The last international competition in Fo Shan, organized by the IWUF (International Wushu Federation), was held in 2018. However, due to COVID-19, the world and sports were completely changed, and only now, after six years, the next competition has been organized.

We participated with two of my students – Asen Asenov from Montana, who has been training with me for more than 20 years, and Rosen Bizerov from Plovdiv, who has also trained for over 15 years and is now an instructor for the teen group and part of the Plovdiv Academy team. We were officially invited by the international federation and were part of the Bulgarian Wushu Federation delegation, consisting of eight people in total.

Fo Shan, or Fat Shan in Cantonese, is the birthplace of Grandmaster Ip Man, where he learned Wing Chun from his teacher Chan Wa Shun. Fo Shan is a city with over 9 million residents, near Guangzhou, a city of 20 million residents, and approximately 150 km from Hong Kong. It is known as the most martial arts-oriented city in China, with over 350 Kung Fu styles and millions of practitioners in thousands of schools.

The competition featured 2800 participants from 13 countries and 30 regions of China, competing in various disciplines – solo forms without weapons, forms with staffs and knives, wooden dummy techniques, and Chi Sao sparring. Participants were divided into three groups – competitors from foreign national federations, competitors from the Chinese Wushu Federation, and competitors living or studying in China.

The opening ceremony was grand – featuring large Wing Chun demonstrations, speeches from IWUF leadership, special guests, and a banquet with over fifty tables for all foreign teams. Stefan Kolev, President of the Bulgarian Wushu Federation and a board member of IWUF, also spoke at the ceremony.

The competition venue was the Fo Shan Cultural Center, a massive complex of multi-level buildings. The main competition hall included three arenas for forms, two arenas for sparring, and five stations with wooden dummies equipped with sensors to track strikes. The results were evaluated by artificial intelligence, eliminating subjectivity.

The judges operated in a disciplined manner, wearing identical black uniforms and marching in formation. Ten teams of ten judges worked simultaneously, and scores were displayed on a giant screen divided into three sections.

After intense competition, with over eight participants in each discipline, we won our first medals on the first day – a Gold medal for Siu Nim Tau for Asen Asenov and a Bronze medal for Rosen Bizerov!

Following the competition day, many foreigners and Chinese approached us for photos and interviews. The most notable interview was with CCTV, China’s national television, which broadcast two 10-minute reports.

On the second day, we added more medals and surprises – a Gold medal for Rosen Bizerov in Biu Ji, a Bronze in Chum Kiu, and a Gold medal in Chum Kiu and Silver in Biu Ji for Asen Asenov.

In the Chi Sao sparring matches, Asen faced a heavier opponent and won a Gold medal.

A new feature in the Wing Chun world was the Mok Yat Jong – computerized Wooden Dummy competition! The Chinese developed an advanced dummy equipped with sensors to measure strike force, intensity, duration, and power. Each competitor was filmed using facial recognition and evaluated by AI, ensuring fairness.

The third and final day brought even more medals for our athletes! Asen Asenov won a Gold medal in Chi Sao sparring and a Silver medal in Wooden Dummy, while Rosen Bizerov secured a Gold medal in Chi Sao and a Silver medal in Wooden Dummy.

This completed the outstanding performance of Master Stanislav Bagalev’s students with a total of 10 medals:

Asen Asenov – 3 Gold and 2 Silver medals:

• Siu Nim Tau - Gold
• Chum Kiu - Gold
• Biu Ji - Silver
• Wooden Dummy - Silver
• Chi Sao - Gold

Rosen Bizerov – 2 Gold, 1 Silver, and 2 Bronze medals:

• Siu Nim Tau - Bronze
• Chum Kiu - Bronze
• Biu Ji - Gold
• Wooden Dummy - Silver
• Chi Sao - Gold

The closing ceremony of the International Wing Chun Competition took place on December 15, 2024, at the Fo Shan Cultural Center, where all participants gathered to hear speeches from the IWUF board, including Stefan Kolev, who also addressed the audience. All teams received commemorative plaques, and the heads of the judging teams were honored.

It was an exceptionally well-organized competition that left us with wonderful memories and showcased the strong performance of the entire Bulgarian team, led by Petar Dragoev, Vice President of the Bulgarian Wushu Federation, and coach Stanislav Bagalev.

Media coverage in China was on another level – utilizing all social platforms and creating dynamic videos and interviews that went viral within hours. Upon our arrival at the hotel, Chinese media asked me if I could perform the one-legged stance from the Ip Man movie featuring Donnie Yen. I managed to hold the challenging position, which went viral, attracting interest from Guangzhou Daily Press, who conducted a comprehensive interview and later filmed us live, publishing a full-page article.

Despite the busy schedule, we visited two museums dedicated to Grandmaster Ip Man on the first and last days.

The first museum, located in Zhumiao Temple in Fo Shan’s old town, left a lasting impression. It was a dream come true to see relics and artifacts used by Ip Man, including his knives, staff, and wooden dummy, as well as historical documents and photographs.

Visiting this site was an opportunity to honor my teacher, Grandmaster Kernspecht, who brought Wing Chun to Europe. Thanks to him, I became part of the lineage of Ip Man, and I wore the Magic Hands logo in Fo Shan at the museum.

Since we flew through Hong Kong, we also spent a few days exploring its landmarks.

We visited the Avenue of Stars, with its stunning view of the harbor, waves, city lights, hotels, and ships. The highlight was the statue of Bruce Lee in his iconic stance, glowing against the city skyline.

We took the ferry between Kowloon and Hong Kong at sunset, marveling at the breathtaking scenery. Later, we rode the tram to Victoria Peak, ascending at a 45-degree angle to witness panoramic views of the bay and illuminated skyscrapers.

On our last day, we traveled to Lantau Island to see the Tian Tan Buddha. The 38-meter statue, built in the 1990s, stands atop a mountain and symbolizes peace and meditation. Climbing 268 steps to reach it was an emotional and spiritual journey.

For us, this trip was extraordinary – competing and winning at an international event with thousands of participants, visiting Ip Man’s birthplace and museum, and exploring Hong Kong!

Veni, Vidi, Vici – We came, we saw, we conquered!

Master Stanislav Bagalev