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Fitness can be a kick
By Zhong Wenxuan and Wang Jie |
July 26, 2010, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
MARTIAL arts, a great treasure of traditional Chinese culture, have always been cherished in Jiading. Young talent is nurtured through professional training. The parks and public squares of the district are full of amateurs practicing their arts. Even foreign martial arts, like taekwondo and kwando enjoy unprecedented popularity here as body-building and health-promoting exercises, especially among the young. No wonder there is the popular belief that "Xujiahang is the birthplace of martial arts masters."
Kung fu School - A Cradle of Traditional Martial Arts
Students from Jiading Martial Arts School in the town of Xuhang recently caught the world's attention by performing two kung fu performances °?- Graceful Melodies and Splendor - and a dance show called Constructors at the World Expo. Their performances were enthusiastically applauded by visitors from around the world.
In the Xuhang Martial Arts School, no expense is spared. The school boasts classrooms, apartments, training halls, boxing arenas and gymnasiums, all enclosed in architecture drawn from the Ming (1368-1644) and the Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. The campus is laid out in the style of a classical garden, with pavilions, terraces, towers and meandering paths flanked by verdant woods. Here, students in red or white exercise suits wield traditional weapons with graceful ease and mighty strength. It is also a place to experience legendary martial feats like Shaolin boxing, arhat boxing, tongbei boxing, tietougong (the art of the iron head) and jinzhongzhao (the art of gold-armor protection). The school curricula also includes styles that are compulsory in national competitions, such as changquan (long boxing) and nanquan (southern-style boxing).
Address of its primary-school unit: 85 Qinxue Rd, Xuhang Town, Jiading District
Address of its secondary-school unit: 2258 First Xinjian Rd, Xuhang Town, Jiading District
Taichi - Art of Fitness
Taichi is one of the most popular martial arts among the Chinese. In Jiading, taichi enthusiasts of all ages commonly gather in Civic Square and neighborhood parks to practice the ancient fitness regime. Every day at dusk, a group of residents from the nearby Yulan No. 4 Village can be seen in the square practicing taichi. Their five years of dedication to the art has turned them into performing artists, displaying great concentration and strength in soft, slow motions.
Anyone interested in health and fitness is welcome to join in the taichi in the square.
Address of Civic Square: Moyu Rd (close to Hejing Rd), Anting Town, Jiading District
Kwando °?- A Popular Sport at Fitness Clubs
Amid bright lights, a group of young people are following the movements of their coach on stage, sparring with spin kicks and throat holds to the rhythm of fervent music. This is kwando, a popular sport at fitness clubs. For female urbanites, who usually don't get enough physical exercise, there are now four popular sports said to be their best choices: kwando, step aerobics, Latin dancing and yoga. Kwando was founded by a world boxing champion with African ancestry, who combined the movements of boxing, karate, taekwondo and even some dances. The sport is said to improve cardiopulmonary functions, bone mineral density, torso flexibility and body coordination. The most appealing benefit for women is that it can make them keep slender by burning off excess fat.
Anyone interested in this sport can join the training program at the H3 Club. The fitness club offers different membership packages for different prices -1,600 yuan (US$236) for three months, 2,600 yuan for one year and 3,800 yuan for two years. Its program schedules are updated every month. Participants are urged to wear gloves or wrap their hands with cloth strips to improve their punches. It is also advisable to wear loose-fitting, sweat-absorbing clothing, along with air-cushioned sneakers. "One, two, three, four? Kick!" Let's start training!
Address of H3 Club: Robinson Plaza, 138 Chengzhong Rd, Jiading Town, Jiading District
Taekwondo - Young People's Favorite
Founded in South Korea and practiced for self-defense and health benefits, taekwondo is a martial art stressing both combat techniques and martial philosophy. Renowned for unpredictable tactics, graceful kicks and swift movements good for both defense and offense, it is very popular among young people. Taekwondo is quite demanding and helps torso flexibility, body stability and response speed. Even a seemingly simple kick requires explosive strength and long training to be fast and good.
People interested in taekwondo can learn it at a local club, where a two-month program costs 700 yuan (which covers a set of dobok).
Address of Iron Dragon Taekwondo Club: 2/F, Bldg 16, Yingyuan-sifang, Cangchang Rd, Xinchenglu Sub-district, Jiading District
Calligraphy and Painting Clubs - Venues for Cultural Enlightenment
The Chinese stress both physical and cultural refinement. While the former can be achieved through martial arts, the best approach for the latter is no doubt calligraphy and painting. The 10-year-old Nanyuan Calligraphy and Painting Club in the Jiading Industrial Zone has become a haven for local enthusiasts. Apart from a monthly event called "Calligraphy and Painting Day," its members also like to gather at the offices of the Neighborhood Committee to compare notes on techniques.
