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Witch Hazel Fifth Grader is World Kung Fu Champion
December 8, 2017 - Congratulations are in order for Witch Hazel Elementary School fifth-grader Casey Lew who recently won two individual Gold Medals and a team Bronze Medal for Team USA in the 7th World Kung Fu Championships in China!
The following article was written by his father, Brian Lew.
Casey Lew, a student in Mrs. Kara Emberlin’s 5th grade class at Witch Hazel Elementary School, competed at the 7th World Kung Fu Championships with Team USA in Emeishan, China, from Nov. 7-12, 2017. The tournament is held every two years in various sacred Kung Fu locations in China.
Casey qualified for Team USA in 2016 and has been training ever since for the World Championships. Team USA took 174 athletes to the tournament where the total number of competitors was 3800 from 57 countries across the world. Casey competed in two individual form events and one group form event for Team USA in the 8-12 year-old male category.
In the Traditional Quan hand form event, Casey performed Tong Bei Quan, which utilizes speed and power. In this form, Casey hits various pressure points in his moves to release power and energy. For this event category and his age, Casey outperformed his fifteen competitors to earn the 1st Place Gold Medal and title of 2017-2019 World Champion.
In the Double Flexible Weapon event, Casey used the 3 Sectional Staff or San Jie Gun, which is a very powerful and difficult weapon to use. For this event and his age, Casey beat out four of his teammates from Team USA to earn the 1st Place Gold Medal and title of 2017-2019 World Champion.
Finally, Casey competed with his teammates in a Taichi Fan group form. Each country was only allowed to enter one group, so his was the only one representing Team USA. This event featured a total of nine groups from various countries and all age categories. They earned a Bronze Medal for this event and were the only group competing with all kids (the oldest of whom was 16).
Casey attends the U.S. Wushu Center in downtown Portland for his training. He is taught by Grand Master Jiamin Gao, who is a 32-time World Champion, and Master Shaowen Yu, who is also a former champion and member of the Beijin Wushu Team. In Beijing, Master Yu was a teammate with Jet Li, a famous Kung Fu Master-turned-actor. Casey’s school has eleven other members qualified for Team USA and all competed at the World Championships. Two teammates also earned Gold Medals, while the other nine earned various Silver and Bronze Medals.
In August 2017, Casey competed with Team USA at the 2nd Pan American Tai Chi and Kung Fu Championships in Costa Rica and won three Gold Medals in three categories in his age division of 8-12 year-olds.
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Wow! And congratulations again, Casey! We are so proud of you!