Add the Gazzetta del Sud as a source
Great success for the team from Catanzaro Lido in Perugia: six podiums for the rookies and the world title for the young promise and for the leader, in memory of Maestro Pino Procopi.
From 15 to 17 May, Perugia was the world capital of martial arts, hosting the prestigious WCKA World Championship with over 1000 international athletes. Among the numerous disciplines in the competition, Shuai Jiao, the ancient and fascinating Chinese martial art of fighting, shone as the absolute protagonist.
A record-breaking expedition for the Catanzaro Lido team
Keeping the colors of the region high was Team Shuai Jiao Calabria, captained by maestro Stefano Pilò and based at the New Sport Line Fitness gym in Catanzaro Lido. The team presented itself at the world championship event with a delegation of 7 athletes, signing an extraordinary journey: 6 of them (four children and two adults) were in fact making their absolute debut in a competition of this level.
The debut of the debutants and the feat of little Flavius
Despite the emotion of the debut, the youngsters and debutants demonstrated immense valor, achieving a spectacular haul of 5 silver medals and one gold medal. Signing this extraordinary gold among the youngest was little Flavius, who in his first appearance on the tatami defeated the competition by winning the title of WCKA World Champion.
Maestro Stefano Pilò on the roof of the world
The mastermind himself, Stefano Pilò, completed the masterpiece of the Calabrian expedition. Having gone to the front line to fight side by side with his boys, Pilò won two gold medals, dominating in both Shuai Jiao and Tui Shou (another complex Chinese martial discipline), becoming the 2026 WCKA World Champion in both categories.
A movement that is rapidly expanding throughout the region
However, the Shuai Jiao movement in Calabria is in continuous and strong expansion: in fact, another thriving course of the discipline is also active in Pianopoli, at the ASD Power Gym, where a new group of kids is already training with great dedication and is ready to make their debut in the next scheduled competitive events.
The special dedication to Maestro Pino Procopi
A very important result that combines technical value with a profound emotional component: “I want to sincerely thank all the kids, their parents and the owners of New Sport Line Fitness for making this fantastic experience possible”, declared an emotional Stefano Pilò at the end of the competition. “This triumph, Flavius’ success and every single medal are dedicated entirely to the memory of Maestro Pino Procopi, who unfortunately is no longer with us, but whose teaching continues to live in all of us”.