Martial Arts is fighting to the world
At this moment, martial arts have attracted foreigners’ attention by these Hollywood-style movies. “Crunching Tiger Hidden Dragon? It’s not bad.” Said Patrick Palburg, a German graduate student studied at the National Taiwan University, and also a huge fan of Stephen Zhou (周星馳). On June 9, Patrick sat in the chair at a Chinese food restaurant sharing his thoughts in brilliant Chinese. “Hollywood and Hong Kong films have something in common. They both emphasized martial arts’ performances.” He noted, “Just like the novels that Jinyong (金庸) wrote, each title and description is really beautiful.”
Patrick Palburg, who wore the Aikido uniform, stood at the downstairs of the community on June 9.
Photo: Vicky Mo
However, be honest, Chen Qing-he (陳清河), the coach of the Chang Hong (長洪武術) said, “film is a kind of art, a kind of performance, not the real martial arts.” The same feeling also came from Patrick “Movies and martial arts should be departed to discuss.” Although many foreigners appreciated martial arts due to the inspiration of movies, this German boy, who does love martial arts, has the totally different reason to start learning martial arts.
A story about a German guy’s martial arts learning
“There are three kinds of foreigners who studied martial arts.” The Coach Chen analyzed it according to his teaching histories over the last twenty years, and the experiences every year with students in South Africa. He said: “practicing martial arts while they are touring in Taiwan; learning it as they are teaching English here; and coming to Taiwan just to learn martial arts.”
It’s quite hard to put Patrick into one of them. Maybe, we can only say that his unique studying experience is a little bit like the last case. Patrick noticed martial arts in Germany before he came to Taiwan for the college degree in 1998. “Did you know the book with CD? I remembered there were four characters in this story of the book, one of them played well in martial arts.” Patrick described his first impression.
“At the age of twelve, I learned Taekwondo in Germany.” He recalled the practicing memories, “and then, studied Chinese martial arts for two years.” Anyway, the two kinds of martial arts didn’t become Patrick’s favorite sports. He explained, “Taekwondo required the sufficient strength to keep kicking. As for Chinese martial arts, the movements are graceful, you can train your body and made it flexible, but,” Patrick really care about that, “it didn’t work when you need to protect yourself.”
The insistence to protect him has deeply influenced Patrick’s view of martial arts after he came to Taiwan. He had taken part in a group here to maintain his martial arts life about four years. Gradually, Patrick discovered what the problem is, “I hope that I can act smoother than the normal people. Some martial arts that focus on the beautiful movements are not my goal.” Patrick continued, “recently, I found an excellent coach Lin Guo-zhen (林國禎) at Aikido (合氣道) in Taiwan through a friend’s introduction.”
The Coach Lin’s (the male wore the blue pants) moved so fast that I can’t take the clear picture of him.
Photo: Vicky Mo
Things are different since noticing Aikido
After lots of training and experiences, Patrick finally met a kind of martial arts that he really wants. “Aikido doesn’t have the specific movements.” Patrick said proudly. The coach Lin, who has taught Aikido more than thirty years, agreed, “Aikido won’t attack people on purpose, unless danger is approaching.”
“Now, I can protect myself well after practicing Aikido.” Patrick replied, “no one can hurt me when I walk down the street.” “Once, a stranger stood by me too closely,” Patrick explained and motioned action. “The guy’s face almost touched mine. So, when I turned my face, I used the strength of my waist, and waved the arm to block his annoying behavior.” Patrick stressed, “The power will be stronger as you move your waist.”
“In addition,” Patrick added, “practicing martial arts can make you stand pressures, handle difficult situations, and get along well with someone treating you bad.” Talking about this point, Coach Chen also agreed this. He mentioned that people could be stronger if they start practicing martial arts. “It will release some negative emotions, and make you feel better.”
An interesting but threatening Aikido’s visiting
On June 17, in order to take some action pictures, and of course, satisfy curiosity about martial arts, I visited the training place of Aikido at Keelung (基隆) road with Patrick. When we arrived there, a dark building, a small but clean site, and around 15 people with simple black and white clothes were the first impression.
The warm-up training began practicing by Patrick’s instructions at Keelung Road on June 17.
Photo: Vicky Mo
Students were stretching their legs during the warm-up training.
Photo: Vicky Mo
Nearly an hour’s warm-up training, the real fight has just begun. In fact, I tried to attack Patrick when he showed me Aikido during our first interview on Jun 9. And I believe that everybody could have imagined that I couldn’t even touch him a bit. However, the movements among the Aikido students on Jun 17 are more aggressive and threatening than me. The sound that student’s hand or foot hit the ground was so loud. A girl said that these actions are the major method to release the power coming from the speed and action. Still, I’m afraid in the beginning.
