Wushu Players :: Sam Mak :::

Sam Mak, Junior European Champion

/photos/players/europe/players_001Full Name: Samuel Hon Men Mak
Age: 10
Home town: Matlock, Derbyshire
Family: Fred (dad), Mary (mum), Haymen (sister)

Club: Derby School of Chinese Martial Arts
Wushu events: Long Fist, Sword, Spear, Stick, Mantis, Pudao, Chin Na Sparring, Tan Tui, Cha Quan
Other interests: Soccer with Nottingham Forest juniors


This document describes my experiences thus far in coaching and teaching one of Britain's brightest martial arts prospects, Samuel Hon Men Mak. (Hon Men I believe, means "Emperors guard")

Samuel first began training at the Derby School of Chinese Martial Arts when he was just 5 years old in 1998. His family are originally from Hong Kong but have lived in England for most of their lives.

I remember the first time I met Sam and his dad Fred whom had brought him to the club. I thought Sam looked so much younger than 5 and admittedly I had a few reservations about taking him on because toddlers generally tend to have no coordination or more importantly discipline which can make life very difficult for the coach especially if you have 15 other athletes whom need teaching in the space of a few hours.

Sam was different though, much different. Even from day one, he had a natural aptitude for the sport. I was amazed that a lad so young clearly knew the difference between his left and right. If you've done wushu basics before you'll know how confusing this can be for even an adult!

He was also very quiet and shy in the class but what set him aside from everyone else was his work ethic. I always saw him working hard even towards the end of the class when everyone else tended to stand around talking. Occasionally, he would produce flashes of utter brilliance that would just leave everyone else in the class speechless.

Over the years Sam has gained a lot of body strength and developed incredible flexibility (he can box split naturally from cold and also do the head to toe exercise). His speed and jumping abilities are improving rapidly too and as an athlete he is way advanced for a 10 year old boy.

He has taken 7 out of 8 gold medals at BCCMA competitions since first competing at 9 years old in 2002 and has always scored the highest taolu mark of the day at these events.

We are now hopeful that Sam will be selected to represent Great Britain for the first junior European wushu championships in Antwerp later on this year. Sam's ultimate dream is to compete at the world championships and the Olympic Games at adult level in the future.

From day one Sam had a kind of aura about him. You just knew that this kid was going to turn out a champion at whatever he set his mind to even if it wasn't doing martial arts. If the rest of the wushu world is reading this: watch out for this boy - he will be nothing short of awesome in years to come.

Mike Donoghue
Coach
Derby School of Chinese Martial Arts
www.derbywushu.com
W1F: 2004-12-25-98-62

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