Fighting for his passion

Baoding Fast Wrestling enthusiast ensures a new generation gets to learn the ropes, Zhang Yu reports.

In a dirt courtyard in Nangoutou village, Lianchi district, Baoding, Hebei province, 69-year-old Bai Hejiang perches on a wooden bench, his rough hands gesturing animatedly as he traces the history of Baoding Fast Wrestling — a version that once made this city famous.

The air smells of fresh earth and sweat, filled with the sounds of over 30 children training. Some practiced body strength with stone blocks, while others paired up to practice wrestling techniques.

"This art dates back to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911)," he begins, his voice thick with pride.

Then he delves into the city's rich cultural heritage, such as its history as the residence of the governor of Zhili province in the Qing era, the emergence of wrestling elders in Baoding, and how generation after generation has passed down the tradition of Baoding Fast Wrestling.

"My grandfather was a bodyguard and wrestling coach and my father and uncles were all wrestlers. Can you imagine? Carrying this legacy for six generations …"

Born into a wrestling family, Bai started practicing basic skills with his family from the age of 4 or 5.