this match, but this was the result of several of his tackles. His opponent was considerably better at Shuaijiao than Dakui but he wasn’t used to fighting freestyle wrestlers.
Everyone’s favorite referee - Baibai
I love this photo… these two 100kg+ competitors ran out of gas halfway through the first round much to the crowd’s displeasure
Beautiful Jizhuang executed with amazing speed
Coach Ma from Tianchi Shuaijiao Center is a National Taiji Push Hands champion and Shuaijiao master. Current Shuaijiao National champions are fodder for this guy. Master Li to the right.
Coach Liu Haoxue, head referee for this event, is an 11 time National Freestyle Champ and Shuaijiao expert.
Master Li Baoru enjoying the fights and overseeing the competition
Coach Xu Gang - the Beijing Sanda Team’s Shuaijiao coach - not impressed by the conditioning of some of the competitors
Coach Yao Dongjun. Coach Yao is the owner and manager of the Tianchi Shuaijiao Center.
My favourite photo of the day: National Champion Wang Yanlong and team mate Yao Honggang. Both training and fighting for the Tianchi Team
Liu Zuguang - a.k.a. Da Guang - wins the 10okg+ class.
National Champ Wang Yanlong of Tianchi won each of his fights including the final easily by 9-point advantage - the Shuaijiao equivalent of a KO.
Li Junlei of the Beijing Sanda Team accepting his silver medal. He forfeited his first match and the gold at his coach’s request as a sign of respect to his mates at Tianchi. Junlei received my throw of the day award for his 3-point taotui against a Niujie fighter. Junlei will turn pro as of 2008.
Li Junlei with Coach Li Deshun. Coach Li is Li Baoru’s student and many times National and Beijing Champion. Junlei is one of my sparring partners every Sunday with Master Li and Coach Ma. Coach Li’s mastery of grip fighting is astounding…he is someone you DEFINITELY need to (and can) learn from.
The winning team from Tianchi. 5 golds and 1 silver. A great bunch of guys to train with, all good at different things and all a pleasure to hangout with.
December 24th, 2007 at 7:29 pm
Great pics and write-up, thank you!
December 26th, 2007 at 6:48 pm
Cool stuff Thanks for posting. I’d appreciate if you could post what the rules are for SJ competitons, Happy Holidays
December 28th, 2007 at 12:40 am
wow, that picture of Liu Zuguang that you posted is pretty scary. he doesnt look like somone you want to mess with. How big is he? he looks to pretty tall too. Did you get to see his match?
December 29th, 2007 at 4:33 pm
Da Guang is about 190cm and 107kgs… he is the 4 time All Beijing Champ and his best National placing is 3rd… he is a tough guy.
December 29th, 2007 at 4:56 pm
wow, that makes him around 6 foot 3 inches and about 230 plus pounds. Thats a pretty big guy. Since he is a 4 time All Beijing Champ, Im guessing he trains in the Beijing style of Shuai Jiao and not other styles like Tianjin. Is Tianjin style the fast style - Kuai Jiao? How long has Da Guang been training Shuai Jiao?
December 31st, 2007 at 12:53 pm
no such thing as fast style Shuaijiao. All Shuaijiao is fast.
Da Guang has been training in Beijing and competing around the country for the past 10 plus years.
He is one of Master Li’s students students but he also trains with Master Li and us.
December 31st, 2007 at 4:56 pm
Oh, but I thought Baoding style Shuaijiao was called Kuai Jiao(fast wrestling). Is it any different from what is taught in the Beijing style? Have you ever heard of this? I remember reading it somewhere
December 31st, 2007 at 4:59 pm
oh BTY, how is work on your online store going?
January 2nd, 2008 at 7:12 am
Congratulations Li Junlei !!! what is Yao Honggang’s results in this competition ???
January 2nd, 2008 at 6:17 pm
Xiao Yao got a gold too!
January 4th, 2008 at 7:34 am
Hello Mike, I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind sharing a picture to be used in the Shuai Jiao entry for Wikipedia, there is not picture. Thanks Mike
January 8th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
he got a gold !!! great !!!!!! happy new year