International Martial Arts Exchange, Promoting Chinese Cultural Treasure!

On July 26th, 2004, Sudan and Jon from America successfully completed the first Shanxi Xingyi Quan exchange and training program. They departed from China and went back to America. Ben and Frank are two other students that left on July 9th. Since it is the first time for this event, all of us have deep feelings about this training. Even though Shanxi and America are on two different continents, this special cultural event established a connection between us and between the two countries.

Shanxi is the hometown of Xingyi Quan, and the Xingyi system is very prevalent. On June 30th, 2004, Ben, Frank, Sudan, and Jon as international friends traveled a long way at the invitation of the International Xinyi Dao Federation Training Center in Taigu County, Shanxi. These four international friends came with excitement and dedication about this training. They studied many precious martial arts techniques from Master Yang Fan Sheng, including: Xingyi Quan, Bagua Two-Men Fighting Sword, Six Harmony Two-Men Stabbing Spear, Xingyi An Shen Pao Two-Men Set, Xingyi Combination Fist, and Chinese traditional wrestling techniques. Jon also learned Wushu Long Fist and different acrobatic flipping techniques. These American friends really took this opportunity and trained with dedication no matter how hard it was. They started training from early in the morning until late in the evening. They asked many questions until they understood the techniques, and they would practice over and over again until they fully grasped that technique. Because they trained so hard, they sweat so much that they had to change many shirts everyday. Even on the way back to the hotel, they would talk about the training that they did. And every morning, they all got up very early and waited eagerly for the class to start.

On July 6th, there was a Free-Sparring competition in Shanxi. These 4 American friends did a wonderful job in demonstrating their forms in that competition. Sudan demonstrated Xingyi An Shen Pao Two-Men Set and 5 Elements; Ben demonstrated the Bagua Palm and Four Rooster Xingyi; Frank demonstrated An Shen Pao with Sudan and he also demonstrated Mixed Routine Form; Jon demonstrated the Sword and the Level 3 Long Fist. Their demonstration from learning for only a short time impressed the audience. After the competition, they took pictures with many audience members.

On July 4th, we brought these friends to a very famous mountain called “Jin Mountain.” These friends were excited and surprised by the natural beauty. They have never experienced such beauty. On July 8th, we went to the village called “Gui Ling Village” in Taigu county. These 4 friends experienced seeing the lives of the poor people living in that village.

This culture exchange event for this summer has ended. Shanxi has the responsibility to promote Xingyi Quan and to continue to research and refine the essence of the Xingyi Quan system. This is one of the most honorable jobs we as Xingyi practitioners should carry out and we will pass this honorable job to our children. We are now hoping that more of these cultural exchange events will happen in the future, as an opportunity for us to promote and to pass on Xingyi Quan.