The inaugural

YANG FAMILY TAI CHI CUP

International Tournament of Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan

The inaugural Yang Family Tai Chi Cup is a special event that invites all practitioners of Yang style tai chi chuan to come together in  friendly competition. It is the first time that the many schools of Yang tai chi chuan will gather in one place. The tournament will be a reunion of Yang style tai chi chuan players and will demonstrate the interesting diversity of Yang tai chi chuan variations that have developed from many generations of family members and disciples.

The tournament will be for both individuals and groups, with events in hand form, sword, and saber forms.

As well, Yang Family Tai Chi association members may apply for duan ranking levels as part of their participation in the tournament.

The tournament rules and regulations follow.  For more information or if you have any questions, contact:

tournament@taichisymposium.com

RULES AND REGULATIONS

 

 

 

Download a copy of the rules and regulations here

Download a copy of the Tournament Registration form here

Date and Place

 
Venue

Competition Events

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Categories

The inaugural Yang Family Tai Chi Cup – International Tournament of Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan will be held on May 26th, 2019 in Selvino, Italy.

Sports Hall,  Via G. Manzu, 34, Selvino, Italy

The tournament is for both individuals and groups with events in Bare Hand, Sword and Saber forms.

Tai Chi Chuan: Bare Hand Form
      Yang Family Essential Form
      Simplified 24 movement
      Other Yang Style

Tai Chi Jian: Sword Form
     Yang Family Tai Chi Sword
     Other Yang Style Tai Chi Sword

Tai Chi Dao: Saber
     Yang Family Tai Chi Saber
     Other Yang Style Tai Chi Saber

There are two tournament categories: individual and group. Participants may enter both categories.

A.    Individual:
In the Individual Category there are two sub-categories, Male and Female, under which there are five age-based divisions.  A competitor’s age for the tournament is determined by their age on May 1, 2019.   Note: where there are five or fewer people in a division, those participants will be placed in the next division up.  The exception is Division E, where participants will be placed in Division D.

                 Male              Female
Division A:  under 20  Division A:  under 20
Division B:  20 – 35 years Division B:  20 – 35 years
Division C:  36 – 50 years   Division C:  36 – 50 years   
Division D:  51 – 69 years Division D:  51 – 69 years 
Division E:  70+  Division E:  70+

 

B.   Group:
A tournament group must have a minimum of six (6) participants and a maximum of ten (10). Team composition is open and every team can participate in Hand Form and/or Sword Form and/or Saber Form.

Placing and Awards

A.  Individual:

The first 30% of the Division is awarded a certificate and gold medal, next 30% is awarded a certificate and silver medal and the last 40% is awarded a certificate and bronze medal.

In each Individual Division:

1st Place – trophy
2nd Place – trophy
3rd Place – trophy

B. Group:

1st Place – one trophy plus certificates and gold medals to each team member
2nd Place – one trophy plus certificates and silver medals to each team member
3rd Place – one trophy plus certificates and bronze medals to each team member
Certificates for all other group participants

Competition Attire and Weapons

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fees, Process and Deadline

1.  Tournament participants need to wear tai chi competition clothes and athletic shoes.

2.  Tournament participants are responsible for their own weapons (tai chi sword and tai chi saber).

  • Sword must be metal and of sound construction and long enough that the tip of the sword when held in ready posi­tion reaches at least the middle of the ear. A tassel is required for the sword.
  • Saber must be metal and of sound construction and long enough that the tip of the saber when held in ready posi­tion reaches at least the bottom of the ear. A flag is required for the saber.
  • If the competitor’s weapon does not have a tassel or a flag, there will be a penalty.

Tournament fee for individual performance:  $25 USD per individual event
Tournament fee for group performance:        $12 USD per person per event.

All participating groups and individuals are required to fill out the tournament registration form and pay the tournament fees.

Here is the link to the tournament registration form:  Tournament Registration Form
Please download the form and save it to your hard drive.  Email the completed form to:

tournament@taichisymposium.com

Payment of the tournament fees is through the online symposium registration form here.

Tournament registration closing date (deadline) is Apr 20, 2019. Late registrations will not be accepted.
 

Tournament Rules

To download a copy of the rules and regulations click Yang Family Tai Chi Cup Regulations Final

  1. Bare Hand performance must be 4 – 5 minutes in length only.
    Sword performance must be 3 – 4 minutes in length only.
    Saber performance must be 1 – 2 minutes in length only.
  1. Each participant should have with them a printed copy of their Tournament Registration Form.  The participant should bring valid identification and evidence of valid health insurance. You are responsible for any unforeseen circumstances.
  1. Competition participants should have own insurance.
  1. In order to maintain the competition’s strict arrangement order, if participants need to change a person or event, written request must be made to the competition department 48 hours before the competition.  If the change is accepted, every person or event change requires a fee of $10USD.
  1. All competitors will be called to the arena at least 10 minutes before the beginning of the event.
  1. The competitor should remove all jewelry and watches before entering the arena. Eyeglasses may be worn during the performance.
  1. All competitors should check in within 30 minutes before competition. They will be regarded as abstaining from the competition if they do not respond to 3 roll-calls.
  1. Competitor results will be nullified if he/she withdraws from the competition for no reason.
  1. After registration, the teams are requested to read the regulations carefully. If names or events are found incorrect, a written application should be submitted to the competition committee before 18:00 May 23.
  1. Notification will be made to registered participants of any additional information not covered in these regulations as they arise.
  1. There will be an information meeting for group leaders, coaches, and judges on May 24, 2019 at 5:00pm.  Please be punctual. Notification of the meeting location will be made closer to the competition date.

