An Action-Packed May: Tournaments, Training, and Triumphs at Red Tiger
May was a month of milestones for Red Tiger Martial Arts, packed with competition, collaboration, and continued growth for our students and community.
We kicked off the month on May 3rd by entering our first-ever Muay Thai/Kickboxing tournament right here in our hometown of Cincinnati. The event was hosted by Ohio Kickboxing Promotions in partnership with the International Kickboxing Federation (IKF). Despite this being our team’s debut in a Muay Thai competition, our fighters rose to the challenge. Out of four Red Tiger competitors, two earned second place and two earned third place in their respective divisions—an impressive showing for a first-time appearance!
On May 18th, we had the honor of hosting Grand Master Benny Meng, founder of the Shaolin Wing Chun system, for an exclusive Wing Chun Grappling & Combat Submissions workshop. The event brought together 26 participants from schools across the tri-state area, all eager to expand their understanding of Wing Chun’s close-range applications and integrated submission concepts. It was a rare and valuable opportunity to learn directly from a living legend in the Wing Chun community.
We closed out the month with a strong finish on May 31st, sending three Red Tiger competitors to the Wing Chun Team Trials—a qualifying event for two international tournaments: the Pan-American Kung Fu Championships in Mexico this November and the Wing Chun World Championships in China this July. Our athletes competed across multiple divisions including Wing Chun forms, open forms, Chi Sao, and the emerging competitive format known as Mai San Jong, which combines kickboxing or Sanda within a confined space to highlight Wing Chun adaptability.
By the end of the day, Red Tiger had secured multiple gold medals and a silver, with two of our students qualifying for a spot on Team USA for the Pan-American Championships. We couldn’t be prouder of their determination, discipline, and performance on the national stage.
From the ring to the classroom to international qualifiers, May was a reminder of what’s possible when preparation meets opportunity. Congratulations to all our students, coaches, and supporters who made this incredible month possible!
Our first foray into Muay Thai!
Senior Student Alex’s first Muay Thai win!
Grand Master Meng explaining some Chis Sao flow drill basics to our student Eddie.
Sifu Paul coaching Matt in Chi Sao.
A hard fought draw in Chi Sao for Nikky.
Alex with his medals.