The stage was filled with swift and echoing movements. Hundreds of spectators watched, including masters from all over the globe.
But instead of feeling nervous, they were eager to showcase their abilities.
Sophomores Alexander Starnes, Aldric Tanzil and senior Avery Tanzil showed off their martial-arts skills at the First International Kungfu and Taiji Festival on Aug. 22 at the Milano Event Center.
Having trained in kung fu for over 11 years, Starnes underwent months of rehearsals to prepare for the international spotlight.
“Personally, [kung fu] means a commitment of my time and hard work, but it’s also a fun thing to do with people I know,” Starnes said. “Since our master is a big figure in the kung fu community, people call him to give us some good opportunities to perform.”
The group’s preparation included both solo practice and group rehearsals. They trained for over two months — rehearsing each move, coordinating with teammates and practicing with weapons to make their routine as precise as possible.
“We would stay after class most days, just working on performance, trying to get everything in sync [and] making sure that we’re showing our best,” Aldric Tanzil said. “It was a lot of hard work to stay for hours after class. We were very tired.”
The exhibition featured multiple solo sections along with a final group form involving swords and staffs. Aldric Tanzil displayed a traditional mantis-style form, which focuses on agility and continuous attacks, while Starnes demonstrated a monkey-style routine, known for its acrobatic movements. Avery Tanzil, who had to take the SAT the next day, joined the others only in the final group form.
“When I was performing, it felt like a state of intense focus, almost like I was on autopilot,” Aldric Tanzil said. “My brain is almost in a survival state. The only thing I could focus on was what I needed to do and the mistakes I needed to avoid.”
For Starnes, the festival was a “big opportunity,” as it gave the students a chance to connect with masters and athletes from across the country.
“Honestly, it felt really nice knowing that it wasn’t just a normal audience, but also experienced people from all around the world watching, so I could show them how good we are,” Starnes said. “All different masters have their own specialties. All of them coming together is a big opportunity.”
The experience was more than just performing in front of a crowd; it was a chance to have a deep sense of pride in showcasing their school.
“We prepared so much, because we wanted to show off the best of us and show that we were the best school,” Starnes said. “It felt good giving it our all.”
For classmates in the audience, their routines were just as memorable. The performers even included energetic shouts throughout their routines to demonstrate intensity, which surprised some classmates. Sophomore Lucas Nguyen said watching his peers perform inspired and left a strong impression on him.
“I was pretty proud of them,” Ngyuen said. “I was laughing a little bit too when they started yelling, because I didn’t think that was gonna happen. But they still looked pretty awesome when they jumped really high. I was really invested in the whole thing.”
All three students hope to keep pursuing kung fu in the years to come. Starnes said that he wants to keep growing in different aspects of kung fu with the ultimate goal of trying out for the national team. Aldric Tanzil said he hopes to make the U.S. team for contemporary Wushu and compete internationally. Avery Tanzil plans to keep training throughout college to continue using kung fu as a way to express himself.
“Hard work gives good results,” Starnes said. “If you put in the work, you’ll get results.”
Currently, the trio is training to perform across various locations in the Houston area during Chinese New Year, hoping to display their skills to the Houston community.
