The inclusion of Wushu in the competitive calendar of the 5th ALBA Sports Games was an important step forward for the discipline; meanwhile, the representatives from Las Tunas were in charge of raising the quality of martial arts in Cuba.
Puerto Padre, Las Tunas.- The athlete Cynthia Rodríguez Justo and the professor Carlos Rodríguez Cordoví wore the flannel of the national team. The call to the regional tournament meant the prize for the work of many years.
“It was worth all this demanding time, to say; lower your stance, straighten up, pull harder. And in Havana, with the help of teachers Roberto Vargas Lee and Mailín, who really deserve the prize for preparing the team, because I was an assistant coach, we continue learning. I tried to help as much as I could, in physical preparation,” comments Carlos, the main architect of the activity in the Villa Azul, with great pride, after making another dream come true.
The certainty of good work, even beyond the athletic field, besides the experience of representing the Island, filled the suitcases of Carlos and Cynthia, but also of children, young people, and grandparents who come to the training center in the afternoons.
“Very happy that we could represent our school, the municipality, the province, and Cuba. We had already participated in other online events, but it was the first time we traveled abroad, and being in Venezuela was a great satisfaction. I can describe the event as very pleasant, of mutual exchange.”
Without the slightest idea of stopping the march, Rodríguez Cordoví preserves hopes in the rise of this martial art in the eyes of the organizers of the area. “It can become a reality that Cuban Wushu is in Central American, Pan American, and why not, the Olympics. Those who participated in the ALBA Games are going to become the instructors who will help to develop Wushu in the Caribbean region, facing this promising future."
Back to daily occupations, the experiences in Bolivarian lands serve as an incentive to face new projects and broaden the horizon of the students.
"I am not satisfied, we are going to continue creating in each practice, next to my wife who is also a trainer, with my work group, professor Adrián, parents, friends, older adults, collaborators, members or not of the school that are always supporting our work. We have a lot to do in the field of culture because the sport has an age limit, but Wushu is very broad and various things can be conceived, above all, with Chi Kung, for health, which is so needed at the moment.”
The traces of success will remain in the laurel showcases; however, the clay makes it possible to continue with the desire to fantasize about the future, with the ambition of promoting good people, offering a better quality of life, and spreading the values of an ancient culture. The merits only indicate the way forward.
