But the gold goes to China…: The international development of the Chinese martial arts

International Review for the Sociology of Sport

Marc Theeboom,Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium

Dong Zhu, Shanghai University of Sport, China

Jikkemien Vertonghen, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium

published 28 April 2015, 10.1177/1012690215581605.

Abstract

Since the mid-1980s, China has been promoting wushu (also known as kung fu) as an international competitive sport towards Olympic recognition. But despite the efforts of the International Wushu Federation, to date, wushu has not entered the Olympics. Data were collected of countries’ medal winning performances at the World Wushu Championships since 1991. The findings of this study clearly showed China’s unchanged dominant position, thereby making it questionable if wushu has really turned into an international sport. This paper discusses two discourses that have been used to describe wushu’s international position: an enrichment discourse to emphasise the potential of wushu to deliver added value to global sports; and a compromise discourse highlighting the dangers of detraditionalisation in order to internationalise. It further attempts to analyse underlying mechanisms that may account for wushu’s current international status.

 

 

 

 

“…Taiwanese scientists found that people who practised tai chi had a higher number of stem cells than those in other groups. It’s “the first step to providing scientific evidence” for tai chi’s health benefits, according to Dr Paul Sanberg at the University of South Florida… 

Doctors acknowledge that tai chi improves arterial compliance, i.e. expansion and contraction of the arteries, which is crucial for heart health, whereas strength training alone brings about a decline in arterial compliance.

 

In tai chi the emphasis is on internal development powering the external. It may not produce six-packs but it has given tiny women the capacity to lift cars.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/wellbeing/10895393/Tai-chi-is-the-perfect-antidote-to-a-digital-age.html