Kings of Kung Fu

British Success at the European Full Contact (Lei Tai) Championships in Milan, Italy

Monday 14 April, 2003

Milan, Italy, was the venue for the King of Kung Fu Championships held last weekend. British Team members Michael Clarke, 29, of Timworth Close, Luton and Mohammed Yasin, 19, of  Highfield Road, Luton, were selected for the British Chinese Kuoshu (National Martial Arts) Team to represent Great Britain in the highlight of the event, the European Lei Tai Full Contact Sparring.

The event was open to all styles and systems and bought together fighters from all over Europe to take part in this ‘anything goes’ tournament. Literally - elbows, knees, punches, kicks, throws, sweeps and joint locks and all full contact. The only attacks which were not allowed were biting and gouging. Many of the fighters taking part were professionals, who are on the circuit every event – for many this is their life.

Clarke a 6’5” Fireman Instructor, and currently holder of the British title, devastated his opponent in the heavy weight category to take the European title. Clarke had two of his opponents unable to continue due to their injuries in this clash of the titans. The head guard with the plastic coated steel face guard was no protection for one of Clarke’s opponents, who had his nose broken in two places as Clarke punched through the face guard. Clarke won impressively with his power-packed sweep, punch and kick. None of his opponents were able to match his power and technique he literally cut through them like a hot knife through butter. Clarke finished his opponent with a ‘Quan Ti’ roundhouse kick to the head. His opponents guard dropped and he began to fall. Clarke was poised for the finishing blow but held back – he knew his opponent was out on his feet. The mother of one of Clarke’s opponents spoke to Clarke after the final match and thanked him for “not killing her son”. Clarke said “I held back ’cause I didn’t want to break anyone again”.

Yasin, an Engineering student at Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London, fought valiantly but had to withdraw from the contest in the finals with a broken finger. The referee stopped the fight even though Yasin wanted to continue and just use one hand – he was ahead on points. When the referee stopped the match Yasin remarked “… it’s only broken, use the freeze spray …”

Both Clarke and Yasin are student of traditional Chinese martial arts: Tien Shan Pai (Northern Shaolin) and specialise in Bao Ding Shuai Jiao (Chinese Wrestling), studying under another local man, Master Rob Simpson, of Strathmore Avenue, Chief Instructor of the Chinese Kuoshu Institute (CKI), based at the University of Luton, Hightown Recreation Centre, Luton and Fitness First, Dunstable. Master Simpson, himself a successful vetran of British, European and the 1996 World Kuoshu Championships was pleased with his student’s performance. He remarked “they must not become complacent … they need to maintain their training!”

Master Simpson has trained a number of both Full Contact and Forms champions. In the Luton classes alone there are six British and three International title holders.

Clarke will be defending his British title at the British Open Martial Arts Tournament to be held at the Vauxhall Brache Recreation Centre on 31 May, this year. With a broken finger, Yasin will not be able to impress the British Team selectors as he will not be ‘fight ready’, but is still eager to get back into it when his finger heals, and will be at the event to size up the competition.