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Palm-breaking, kicking, punching...Recently, a group of martial arts enthusiasts from Russia gathered in Cangzhou, Hebei, the "hometown of martial arts", to learn martial arts from Chinese coaches. Some of them came here to participate in martial arts cultural exchanges, and some came here as players of the 11th China Cangzhou International Wushu Competition for pre-match training.

Maxime Sereda trains in Xingyi sword and Tai Chi Yang Style 40 in Qing County, Cangzhou City, Hebei Province.

In the spacious martial arts training hall, martial artists gathered together, and according to their own foundation, they followed different coaches to learn different types of boxing and weapons. Among them, Maxim Sereda, a Russian martial arts enthusiast who was practicing the 40-style Yang-style Tai Chi, was particularly conspicuous. He is an old friend of Cangzhou.

"This time I came to Cangzhou to participate in the international martial arts competition. My events are Xingyi sword and Yang style Tai Chi 40 forms. I have been prepared for it and have been practicing hard for it," he said.

Sereda, 56, has been practicing martial arts for more than 30 years, mainly practicing Yang-style Tai Chi and Xingyi sword. Through a friend's introduction, he met Liu Lianjun, the principal of Pangu Wenwu School in Qingxian County, Cangzhou. Since then, he has fallen in love with Chinese martial arts Bajidao and Qilin Spear.

"I like martial arts very much. It is my way of life. I have known Liu Lianjun for many years. He has been to Russia. I worship him as my teacher and ask him for martial arts skills. This time I came here to learn Bajiquan, Bajibang, Bajidao and Qilin Spear from Master Liu." said Sereda.

Yevgeny Ovchinnikov (first from right) trains in Qing County, Cangzhou City, Hebei Province.

The extensiveness and depth of Chinese martial arts deeply attracted these Kung Fu enthusiasts from Russia. Yevgeni Ovchinnikov is one of the senior martial arts enthusiasts. In recent years, he has mainly practiced Bajiquan and Bajidao, and has participated in martial arts competitions in Russia many times. This year is his third visit to China.

"This is my third time coming to this martial arts school. Principal Liu Lianjun invited us to come and learn martial arts from him. We like to learn Bajiquan, Bajidao, Bajibang, etc. here," said Ovchinnikov.

Cangzhou Wushu has a long history, many categories and wide influence. It is one of the first prefecture-level Wushu hometowns named by the state. The China Cangzhou Wushu Festival was founded in 1989. The 11th Wushu Festival was approved by the Wushu Sports Management Center of the State Sports General Administration and renamed the China Cangzhou International Wushu Competition. The competition opened on the 23rd of this month and closed on the 25th.

Hleb Savin conducts small frame Bajiquan training in Qing County, Cangzhou City, Hebei Province.

The competition gave 10-year-old Russian martial arts enthusiast Hleb Savin the opportunity to visit China for the first time. Having practiced martial arts for two years, he participated in the Bajiquan and Bajiquan Small Frame competitions.

"I came to China to learn martial arts and improve my skills. This is my first time to fly to another country to participate in a martial arts competition," said Savin.

In recent years, with the widespread spread of Chinese martial arts around the world, not only have more and more Russian martial arts enthusiasts come to China to learn martial arts, but they have also taught by example, built a bridge of cultural communication, and spread Chinese martial arts culture overseas. Andreyev Anton is one of them.

In 2016, Anton saw Liu Lianjun's wonderful performance for the first time at an international martial arts competition in Russia. After that meeting, he decided to come to Cangzhou to learn martial arts.

"I met Teacher Liu eight years ago, and since then we have come to his school every year to train and learn Bajiquan," said Anton.

Andreyev Anton is training in Qing County, Cangzhou City, Hebei Province.

Later, Anton opened his own martial arts school in Moscow and took students to Cangzhou every year to study martial arts. From the end of June to the beginning of July this year, Anton brought 20 students to Qingxian County, Cangzhou for training, and some of them participated in this martial arts competition.

"This time, our Russian team has about 20 people (participating in the competition), ranging in age from 8 to 60. Chinese martial arts are very popular in Russia and have many fans. Therefore, being able to participate in this competition is a gift for us." Anton said. (Reporters Qin Jing, Zhang Can, Dong Xiaokun)

(Source: Xinhua News Agency)

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