It’s hard to imagine that a student club with only two members left three years ago has won all the medals possible in this year’s Collegiate Fencing Cup that include three Golds, three Silvers and three Bronzes. These impressive results have made them the Champion in the group category of the event, and it is the consecutive third year they have achieved this!

This newly revived club consists of mostly members whose combat history is relatively short. Yet, thanks to their dedication to hard work and teaching from more senior members who in fact graduated from TKU already, they were able to improve at a great speed to attend this year’s competition. For example, this year’s champion in the Epee individual women, Cheng San-hon, a sophomore of Spanish Department, ended up at the fifth place last year with merely a three-week training prior to the competition. She wasn’t even sure that she could win this year as she had to overcome more experienced fencers than she was at the finals. Yet, with the encouragement of her teammates who cheered her on all the way through, she fought on and took the crown eventually.

Not only hers, but also that of the TKU men’s team was hard won but well deserved. In the finals of the Sabre men team category, TKU had to overcome a strong rival, the team from National Taiwan Ocean University to claim their crown. It was a tug of war for a while as both sides exhibited great skills and tactics, but thanks to the calm leadership of TKU team captain, Shih You-liang, a junior of the Department of Information Management, TKU was able to pull off from the stalemate to maintain its lead till the end. On the other hand, the women’s team of TKU had an easier time. They won the Gold for the Sabre category and the Silver in the Foil team category without encountering too much difficulty.

As of individual contests, Huang Hou-zhi of the English Department won the second place in the Sabre men category, whereas Chang Sheng-kuen of the Department of Information Management claimed the Bronze in the same category. For women, Li Xui-ping of the Department of Banking and Finance won the second place in the Sabre category. and Wu Zi-xuan of the same department won the third place in the Foil category.

These impressive results have moved Huang Hou-zhi nearly to tears. As he is about to graduate, he is one of the most senior members of the club who has witnessed the rise and fall of it over the years. With today’s success, he keeps reminding the new comers not to forget where the club came from. He told them to hang on to Tamkang spirit which is to rise from survival to thrival. And this is also the story of the club. “Each time Tamkang’s alma mater was blared out at the award ceremony, we all felt like crying, out of pride, of course,” according to the Chair of the club, Kuo Xiu-mei of the Chinese Department.

Another event of swordsmanship that made TKU proud was the National Kendo Collegiate Cup in Central Taiwan on Dec. 2 and 3, attended by over 30 colleges and universities. After two days of fierce competition, TKU came home with nine medals.

In particular, TKU women team excelled in performance at the competition. They won the first place and third place in roundup score and team score categories respectively. Liu Wen Ying of the Graduate Institute of Accounting, on the other hand, won the first place in the Dan individual category. In the Kyu individual category, Yen Pei Yu of the Department of Management Science and Decision Making, who is nicknamed “Little Tank” for her small but sturdy built, won the first place with her fearless attitude.

In men team category, TKU won the second place in team score, and yet the six place in roundup score. In the Kyu individual competition, Lin Yi-ren of the Department of Physics claimed the first place and as for the third place in the 3rd Dan individual category, it went to Wu Yi-hon of the Department of Architecture.

The team thanks their excellent performance to the unconditional support of their former members who have already graduated from TKU. They selfishlessly accompanied the team throughout grueling training sessions and the tournaments of the championship, providing technical and moral support. ( ~Ying-hsueh Hu )