Myrsini Chionia Christodoulelli trains and teaches at the Shaolin Temple Martial Arts and Cultural Centre in Bush Hill Park

An Enfield martial artist has won a silver medal at the World Tai Chi Championships – said to be “a remarkable milestone” for the sport in the UK.

Myrsini Chionia Christodoulelli, aged 31, trains and teaches at the Shaolin Temple Martial Arts and Cultural Centre in Percival Road, Bush Hill Park. Her day job is acting, often in action and stunt roles for films.

At the fourth World Tai Chi Championships organised by the International Wushu Federation (IWUF) in Singapore at the end of August, Myrsini shone in the women’s ‘chen style’ category, showcasing her “dedication, skill, and the growing prominence of Tai Chi in the UK as a competitive sport”.

Training at the Shaolin Temple Martial Arts and Cultural Centre under Master Shi Yan Gui (Payam Ezad Panah), Myrsini’s journey has been “intense and diverse”, encompassing both internal and external Chinese martial arts styles such as tai chi, shaolin, wushu, and sanda.

Despite starting martial arts in her 20s, Myrsini’s “relentless effort” has earned her national champion titles since 2022, numerous gold medals across Europe, and a bronze medal at the IWUF World Kungfu Championship in China.

At the Singapore championships, Myrsini competed in both the chen-style taijiquan and taijijian (sword) categories, securing a silver medal and a top ten placement respectively. Her holistic approach to martial arts balances competition training with practical self-defence, reflecting her deep understanding of kung fu’s essence.

Now back in the UK, Myrsini continues to teach and train in Bush Hill Park while preparing for the stunt register and returning to acting.

Encouraging others to take up martial arts, Myrsini said: “No matter how old you are when you start, don’t be afraid of hard work. With passion, perseverance, discipline, and the right guidance, anything is achievable.”

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