11th Zhengzhou International Shaolin Kung Fu Festival in Dengfeng

GeneChing · October 13, 2016, 3:54pm

Shaolin kung fu festival to start on Sunday
Source:Ecns.cn Published: 2016/10/13 21:47:11

Kung fu students rehearse for the 11th Zhengzhou International Shaolin Kung Fu Festival in Dengfeng, Central Chinas Henan Province, Oct. 12, 2016. The centerpiece of the opening ceremony will be a show by 29,560 students from the famed Tagou Kung Fu School. About 125 teams from 67 countries and regions are expected to attend the festival that opens on Oct. 16. [Photo: Chinanews.com]

Here’s our past threads:
The-10th-International-Shaolin-Martial-Arts-Festival-in-Zhengzhou
9th Zhengzhou International Shaolin Wushu Festival
8th China International Shaolin Wushu Festival in Zhengzhou
2nd World Traditional Wushu Festival, whos going??
Shaolin Festival 2001

And of course, there is my documentary: Shaolin Trips: The First World Traditional Wushu Festival

GeneChing · October 17, 2016, 4:12pm

Love the body paint

A stunning show of strength and agility: 1,500 competitors from around the world gather in Chinese birthplace of the Shaolin Wushu martial art to show off their skills in bright costumes and body paint

Athletes from 73 countries are taking part in a four-day martial arts festival in birthplace of Shaolin Wushu
Shaolin Wushu or King Fu, is one of the oldest martial arts and dates back to 495 AD in Henan province
There are 1,500 martial artists taking part in the festival in incredible costume and make-up

By REBECCA TAYLOR FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 13:04 EST, 15 October 2016 | UPDATED: 18:56 EST, 15 October 2016

Hundreds of martial arts students are taking part in an international competition in the birthplace of one of the oldest forms of the ancient combat.
The 11th International Shaolin Wushu Festival will be held from October 16 to October 20 in Henan Province, the birthplace of Shaolin Wushu in China.
The festival will include group calisthenics and martial arts to promote cultural communication of martial arts.

Students of martial art schools take part in rehearsals for the upcoming 11th International Shaolin Wushu Festival in Zhengzhou

The students display their incredible core strength as they pull water from a well while hanging upside down from bars

The competitors scoop water from the buckets with one hand held behind their backs, hanging upside down on the bars

There are 1,500 students taking part from 73 countries in the four day festival in Zhengzhou, the birthplace of Shaolin Wushu

The four day festival has been held 10 times before since 1991, and according to the organisers, is a good way for martial artists to explore the country’s culture, make friends and exchange skills.
As well as the competitions, there are demonstrations of different forms of martial arts, throughout the long weekend and a grand evening party.
These incredible images show the scale of the event and the level of discipline and training undertaken by the participants ahead of the festival.

Students spent Friday rehearsing, and making key preparations for the competition and festival, which formally starts on Sunday

The hundreds of competitors don brightly coloured uniform for their international festival, in gold, red and blue

The four-day festival will include group calisthenics, martial arts sitcom to promote cultural communication of martial arts

Records of Shaolin Wushu, also called Shaolin Kung Fu, go back to 495AD, and the art is about 1,500 years old

It originated in the Buddhist Shaolin temple in Henan province, the same province where the festival is now held

Shaolin Wushu, also called Shaolin Kung Fu, is about 1,500 years old, and originated in the Buddhist Shaolin temple in Henan province.
Records of the art go back to 495AD.

continued next post

GeneChing · October 17, 2016, 4:12pm

Continued from previous post

The incredible image shows the scale of the huge event and organisers hope it will bring people from different disciplines together

Hundreds of students practice together, wearing the same red tops and dark trousers with white trainers in the large open space

Wushu is both an exhibition and a contact martial art with various forms that have been standardised over the years

The competitors hold up a huge Chinese flag, during the rehearsal days of the festival, as others crowd around

Chinese monks in traditional orange robes watch on outside a red temple as the competitors get ready for the event

