MMA in Beijing: Art of War 12
Friday, 22nd May 2009 ~ Maggie ~ Link ~ Comments (0)
Wu Haotian (right) stares down his opponent before Art of War 11.
The main event features China's Wu Hao Tian against Japanese fighter Yutaka Kobayashi. VIPs in attendance will include the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi
(His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan), who is a major investor in Art of War; Michael Buffer ("Let's get ready to rumble!"); and several members of Brazilian jiu jitsu's first family, the Gracies. The fighters come from China, South Korea, Brazil, the United States, Korea, Finland, Uzbekistan, Sweden, Denmark and Russia.
This is the 12th time that Art of War is putting on fights in Beijing, but only the second time the competition is completely government-sanctioned and publicized. The first official show took place about two months ago at Chaoyang Stadium. A dozen pairs of fighters squared off in a boxing-style ring in front of a packed 3,500-seat house. Not only were the fights at Art of War 11 good, but the event was one of the best-produced athletic competitions China has seen outside of the Olympics, complete with drama, hype, smoke and jumbotron instant replay. These guys know how to put on a show.
Mixed martial arts pits fighters against each other in hand-to-hand combat, using whatever fighting styles they want (certain strikes, of course, are off-limits). Also known as MMA, it has surged in popularity in the United States lately--Ultimate Fighting Championship, or UFC, being the most popular organization.
The Art of War crew is looking to hold onto its position as the number one producer of these events in China. The company also operates the Art of War martial arts studio in Beijing, and airs fights via Inner Mongolia satellite TV every Sunday afternoon. It will produce four more competitions in China this year.
Emma Ticketmaster lists the event as sold out, but tickets can still be bought at The Rickshaw sports bar in Beijing (map and info available here).
Keep scrolling for pictures of Art of War 11.
The ring at Chaoyang Stadium, Art of War 11
Instant replay while the crowd awaits the judges' decision
Mongolia, with its wrestling tradition, produces some of China's best fighters (Dai Shuanghai at AOW 11)
Wu Haotian vs. Andreas Hesselback, AOW 11
Shanzhai pyrotechnics
Bernueng Sakhomsin (Thailand, left) fought Dai Shuanghai (China) to a draw in the main event. "Bring me back and I'll kill him," Sakhomsin said after the fight.
Tags: Beijing, Chaoyang Stadium, events, martial arts, mixed martial arts, Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium
The ABCs of the X Games
Friday, 1st May 2009 ~ Maggie ~ Link ~ Comments (0)
The Kia X Games are underway in Shanghai. What do you need to know about them? CST and Shanghaiist contributor Geoff Ng has you covered with this stream-of-consciousness guide to one of the coolest things to do this holiday weekend.Andy McDonald: the only Skateboard Vert champ Shanghai's ever had
BMX: big boys on little bikes.
Chad Kagy: back-to-back and reigning champ chickened out. Who will step up?
Dinara Israliyeva: Kazakhstan's only contestant
Eito Yasutoko and little bro Takeshi: 6 of last 7 In-Line Vert titles…any challengers?
Five sports, eight categories, four days.
Garrett Reynolds: 17 year-old BMX wunderkind, defending champ
Hotline: hit it up at 962388 or 400-666-6699
In-Line: like roller skates. But, uh, not lame.
Jiangwan Stadium: no bigger skate park in the world.
Kawasaki, Ayumi: first female winner in In-Line Vert history?
Lukasz Swirk: Poland's great white sport climbing hope
Motocross: getting Big Air, but just a demonstration sport this year
Nakamura brothers Tomohiko and Takayuki: looking to push the Yasutokos
Online tix? Lvmama.com
Phuket, Thailand: birthplace of the Asian X Games
Qixin, Zhong: a quarter of the Chinese men's climbing crew
RISE UP: the X Games' official theme song
Sport Climbing: who can get it up the quickest?
Tickets: Get 'em for 120RMB; 50RMB for students
USD $130,000 in prizes. Straight cash, homey.
Vert vs. Street? Vert goes on the ramp, street goes on the street.
Wanitsakul, Kiattichai: Asia's only entry in the BMX Freestyle Vert
X. What else needs to be said?
Tags: events, Geoff Ng, Jiangwan Stadium, Shanghai, X Games
Liu Xiang Cruising in Beijing Test Event
Friday, 23rd May 2008 ~ Maggie ~ Link ~ Comments (0)
With one of China's biggest stars in Liu Xiang, and one of the Beijing Olympics' most hyped venues in the Bird's Nest, this event should be pretty hard to get into. But you can try your luck with one of the ticketing outlets listed on the Good Luck Beijing Web site.
National Stadium, aka the Bird's Nest, debuted last month with the finish of the marathon and race walking test events, but this weekend's four-day track and field meet is the venue's most complex event to date. In fact, it is probably the most important test event in terms of gauging Beijing's readiness to host the Olympics in August. The homepage for this event also happens to be the best that Good Luck Beijing has produced yet, with regular results updates and a wealth of video, photo and written content.
