3rd World Traditional Wushu Championship

[GreenCloudCLF]

湖北世界传统武术节

Only China can pull stuff of this stature off, just by the shear numbers & pagentry no other country will ever be able to compare.

That's what happens when your population is 1.3 billion and the worlds population is 6.6 billion. When your country's population makes up close to 20% of the worlds, everything is bigger.

[GeneChing]

I was wondering if Wudang could match what Shaolin has done in the past, especially in the wake of the Olympic opening ceremony. There's not nearly as many practitioners in Wudang as in Shaolin (Shaolin is presently estimated at 58,000 full-time students). They must have imported some talent.

There's always been starlets at these. It was at the First World Traditionals when I saw Vicky Zhao Wei live - she's now starring in the latest HK blockbuster, Painted Skin.

[GeneChing]

Wish I could have made it. Looks like a lot of fun...

Martial Arts Festival held in Hubei
Source: CCTV.com
11-01-2008 10:07

A celebration of the martial arts is under way in central China's Hubei province. 70 countries are represented at the international event.

The third World Traditional Martial Arts Festival got underway Wednesday in Shiyan. The opening ceremony was attended by more than two thousand kungfu practitioners -- from the US, Britain, Australia, and Canada and many more countries.

This year's festival focuses on the role of Taoism in the development of Chinese martial arts. Taoism, as a school of philosophy, first came into being during the Spring and Autumn Period more than two thousand years ago. Taoism is an integral part of traditional Chinese culture. It has also contributed a distinctive philosophy of martial arts.

The festival will include a tournament. Over two thousand contestants will match skills in four main categories.

The event was co-organized by the International Martial Arts Federation and the China Martial Arts Association.

[firepalm]

http://pic.people.com.cn/GB/1100/8266451.html

[GeneChing]

Now that's what I'm talking about! That's the kind of stuff I love about the Traditionals. Nice post, firepalm!