In a LinkedIn invitation to the event, the organisers wrote: 'Athletes from more than 60 countries and regions all over the world have participated in this grand festival.
'Zhengzhou China International Shaolin Wushu Festival is a comprehensive festival comprizing Wushu, business and trade, tourism and culture exchange.
'In this festival, we will arrange a lot of activities including Wushu competition, Taolu Competitions, Wushu performances, Chinese Martial Arts Duan Wei Exam, Chinese martial arts training and exchangegrand evening party, Greeting ceremony in Dengfeng, sightseeing of Shaolin Temple, Zen Music ShaoLin Grand Ceremony, and other culture exchange activities.
‘We are confident that Zhengzhou China International Shaolin Wushu Festival is a good platform for you to make friends, exchange martial arts skills and deeply understand Chinese culture.’

One student takes the lead in front of the festival’s official logo, as his colleagues look on before their turns

A group of men in orange costume hold up one man in white, in something akin to a Saturday Night Fever pose during the rehearsals

The competitors will be able to enjoy some sightseeing during their stay in the province as well. Above, competitors work in unison in the displays as the festival prepares to start

A boy is suspended upside down from a pole held by two others as three watch on from behind during the festival

This makes me homesick for Shaolin…

GeneChing · October 17, 2016, 4:24pm

More coverage

11th Zhengzhou Int’l Shaolin Wushu Festival kicks off in C China
Source:Xinhua Published: 2016/10/17 17:15:14

Students from a local kung fu school perform at the opening ceremony of the 11th Zhengzhou International Shaolin Martial Arts Festival in Dengfeng, central China’s Henan province, Oct 16, 2016. The 11th Zhengzhou International Shaolin Wushu Festival kicked off on Sunday.(Xinhua/Li Bo)

Students from a local kung fu school perform at the opening ceremony of the 11th Zhengzhou International Shaolin Martial Arts Festival in Dengfeng, central China’s Henan province, Oct 16, 2016. The 11th Zhengzhou International Shaolin Wushu Festival kicked off on Sunday.(Xinhua/Li An)

Students from a local kung fu school perform at the opening ceremony of the 11th Zhengzhou International Shaolin Martial Arts Festival in Dengfeng, central China’s Henan province, Oct 16, 2016. The 11th Zhengzhou International Shaolin Wushu Festival kicked off on Sunday.(Xinhua/Li Bo)

So photogenic. Alas, I miss the festival so much…

GeneChing · October 18, 2016, 3:32pm

cute

Kung fu kids show off their pre-performance routines
Source: Globaltimes.cn-CFP Published: 2016-10-18 16:25:19

Highlights: The 11th Zhengzhou International Shaolin Kung Fu Festival kicked off in Dengfeng, Central China’s Henan Province, on October 16. Students from the famed Tagou Kung Fu School showed off their full bag of tricks during the opening ceremony, while some of the younger children found ways to entertain themselves during the long wait between performances. Follow our photos to see for yourself if you have the patience required to be a kung fu kid. Photos: CFP

A young ‘monk’ limbers up before performing in the opening ceremony on October 16.

A young ‘monk’ dozes off while waiting for the performance to begin on October 16.

Two young performers enjoy a game of leapfrog while waiting for the opening ceremony to begin on October 16.

A young girl stands in line with the monks as they welcome all participants to the Shaolin Temple on October 16.

A boy dressing in a monk’s robe amuses himself while waiting for the performance on October 16.

Two young ‘monks’ practice their choreography while waiting for the performance on October 16.

Four boys play a monkey imitation game around a tree while waiting for the performance on October 16.

I’m glad they put ‘monk’ in quotes. :rolleyes:

GeneChing · October 20, 2016, 2:58pm

More pix

11th Zhengzhou International Shaolin Kung Fu Festival kicks off in C China
(chinadaily.com.cn) Updated: 2016-10-17 10:23 Comments

A special parade featuring kung fu performances is seen at the opening ceremony of the 11th International Shaolin Kung Fu Festival in Dengfeng, Central China’s Henan province, on Oct 16, 2016. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

The 11th International Shaolin Kung Fu Festival kicked off at the Shaolin Temple in Dengfeng, Central China’s Henan province, on Sunday.