Address: No. 40, Lane 333, Liangshe Rd, Jiading District. Neighborhood Service Center of Jiading Industrial Zone.
Kung fu School - A Cradle of Traditional Martial Arts
Students from Jiading Martial Arts School in the town of Xuhang recently caught the world's attention by performing two kung fu performances °?- Graceful Melodies and Splendor - and a dance show called Constructors at the World Expo. Their performances were enthusiastically applauded by visitors from around the world.
In the Xuhang Martial Arts School, no expense is spared. The school boasts classrooms, apartments, training halls, boxing arenas and gymnasiums, all enclosed in architecture drawn from the Ming (1368-1644) and the Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. The campus is laid out in the style of a classical garden, with pavilions, terraces, towers and meandering paths flanked by verdant woods. Here, students in red or white exercise suits wield traditional weapons with graceful ease and mighty strength. It is also a place to experience legendary martial feats like Shaolin boxing, arhat boxing, tongbei boxing, tietougong (the art of the iron head) and jinzhongzhao (the art of gold-armor protection). The school curricula also includes styles that are compulsory in national competitions, such as changquan (long boxing) and nanquan (southern-style boxing).
Address of its primary-school unit: 85 Qinxue Rd, Xuhang Town, Jiading District
Address of its secondary-school unit: 2258 First Xinjian Rd, Xuhang Town, Jiading District
Taichi - Art of Fitness
Taichi is one of the most popular martial arts among the Chinese. In Jiading, taichi enthusiasts of all ages commonly gather in Civic Square and neighborhood parks to practice the ancient fitness regime. Every day at dusk, a group of residents from the nearby Yulan No. 4 Village can be seen in the square practicing taichi. Their five years of dedication to the art has turned them into performing artists, displaying great concentration and strength in soft, slow motions.
Anyone interested in health and fitness is welcome to join in the taichi in the square.
Address of Civic Square: Moyu Rd (close to Hejing Rd), Anting Town, Jiading District
Kwando °?- A Popular Sport at Fitness Clubs
Amid bright lights, a group of young people are following the movements of their coach on stage, sparring with spin kicks and throat holds to the rhythm of fervent music. This is kwando, a popular sport at fitness clubs. For female urbanites, who usually don't get enough physical exercise, there are now four popular sports said to be their best choices: kwando, step aerobics, Latin dancing and yoga. Kwando was founded by a world boxing champion with African ancestry, who combined the movements of boxing, karate, taekwondo and even some dances. The sport is said to improve cardiopulmonary functions, bone mineral density, torso flexibility and body coordination. The most appealing benefit for women is that it can make them keep slender by burning off excess fat.
Anyone interested in this sport can join the training program at the H3 Club. The fitness club offers different membership packages for different prices -1,600 yuan (US$236) for three months, 2,600 yuan for one year and 3,800 yuan for two years. Its program schedules are updated every month. Participants are urged to wear gloves or wrap their hands with cloth strips to improve their punches. It is also advisable to wear loose-fitting, sweat-absorbing clothing, along with air-cushioned sneakers. "One, two, three, four? Kick!" Let's start training!
Address of H3 Club: Robinson Plaza, 138 Chengzhong Rd, Jiading Town, Jiading District
Taekwondo - Young People's Favorite
Founded in South Korea and practiced for self-defense and health benefits, taekwondo is a martial art stressing both combat techniques and martial philosophy. Renowned for unpredictable tactics, graceful kicks and swift movements good for both defense and offense, it is very popular among young people. Taekwondo is quite demanding and helps torso flexibility, body stability and response speed. Even a seemingly simple kick requires explosive strength and long training to be fast and good.
People interested in taekwondo can learn it at a local club, where a two-month program costs 700 yuan (which covers a set of dobok).
Address of Iron Dragon Taekwondo Club: 2/F, Bldg 16, Yingyuan-sifang, Cangchang Rd, Xinchenglu Sub-district, Jiading District
Calligraphy and Painting Clubs - Venues for Cultural Enlightenment
The Chinese stress both physical and cultural refinement. While the former can be achieved through martial arts, the best approach for the latter is no doubt calligraphy and painting. The 10-year-old Nanyuan Calligraphy and Painting Club in the Jiading Industrial Zone has become a haven for local enthusiasts. Apart from a monthly event called "Calligraphy and Painting Day," its members also like to gather at the offices of the Neighborhood Committee to compare notes on techniques.
Address: No. 40, Lane 333, Liangshe Rd, Jiading District. Neighborhood Service Center of Jiading Industrial Zone.
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