On April 18, 2026, the world of Wushu descended upon Nassau, NY, for the 2026 International Wushu Championships, and the Vital Martial Arts Academy team rose to the occasion. Our athletes traveled north to test their skills against a talented international field, putting in a very strong performance and bringing home fantastic results.
A major highlight of the weekend was the performance of Sorina Codita. Competing in the Advanced divisions, Sorina showed incredible focus and technical skill. We are very proud to announce that Sorina was crowned the Advanced Traditional Grand Champion, a well-deserved recognition of her hard work and precision on the carpet.
USA National Kung Fu Team Members!
We are also thrilled to share some monumental news for our academy. A huge congratulations to Diana Bushueva, Maria Gomez-Moreno, and Carlos Gomez-Moreno!
Through their strong performances at this event, all three have officially confirmed their spots on the USA National Kung Fu Team. Representing your country is a prestigious honor, and we are excited to see them take this next step in their martial arts journey.
Performing Under the New IWuF Rules
This tournament was an important learning experience as our athletes performed under the updated IWuF (International Wushu Federation) Wushu Taolu Competition Rules.
Adapting to these new global standards—which focus on refined technical accuracy and specific judging criteria—is no small feat. Our team handled the transition with professionalism, proving they can compete at the highest level of modern Wushu.
Results & Achievements
Congratulations to all our dedicated athletes who represented the academy with pride:
15 – 16 y.o.
- Diana Bushueva – Advanced:
- 3rd set Long Fist – 2nd place
- 1st set Long Fist – 2nd place
- Shaolin – 1st place
- Kung Fu Fan – 1st place
- Shaolin Staff – 1st place
11 – 12 y.o.
- Carlos Gomez-Moreno – Advanced:
- 1st set Long Fist – 2nd place
- 1st set Spear – 2nd place
- Shaolin – 1st place
- Kung Fu Fan – 1st place
- Shaolin Staff – 1st place
10 – 11 y.o.
- Lucia Viscito – Intermediate:
- Elementary Long Fist – 3rd place
- Elementary Staff – 3rd place
- Shaolin – 1st place
- Kung Fu Fan – 1st place
8 – 9 y.o.
- Sorina Codita- Advanced. Traditional Kung Fu Grand Champion.
- Elementary Long Fist – 2nd place
- Elementary Staff – 2nd place
- Elementary Spear – 2nd place
- Elementary Straight Sword – 3rd palce
- Shaolin – 1st place
- Kung Fu Fan – 1st place
- Shaolin Staff – 1st place
- Maria Gomez-Moreno – Intermediate.
- Elementary Long Fist – 3rd place
- Elementary Spear – 2nd place
- Elementary Straight Sword – 2nd place
- Shaolin – 2nd place
- Kung Fu Fan – 1st place
This event was a great stepping stone for our team as they look toward the Pan-American Championships.
Thank you to our “Team Parents” for their constant support and to Sifu Vital Yarashevich for his guidance. We are proud of the growth our students showed this weekend and look forward to getting back to work at the studio!