Patrick tried to stop the opponent’s offense.
Photo: Vicky Mo
And then, he succeeded blocking the opponent’s attack.
Photo: Vicky Mo
I noticed that Aikido has some specific defending movements anyway. It’s not like the dancing performance; each movement takes two to practice. Patrick believes, “Trying to control everyone’s power is the main purpose of training. You’ll find the suitable strength after practicing with other people.”
To sum up, “practicing is necessary, or you won’t know how to protect yourself when somebody attacks you.” Patrick adds. “But,” Coach Lin mentioned something to me after class, “We were practicing as if a real fight was going on, and sometimes people got hurt. The coach has to be there to watch everyone’s practicing and protect their safety.” Patrick also explained it as I was wondering whether they get hurt during the aggressive training. “We’ll be more careful when we are practicing. After all, you don’t want your classmates get hurt.”
“I looked good as the hair covered up my face.” Patrick smiled.
Photo: Vicky Mo
You have to protect yourself when the opponent’s body started moving.
Photo: Vicky Mo
Planning to fight, or Plan to prevent fight
But there is one thing that Patrick won’t deny. You’ll learn some skills that are enough to kill when you have learned the advanced martial arts. “Your body could be a weapon to hurt people without any tools.” Patrick talked to me seriously, “No matter how dangerous, you still have to control these movements as you’re practicing because Aikido always requires students to solve problem, not make it.” Patrick insists.
“Except the defending skills,” Patrick added, “the charming characteristics of martial arts is that you’d be able to control yourself and remain calm facing danger.” During the class, everyone saluts to the opponent, and kneels down to put his or her Aikido uniform in order after class.” Coach Chen noted further, “martial arts will train your patience, especially the traditional martial arts; it needs time and the serious attitude to learn the details.”
Sometimes, you will be block and fall on the ground by other people.
Photo: Vicky Mo
The hand’s movement was prevented the opponent’s next attack.
Photo: Vicky Mo
Difficult environment for martial arts to survive
“In your opinion, which martial arts is the most genuine one?” I asked. Coach Chen’s depressing sound came from the phone after he heard my question, “it was a pity that traditional martial morality is going to lose.” He went on, “the new style martial arts in China, we call it new martial arts (新武術) and it gradually becomes different and looks like gymnastic movement fitting for competition because the Chinese government hope that martial arts can become one item in the Olympic games.”
“Thus, new martial arts became gymnastic-like sports, and had age limitation.” Coach Chen didn’t agree these changes. “Traditional martial arts doesn’t have any specific qualifications, everyone can approach it regardless of sex and age.” Furthermore, “the spirit of martial arts in Taiwan didn’t change over the past years, but the government usually ignores us.” He joked, “They just let the folk martial arts groups live by themselves.” For example, few years ago, around two hundred foreigners planned coming to Taiwan to do some martial arts communications with us. “We truly wanted to invite them, but Chang Hong didn’t have enough money to cover their expense without government’s subsidy. Finally, the group went to South Africa instead.
“Taekwondo and Fukien White Crane (福建白鶴拳) are popular in Taiwan.” Patrick tried to reply my question, “The promotion is not good enough. In the end, only a few groups survived.” “If martial arts want to expand the scale, it definitely needs government’s assistance.” Chen declared.
Does the motion of Patrick’s hand look like “Tai Chi Chuan (太極拳)”.
Photo: Vicky Mo
What is the real success?
“In my heart, I do hope that traditional martial arts can be famous,” Coach Chen stressed, “The problem is that some people’s conception about martial arts is not right. If martial arts are just making a series of beautiful performances for audience, it’s not the success we’re always chasing.”
Films made martial arts popular in the world, and then caused some misunderstanding to people, too. Like Coach Chen’s words, “In order to get enrolled into the official competitions, martial arts should make regulations regarding movements to judge contestants’ performance.” “But all kinds of martial arts have the unique characteristics,” Chen said, “it’s difficult to put different sports together to judge.”
Taekwondo has become well-known in Taiwan after Chu Mu-yen (朱木炎) and Chen Shi-shin (陳詩欣) won two gold medals in the Olympic Games in 2004. Have you thought about how is our traditional martial art doing here? If foreigners like Patrick can discover the value hidden in martial arts, what about the people in Taiwan?
“I wish someday I can be the one that nobody can beat me. It’s a dream, but the dream is not bad.” Patrick said.
Photo: Vicky Mo
