Current location:travel >>
China Focus: Martial Arts Growing in Popularity Among Young Chinese
travel651People have gathered around
IntroductionContact Us HomeNewsHighlightACWF NewsSocietyWom ...
- Home
- News
- People
- In-depth
- ACWF
China Focus: Martial Arts Growing in Popularity Among Young Chinese
March 13, 2023Li Jinqi (front) practices Daoshu, broadsword play, with members of the martial arts club at Beihang University in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2023. [Xinhua/Ren Chao] |
BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) — Lifting a spear, Li Jinqi pulled it across her shoulders and spun it quickly. Following her example were 10 peers in two rows who wore the same Kungfu-style garments and produced the same movements.
Li is a 24-year-old Ph.D. student at Beihang University in Beijing, but she is more widely known on campus as a martial arts master.
Though very busy with research and coursework, the Ph.D. student said practicing martial arts has become a daily routine for her over the past five years.
She has studied various styles including boxing, swordplay, and cudgel play, and won several cross-campus martial arts competitions held in the capital city.
She also led the university's martial arts club, which grew from a team of two participants to over 30 active members.
Having performed at the graduation ceremony for three years in a row, Li said the club is now one of the most sought-after clubs on campus in terms of the recruitment of new members.
"Martial arts has seen a significant uptick on campus, and I heard that my middle school and high school have both opened martial arts courses," said Li.
Gao Xiaoya, a junior student majoring in electronic information engineering at Beihang, who also joined the martial arts club, shared that she draws inner peace and strength from the sport.
Gao is among an increasing number of young people who were first attracted to martial arts as a way to keep fit, but who found that their enthusiasm grew as they practiced more because they realized the benefits stemming from the traditional values and culture carried forward by this art form.
"You start to appreciate it more and realize that martial arts are full of philosophical views on how to combat challenges and be confident, while also being modest," said the 21-year-old.
On China's video-sharing platform Bilibili, short videos on topics of traditional Chinese culture such as martial arts, Hanfu attire, Peking Opera, and calligraphy often receive legions of likes and comments.
"The fast development of the Internet and social media also facilitates communication about traditional Chinese culture, enabling young people to have easier access to previously niche art forms," said Song Yu, an assistant researcher at the Institute of Sociology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
Traditional culture also has no national or ethnic boundaries. In central China's Henan Province, the birthplace of Shaolin kung fu martial arts, exchange and interaction activities have been held with its fans worldwide for years.
About 2,000 foreigners visit the 1,500-year-old temple to learn kung fu and experience Shaolin life every year. Marta Neskovic, about 30, from Serbia said "I stayed for two and a half years, I love kung fu so much. Practicing kung fu is good for mental and physical health."
Wang Hechen, a designer in Beijing, takes courses on traditional Chinese painting every weekend. "It's like a comfort zone for me to escape from my fast-paced work, while painting also helps improve my endurance and focus skills," said Wang.
For Li, martial arts also means more than fitness training. "I don't think martial arts is about fighting," she said. "Martial arts is about finding the best version of yourself."
As younger generations attach more importance to traditional culture, relevant industries and services are expected to thrive as well, said Song.
Li Jinqi (L) practices Qiangshu, spear play, with a member of the martial arts club at Beihang University in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2023. [Xinhua/Yang Shujun] |
(Source: Xinhua)
32.3KPlease understand that womenofchina.cn,a non-profit, information-communication website, cannot reach every writer before using articles and images. For copyright issues, please contact us by emailing: [email protected]. The articles published and opinions expressed on this website represent the opinions of writers and are not necessarily shared by womenofchina.cn.
Comments
Magazines
Projects
- 2023 Women Science and Technology Innovation Pioneer...
Photos
- People Enjoy Blooming Tulips in Jinan, East...
- Flowers Bloom Across China in Spring
Special Coverage
Tags:
Reprint:Friends are welcome to share on the Internet, but please indicate the source of the article when reprinting it.“International Interplay news portal”。http://bolivia.havadist.com/html-30c999878.html
Related articles
China rejects US accusations over normal China
travelChina firmly rejects U.S. groundless accusations over its normal trade and economic exchanges with R ...
【travel】
Read moreMariah Carey turns heads in a dramatic gold floor
travelMariah Carey turned heads in a dramatic gold floor-length gown as she performed in her Celebration o ...
【travel】
Read moreGoogle is combining its Android software and Pixel hardware divisions to more broadly integrate AI
travelSAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Google will combine the software division responsible for Android mobile softwa ...
【travel】
Read more
Popular articles
- 3 dead, 4 missing in explosion at Italy power station
- Dutch soccer club Vitesse docked points and relegated during probe of Russian ties to Abramovich
- Hackers claim Belarus fertilizer plant infiltrated to demand political prisoner release
- French league delays PSG and Marseille games while both still in European competitions
- Finnish carrier suspends Estonia flights after GPS interference prevents 2 landings
- Amanda Holden reveals a huge secret about THAT nude appearance on her Heart FM breakfast show
Latest articles
Songs of celebration hail anniversary
Stevie Nicks provides poem about ill
Iris Law puts on a very leggy display as she steps out wearing tiny grey shorts in West Hollywood
Swiatek beats Raducanu in Stuttgart quarters. Sabalenka loses to Vondrousova
Chinese, Cambodian martial artists make joint performance at famed Angkor
France asks retailers to alert customers to cases of 'shrinkflation'
LINKS
- Anniversary of Sino
- Xi hails new chapter of China
- Xi meets Dutch PM
- UN's Gaza resolution welcomed
- Severing of Sino
- Washington draws flak for sending wrong signal
- Moscow tells Kyiv to extradite security chief
- Insights丨German expert: Chancellor Scholz’s second visit to China signals the importance of Germany
- Chinese Embassy strongly condemns UK's baseless cyberattack accusations
- UN's Gaza resolution welcomed