Samir Furqan is about to venture where no local Sanshou fighter has gone before the Junior World Wushu Championships.The 18-year-old CedarBridge Academy student is due to compete at the upcoming Championships that will be held in Macau, China from September 17-25.Sanshou or san da is a martial art developed by the Chinese military based upon the study and practices of traditional Kung Fu and modern combat fighting techniques. It combines full-contact kick-boxing, which include punches and kicks, with wrestling, takedowns, throws, sweeps, kick catches and in some competitions elbow and knee strikes.Furqan has been fighting in full contact for the past three years. During this period he has fought five fights against physically superior and older opponents.At the upcoming World Junior Wushu Championships the Pan American Junior Wushu Championship bronze medallist will come up against the best 56kg (123lb) junior fighters in the world ranging in ages between 15 and 18.Furqan has endured mixed fortunes this year. He recorded a first round TKO against Canada’s Shayne Dejardais in March on local soil but suffered a technical knockout against the physically superior Jo Monk at July’s International Chinese Martial Arts Championships in Orlando, Florida.In the final lead up to the Junior World Wuhsu Championships the teenaged fighter will undergo a rigorous week of training under the direction of Chinese national Sanshou coach Master Genxue Zhang in Xian, Shaanxi.Accompanying Furquan to China are head coach and Bermuda Sanshou Association president Garon Wilkinson, assistant coach Sentwali Woolridge and team manager Talia Iris who will also train under Master Genxue.“Since we were planning to take Samir over to compete in Macau, we thought this would be the right opportunity for some of our top fighters to train in China,” coach Wilkinson said. “We are all very much looking forward to this once in a lifetime opportunity and we know that it will greatly enhance our entire programme.”Master Genxue extended an invitation for local fighters to train with him in China after being impressed by Bermuda’s solid showing at last year’s Senior World Wushu Championships in Ankara, Turkey where Jermal Woolridge won the Island’s first medal at the world championships. Woolridge won the bronze in the men’s Sanshou +90kg division.