More than 2,000 athletes from 68 countries and regions took part in the festival, which lasts until Oct 20. Most will compete in martial arts events and some will be trying to achieve a Wushu grade.

Besides kung fu shows and matches, there was also a special 12-kilometer parade at the opening ceremony featuring performances by 478 kung fu groups.

As the cradle of Shaolin Wushu, about 100,000 students or Wushu lovers from around the world have learned the Chinese martial art in Wushu schools around the Shaolin Temple.

The International Shaolin Wushu Festival in Zhengzhou was first held in 1991 to improve the international influence of the Chinese martial art.

A special parade featuring kung fu performances is seen at the opening ceremony of the 11th International Shaolin Kung Fu Festival in Dengfeng, Central China’s Henan province, on Oct 16, 2016. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

Students from martial arts schools perform kung fu at the opening ceremony of the 11th International Shaolin Kung Fu Festival in Dengfeng, Central China’s Henan province, on Oct 16, 2016. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

I saw a video version of some of these photos - that must have been on China Daily’s Facebook as it wasn’t copy&pasteable.

GeneChing · October 20, 2016, 3:06pm

Taguo - 29,560 strong

It’s been a while since we’ve done a Shaolin Special. We were going to do one after the The 4th Shaolin Cultural Festival last year, but after that fell apart, we’ve been on hold. Maybe soon. A lot of readers have been asking. I truly appreciate that support. Soon come.

30,000 students in International Shaolin Wushu Festival rehearsal
2016-10-16 16:30:58 CRIENGLISH.com Web Editor: Shi

The 11th International Shaolin Wushu Festival rehearsal takes place at the Shaolin Temple Scenic Spot on Mount Song in Dengfeng City, central China’s Henan Province on Oct. 14, 2016. A total of 29,560 students from Tagou martial arts school participate in the event. They showcase numerous performances featuring group exercises, Shaolin stunts and Wushu melodrama. [Photo: qq.com]

‘Wushu melodrama’

GeneChing · October 20, 2016, 3:18pm

More cute Shaolin kids

3-year-old rises again to finish kung fu show
2016-10-18 06:20:01 GMT2016-10-18 14:20:01(Beijing Time) Ecns.cn

A child performs kung fu in a contest during the 11th Shaolin Kung Fu International Festival in Zhengzhou City, the capital of Central China’s Henan Province, Oct. 17, 2016. The child, who is about three years old, tumbled during the performance and was helped up by the judge to finish the contest. (Photo/CFP)A child performs kung fu in a contest during the 11th Shaolin Kung Fu International Festival in Zhengzhou City, the capital of Central China’s Henan Province, Oct. 17, 2016. The child, who is about three years old, tumbled during the performance and was helped up by the judge to finish the contest. (Photo/CFP)

China luvs her baby monks…:rolleyes:

GeneChing · October 26, 2016, 3:07pm

And now for coverage from one of our very own.

Read The Woodstock of Shaolin: Opening Ceremonies for the International Shaolin Wushu Festival by Chris Friedman

//youtu.be/nqBWGaxr2yE

GeneChing · October 27, 2016, 4:10pm

The competition

Interesting take on the festival.

Kung fu fighting to boost soft power
Tom Han**** October 27, 2016

Entrants from five continents aged from six to 60 performed intricate acrobatic routines during the 11th Zhengzhou China International Shaolin Wushu Festival (AFP Photo/Nicolas Asfouri)

At the 11th Zhengzhou China International Shaolin Wushu Festival, many foreign enthusiasts said they encountered the sport through films featuring wushu experts such as Jet Li (AFP Photo/Nicolas Asfouri)

Shaanxi province sports official Dong Li was cited as saying it the government’s “wushu” investment fund was created “as a channel for China to increase its soft power” (AFP Photo/Nicolas Asfouri)

Over four days of competition in Zhengzhou, entrants aged from 6 to 60 performed intricate acrobatic routines sometimes involving weapons such as staffs and swords (AFP Photo/Nicolas Asfouri)

Zhengzhou (China) (AFP) - When top Dominican martial artist Shannah Robin arrived to train at the Shaolin Temple, the cradle of Chinese kungfu, it was on an expenses-paid trip courtesy of Beijing.

