White Crane Kung Fu traces its roots in the Yongchun County, Fujian Province. (Photo : www.ensomartialarts.com)
White Crane Kung Fu, a martial art that originated from the Yongchun County in Fujian Province, has been gaining global attention.
Kang Jinyi, president of the Yongchun Zhong Xiang White Crane Research Institute, has attributed this to "many overseas Chinese businessmen (born in Yongchun) [who] brought the indigenous art along with them abroad."
The White Crane Martial Art, which has existed for around 300 years, is considered as an intangible cultural heritage.
Its popularity has also increased because of the local media exposure and word of mouth.
"We would receive hundreds of people every year, primarily from Italy, Germany, France, Hungary, Britain and Japan, going to great lengths to come here only to get an intensive training by our masters. Summer vacation is a peak time," Kang shared.
For 5,000 yuan, Kang stated that foreign students can already avail of the whole White Crane Kung Fu experience.
Meanwhile, the Fujian government has also been keen on playing its part to promote and preserve the art. White Crane has become a part of the curriculum of local primary and secondary schools, and over 20 institutions have been established to recruit fresh practitioners annually.
Various groups have also organized competitions and presentations that will help raise awareness about the martial art.
In the recently held Global White Crane Kung Fu Gala at the Yongchun White Crane Square, local and foreign practitioners showcased and presented all kinds of performance before a huge crowd. The event's gold medal winner was a Londoner who immigrated to Fuzhou. He has been practicing the art for eight years already.
The Londoner said that White Crane Kung Fu has benefited him in all aspect--physically, emotionally and psychologically.
The practitioners of the martial art is still appealing for more media exposure despit eits growing popularity
"Circulation of the art in foreign countries is still restricted to small circle of friend. Most foreign practitioners got to know the art accidentally from their Chinese friends. It is not sufficient, absolutely," Kang said.
