GeneChing
12-06-2012, 10:48 AM
This reminds me of The Treasures of Taiwan: The Rich Martial Legacy of an Island of Controversy By Gigi Oh (with me) featured in our 2003 March/April issue (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/magazine/article.php?article=317). There were also a few related follow-up articles that year.
Traditional Martial Arts on Show in Taiwan (http://ntdtv.org/en/news/china/2012-11-30/traditional-martial-arts-on-show-in-taiwan.html)
Created: 2012-11-30 17:35 EST
Traditional Martial Arts on Show in Taiwan (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLUErRE8cIo#!)
Lin Wende has practiced martial arts for over 50 years. His body and hands are strong and healthy, and it's hard to tell his real age—67 years old.
Lin says the traditional arts of China, including martial arts, qigong, herbal medicine, philosophy, and cultivating one’s nature can all contribute to a healthy mind and body.
[Lin Wende, Praying-Mantis Kung Fu Coach]:
“In our national martial arts theories, we place importance on the fundamental skills. To put it another way, there are two aspects to these fundamental skills: one is preserving the health of your body and mind. The other is to open up your mind so that in the end your body and mind become one, and then become one with the Tao. This is the way of traditional arts.”
Twenty-seven groups from North, Central, and South Taiwan, comprising around 150 people perform and share their experiences at the 2012 National Traditional Martial Arts Meeting.
They demonstrate various weapons, including the knife, sword, spear, staff, and whip.
These martial arts exponents stun onlookers with their demonstrations of the Northern Long fist, Praying Mantis Kung Fu, Baji quan, Wing Tsun, and the Gold Eagle Kung Fu.
(Shaolin Martial Arts take attacks as key—with very quick changes. It’s very fierce. This is the snake style.)
Traditional martial arts focus on skills, stance training, developing one's energy, hand techniques, and internal strength. They develop the internal and external, and the hard and soft at the same time. Thus, it is suitable for the old and the young.
[Ji Sanxie, Coach, Yizong Traditional Martial Arts Club]: (Male, Chinese)
"Traditional martial arts place importance on the application of skills. Anyone from young to old can practice. The traditional martial arts are better because they have less severe moves and it’s harder to get injured."
And it's more than just fighting—the discipline of kungfu can improve people’s moral character.
[Wang Zhongyu, Shande Martial Arts Association]:
"One of the good things about practicing martial arts is it can improve a person's nature, and make society more harmonious. The martial virtue we talk about in martial arts—valuing goodness and cultivating virtue—this is where the name of our school Shande comes from. We hope to raise the moral values of society. Through sharing experiences with other martial arts schools, we raise the values of society."
As part of its mission to promote the spirit of traditional Chinese culture, NTD Television has been involved in organizing traditional Chinese martial arts competitions.
[Huang Qingjian, NTD Board Member]:
"NTD has always been promoting traditional cultural and values. In our country, martial arts are a great aspect of traditional culture. They can heal the body, and preserve people's health, and so we’re willing to participate."
Over 100 martial artists gather in central Taiwan to let people see just what exactly traditional Chinese kungfu is.
Traditional Martial Arts on Show in Taiwan (http://ntdtv.org/en/news/china/2012-11-30/traditional-martial-arts-on-show-in-taiwan.html)
Created: 2012-11-30 17:35 EST
Traditional Martial Arts on Show in Taiwan (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLUErRE8cIo#!)
Lin Wende has practiced martial arts for over 50 years. His body and hands are strong and healthy, and it's hard to tell his real age—67 years old.
Lin says the traditional arts of China, including martial arts, qigong, herbal medicine, philosophy, and cultivating one’s nature can all contribute to a healthy mind and body.
[Lin Wende, Praying-Mantis Kung Fu Coach]:
“In our national martial arts theories, we place importance on the fundamental skills. To put it another way, there are two aspects to these fundamental skills: one is preserving the health of your body and mind. The other is to open up your mind so that in the end your body and mind become one, and then become one with the Tao. This is the way of traditional arts.”
Twenty-seven groups from North, Central, and South Taiwan, comprising around 150 people perform and share their experiences at the 2012 National Traditional Martial Arts Meeting.
They demonstrate various weapons, including the knife, sword, spear, staff, and whip.
These martial arts exponents stun onlookers with their demonstrations of the Northern Long fist, Praying Mantis Kung Fu, Baji quan, Wing Tsun, and the Gold Eagle Kung Fu.
(Shaolin Martial Arts take attacks as key—with very quick changes. It’s very fierce. This is the snake style.)
Traditional martial arts focus on skills, stance training, developing one's energy, hand techniques, and internal strength. They develop the internal and external, and the hard and soft at the same time. Thus, it is suitable for the old and the young.
[Ji Sanxie, Coach, Yizong Traditional Martial Arts Club]: (Male, Chinese)
"Traditional martial arts place importance on the application of skills. Anyone from young to old can practice. The traditional martial arts are better because they have less severe moves and it’s harder to get injured."
And it's more than just fighting—the discipline of kungfu can improve people’s moral character.
[Wang Zhongyu, Shande Martial Arts Association]:
"One of the good things about practicing martial arts is it can improve a person's nature, and make society more harmonious. The martial virtue we talk about in martial arts—valuing goodness and cultivating virtue—this is where the name of our school Shande comes from. We hope to raise the moral values of society. Through sharing experiences with other martial arts schools, we raise the values of society."
As part of its mission to promote the spirit of traditional Chinese culture, NTD Television has been involved in organizing traditional Chinese martial arts competitions.
[Huang Qingjian, NTD Board Member]:
"NTD has always been promoting traditional cultural and values. In our country, martial arts are a great aspect of traditional culture. They can heal the body, and preserve people's health, and so we’re willing to participate."
Over 100 martial artists gather in central Taiwan to let people see just what exactly traditional Chinese kungfu is.