"I've never seen so many people practicing martial arts at the same time!"
said Su Rule, marveling at the numerous Kung-fu practitioners around her.
Australian Su is one of the 2,008 coaches and athletes from 66 countries and
regions across the world, who have come to Zhengzhou, the capital of central
China's Henan Province, for the second World Traditional Wushu (martial arts)
Championships (WTWUC) from October 16 to 19.
On Tuesday morning, all participants were greeted by a grand welcome
ceremony, named "Pilgrimage to Shaolin", at Henan's Shaolin Temple, the birth
place of Chinese martial arts.
On both sides of the 1,500-meter-long road leading to the gate of Shaolin
Temple, 15,000 local martial arts practitioners were showing their Kung-fu
skills - practicing boxing, playing somersaults, or wielding weapons like swords
and clubs.
Most performers were students of Dengfeng, the city where Shaolin Temple is
located. Dengfeng boasts 83 martial arts schools and nearly 50,000 Kung-fu major
students. Shaolin Kung-fu has also become a compulsory course of local primary
and high school students.
Su Rule, an Australian athlete, won a gold medal for Wudang sword in Monday's
matches. She also came to Zhengzhou for the first WTWUC two years ago and gained
two gold medals.
"I have been practicing Wudang sword and Taichi for eight years. I started to
practice Kung-fu for fitness and relaxation, and got to love it soon!" Su said.
James Leung, an athlete from Vancouver, Canada, started his Kung-fu journey
at six and specializes in Luohan boxing.
The 23-year-old young man told Xinhua "You simply get a special feeling when
you practice Kung-fu in China. When you see so many people showing their martial
arts skills around you, you just want to join them at once!"
Shi Yongxin, the abbot of Shaolin Temple, thinks China is more and more
actively engaged in the world affairs now, and WTWUC provides a good opportunity
to let more people know the Chinese culture better.
Su said "I learned discipline, respect and patience from martial arts. I
think these must be the virtues in the Chinese culture."
