Flocks of seagulls hover and soar overhead at the seashore of Dalian, Liaoning Province. Nearby, a curly-haired, blue-eyed international student is practising the qixingquan (Shaolin Seven Star Fist). As the sea breeze gently blows, his eyes become firm and determined, his punches are steady and precise, and his attire flutters in the wind.
Francesco from Milan, Italy is majoring in Chinese Language Studies at Liaoning Normal University. While diligently studying Chinese in Dalian, he is also steadily turning his “Chinese kungfu dream” into reality.
“Learning Chinese martial arts is my motivation to study in China.” During his childhood, Francesco watched quite a few Chinese martial arts films at the cinema in his hometown of Milan. Since then, he has fostered a profound fascination with Chinese martial arts, leading him to regard renowned figures such as Jackie Chan and Jet Li as his idols. It was also at this point that he first conceived the aspiration to learn Chinese martial arts.
On the walls of his dormitory are posters of classic Chinese martial arts films such as Drunken Master and Fist of Legend, while his bookshelves are stocked with books about Chinese martial arts, in addition to Chinese learning textbooks. Learning and practising martial arts have now become an indispensable part of his study in China.
Francesco has been studying Chinese martial arts for 15 years. Before coming to Liaoning Province, he pursued his martial arts education at a martial arts school in Henan Province. Upon hearing of Liaoning Normal University’s reputation for excellence in both Chinese education and physical education, he promptly enrolled as a master’s student. Here, he has not only dedicated himself to the intensive study of the Chinese language, but also acquired traditional Chinese martial arts, including qixingquan and tai chi, from the renowned martial arts instructor Gao Shan. During his study in Liaoning, Francesco has mastered both the movements and essence of martial arts. Concurrently, his understanding and perception of martial arts culture have undergone a marked progression.
“Upon my initial encounter with martial arts, I thought it to be merely a form of combat. But after acquiring a deeper understanding of Chinese martial arts, I’ve realized that martial arts possess a profound connotation and cultural significance,” said Francesco. “Chinese martial arts emphasize the unity and the harmony between man and nature, and the pursuit of coordination between inner spirit and outer behavior. Chinese martial arts represent a valuable heritage of Chinese culture. The pursuit of Chinese martial arts not only equips me with proficient physical skills, but also enables me to learn an art of self-cultivation.”