Image: Good Luck Beijing
Tags: Bird's Nest, events, Good Luck Beijing, Liu Xiang, National Stadium, track and field
This Weekend Around China
Friday, 9th May 2008 ~ Maggie ~ Link ~ Comments (0)
Below are listings of some sporting events for fans and weekend warriors around China. Are we missing something in your city? Use our contact form to let us know.Anhui Province
Mountain Biking
What: Huangshan Mountain Bike Festival
400 riders compete for four yellow jerseys on Yellow Mountain. The races will start at 9:30 and end around noon. The event is put on by Nordic Ways, and includes sightseeing tours for participants on Friday and Sunday, as well as a banquet, bonfire and local food festival.
Where: Hongcun in Huangshan, see directions here
Contact: www.nordicways.com
When: May 10, from 9:30 a.m. to noon
Beijing
Golf
What: 2008 Pine Valley Beijing Open
Where: Pine Valley Golf Club, Beijing
When: May 8-11
Contact: www.pinevalleybeijingopen.com
Soccer
What: Chinese Super League, Beijing Guo'an v. Liaoning
Where: Fengtai Stadium
When: May 10, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: 30,50, 80, 100 RMB
Contact: www.gaf.citic.com
6381-1576
Rugby
Beijing Rugby Cup
Beijing Devils v. Aardvarks
Where: Dulwich College
When: May 10, 2:30 p.m.
Free
Contact: www.beijingdevils.com
Shanghai
Tennis
What: Gemdale Cup International Tennis Tournament
Registration is closed to compete in this amateur tennis open, but admission is free for spectators. Players compete for 10,000 RMB in prize money.
Where: Gemdale Courts, No. 68 Rui Lin Lu, Nan Xiang Town, Jiading
When: Saturday and Sunday, May 10-11 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Gaelic Football
What: Shanghai Gaelic Football open training session.
Where: Luwan Stadium, 135 Jianguo Xi Lu, Luwan (near Shaan Xi Nan Lu)
Contact: Geoff, 6467-4239
www.shanghaifootballclub.com
When: Saturday May 10, 8-10 pm
Image: NordicWays
Tags: events
March Madness in China
Friday, 21st March 2008 ~ Maggie ~ Link ~ Comments (0)
Don't see your city, favorite sports bar or sporting event below? If you know something we don't, contact us here
March Madness. Bubble Team. Final Four. Bracketology. If these words mean anything to you, you're probably American. And if you're in China, you're probably looking for a place to tune in to the first two rounds of the NCAA College Basketball Tournament this weekend. We have found a couple of spots in Beijing and Shanghai that will be showing the tournament. These bars are subject to the scheduling of their satellite providers, but so far it seems like most will have a live airing and a tape delay one. Call the bars below for details.
Shanghai
Bubba's Texas-Style Bar-B-Que and Saloon
2262 Hongqiao Lu, next to the Hongqiao Marriott
Telephone: 62422612
Beijing
Goose & Duck
Guanhu International Tower
No.105,Yao jia yuan road
Chaoyang District (East of Chaoyang Bridge)
Telephone: 5928-3045
Kro's Nest (乌巢)
Inside Gongti Beimen
工体北门
Telephone: 6553-5253
The Pomegranate 石榴园
19 Kaifa Lu, Xibaixinzhuan
Houshayu, Shunyi
后沙峪西白辛庄开发路19号
Telephone: 8046-2558
Rickshaw人力车
Corner of Sanlitun Nanlu and Gongti Beilu
三里屯南路滚石西门
6500-4330
Sunset Bar and Grill
Corner of Xingfu Yicun and Xingfu Zhonglu, Sanlitun
Telephone: 131-4133-3018
Tim's Texas Bar-B-Q and Roadhouse
27 Super Bar Street, Nuren Jie
星吧路27号
Telephone: 6461-1141
Hong Kong
Rumor has it that Skitz Sports Bar in Wanchai is airing games. We're working to confirm that rumor, but in the meantime check them out here.
Other sporting events around China this weekend:
Hong Kong: The Hong Kong Football Club will host a field hockey competition, the 2008 Easter Tournament, Friday and Saturday at its field hockey pitches in Hong Kong. Twenty teams of various talent levels will face off in short 18-minute games from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Beijing: The Good Luck Beijing 2008 Water Polo Open continues with games from 3:00 to 6:00 Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Shanghai and Beijing: International Pillow Fight Day. Ok, so it's not a sport. But you could definitely work up a sweat smacking people with down-stuffed pillows. The good times roll at exactly 3:03 p.m. on Saturday, March 22. Beijingers will congregate at The Place Shopping Mall at 9 Guanghua Road near the Yong'an Li metro stop. Shanghairen will meet at The Lawn at Shanghai Sculpture Space, 570 Huaihai Road.
Image: Sports Illustrated
Tags: basketball, events, March Madness, sports bars