Arena Protocol

  1. Entering/Greeting: The Head Judge calls the competitor’s name. The competitor steps to the edge of the arena and salutes with the standard bare-hand palm-and-fist salutation (no “bow” with the salute) or the standard salute with a weapon, then holds the salute until the Head Judge acknowledges by returning the salute and indicates permission to enter the arena.
  1. Competitor’s starting point: The competitor walks directly to the assigned starting point and waits for the Head Judge’s signal to begin. The competitor does not speak and does not salute individual Judges.
  1. Beginning signal: The Head Judge gives the command “Begin, please.”
  1. Proceeding: The competitor perform the routine, each at his/her own pace.
  1. Finishing and exiting: When a competitor has completed a routine, he/she may exit the arena without waiting for others to finish. There is no salute. The competitor looks at the Head Judge and waits for eye contact. The Head Judge gives a signal (nod or hand gesture) to exit the arena.
  1. Incomplete routine: If a competitor does not finish a routine, he/she may exit the arena without waiting for others to finish. There is no salute. The competitor looks at the Head Judge and waits for eye contact. The Head Judge gives a signal (nod or hand signal) to exit the arena.

Yang Family Tai Chi Ranking Procedures

Download the Ranking Application form here

All Yang Family Tai Chi association members may apply for Duan Ranking levels during the tournament. This method of evaluation for Yang Family Tai Chi ranking is specific to those who compete in the Yang Family Tai Chi Cup tournament in Selvino, Italy, 2019.  For this event it is not possible to rank without participating in the tournament.

All ranking applications must be received by the Yang Family Tai Chi Ranking Department by April 20, 2019 along with the Ranking Application Fee payment receipt.  Ranking application fees are to be paid on the online symposium registration form:  https://taichisymposium.com/registration/

Applicants applying for the first time:
In general, members are expected to enter the ranking system by testing at the Copper Eagle level and progress sequentially. However, a member who has been engaged in systematic practice of Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan for three (3) or more years, commits and adheres to the Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan Morals and Commandments, and submits a written recommendation from her/his teacher to test for this rank, may apply directly for Silver Eagle ranking. Approval or consent must be given by a Yang Family Tai Chi Center or the association’s Ranking Department. Non-sequential ranking is not allowed for any other rank.

Applicants who attained a rank previously and are applying for the next level:

  • Those who have been ranked can only be promoted to the next level.
  • For the purpose of ranking within the International Tournament, the normal time interval for advancing in rank is modified this one time. Anyone whose last ranking for levels 1 or 2 was before December 31, 2018 may apply for the next ranking level in the tournament. Anyone whose last ranking for levels 3-5 was before December 31, 2017 may apply for the next ranking level in the tournament.

All Applicants
Final scores given by the Chief Judge of the Tournament will act as the qualifying score for ranking.

Required Scores for Each Level
The ranking scores listed below are higher than the standard ranking scores because the scale used for competitions score is higher. 

Copper Eagle – Rank One – The individual should achieve a score of at least 7.9 points in the competition for the 22 Essential Form and achieve a score of at least 60 points in the Rank One written test of history and theory.

Silver Eagle – Rank Two – The individual should achieve a score of at least 8.3 points in competition for the 22 Essential Form and achieve a score of at least 65 points in the Rank Two written test of history and theory.   

Gold Eagle – Rank Three – The individual should achieve a score of at least 8.5 points in each competition (22 Essential Form and one weapon form) and achieve a score of at least 70 points in the Rank Three written test of history and theory.

Copper Tiger – Rank Four – The individual should achieve a score of at least 8.9 points in each competition (22 Essential Form, Sword, and Saber), achieve a score of at least 75 points in the Rank Four written test of history and theory, and satisfactorily perform the Push Hands Skills requirements for Rank Four..

Silver Tiger – Rank Five – The individual should achieve a score of at least 9.3 points in each competition (22 Essential Form, Sword and Saber), achieve a score of at least 80 points in the Rank Five written test of history and theory, and satisfactorily perform the Push Hands Skills requirements for Rank Five.

Gold Tiger – Rank Six – The individual should achieve a score of at least 9.5 points in each competition (22 Essential Form, Sword and Saber), achieve a score of at least 85 points in the Rank Six written test of history and theory, and satisfactorily perform the Push Hands Skills requirements for Rank Six.