His course was part of a lavish government effort to promote the range of fighting disciplines known as “wushu”, the Chinese word for martial arts – or kungfu in the West – and boost the country’s cultural influence.

“The whole aim is to take Shaolin martial arts, or China’s wushu, out into the developing countries around the world,” Robin said on the sidelines of an international Wushu festival held in the central Chinese city of Zhengzhou.

“Of course it has been my dream from since I was about eight years old to go to the Shaolin Temple.”

The festival opened with a huge display at the 1,500-year-old Buddhist institution atop Song mountain, where monks once created elaborate fighting systems and worked as mercenaries.

Hundreds of students in red t-shirts lined up to perform elaborate routines in unison, while fighters in gold body paint sparred before spectators.

Over four days of competition, entrants from five continents aged from six to 60 performed intricate acrobatic routines – sometimes involving weapons such as staffs and swords.

“What’s great about wushu is there are so many ways to do one thing,” said Deems Yee, a competitor from Panama.

But he conceded that the discipline has travelled a long way from its martial origins since it was codified by the ruling Communist party in the 1950s.

“It looks more now like a show than a martial art that’s applied like taekwondo or boxing.”

‘Soft power’ -

Wushu’s global sporting popularity pales before karate, judo and taekwondo, but state media reported this month that a “Wushu Cultural Industry Investment Fund” worth $7 billion has been set up to run tournaments and promote it at home and abroad.

Shaanxi province sports official Dong Li was cited as saying it was created “as a channel for China to increase its soft power”.

The Chinese government’s development plan for the sport from 2016-2020 says that its aims include “increasing national confidence and boosting national cultural soft power”.

The document, which is replete with political slogans such as “Implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s series of important talks,” also vows to secure the sport’s entry into the Olympics.

The Zhengzhou city sports administration’s deputy director Zhang Jiafu told AFP: “The party and government pays great attention to promoting our Shaolin to the world.”

At the festival, many foreign enthusiasts said they encountered the sport through martial arts films featuring wushu experts such as Jet Li.

“First I looked at movies. Of course it was Bruce Lee movies,” said Masoud Jafari, one of some 70 Iranian competitors, who scooped several gold medals between them at the festival.

He trained at Shaolin in the early 1990s and has watched his country emerge as a powerhouse of the sport.

“Now we are second in the world after China,” said Jafari, whose life story is currently being made into the first Iranian-Chinese co-produced film.

Acrobatic shows -

But some Chinese practitioners complained that modern wushu, which – unlike traditional kungfu – was designed for sporting competition, has lost its value as a method of self-defence.

“A lot of elements of traditional martial arts are missing from these displays,” said wushu practitioner, Lei Zhongshan.

“The real aim of wushu is fighting,” said the 60-year-old, who specialises in a style known as “Chan Family Fist”.

One discipline invented in the 1980s, known as sanda, retains some elements of combat but the rest are more akin to acrobatic shows.

“Some actions, which are not so fashionable or attractive, have been removed,” said Gong Maofu, a wushu expert at Chengdu Sports University.

"But… there are still some people who want to keep up the old traditions which they were taught by their masters.

“Maybe their masters told them not to change.”

Topic		Replies	Views
The 10th International Shaolin Martial Arts Festival in Zhengzhou Shaolin Kung Fu	4	9478	December 1, 2014
12th Zhengzhou International Shaolin Wushu Festival Shaolin Kung Fu	4	3676	April 23, 2019
Question about the Zhenzhou/Shaolin Tourny in Oct this year Shaolin Kung Fu	63	15854	April 20, 2006
1st American Shaolin Temple Cultural Festival Shaolin Kung Fu	61	23631	January 3, 2014
The 13th Zhengzhou International Shaolin Wushu Festival Shaolin Kung Fu	7	1859	November 15, 2024

11th Zhengzhou International Shaolin Kung Fu Festival in Dengfeng

Related topics