Shanghai park offers free Kung Fu classes

People who are interested in Chinese kungfu will now be able to attend martial arts training classes free of charge in Shanghai. The city's Chin Woo Park was originally called Quyang Park, but has just been renamed.

The Chin Woo Park is named after the Chin Woo martial arts federation originally founded by Chinese kungfu master Huo Yuanjia in Shanghai at the start of the last century. The park will be under restoration until June of next year. By then, the theme-park will exhibit bronze sculptures of martial arts heroes and show off honours gained by kungfu masters over the years. The new park will also feature a kungfu training center where martial arts professionals are already planning free classes for both local and expat residents.

"We only have a few English-speaking instructors. But some young members of the federation who are college graduates can speak English. If expats want to attend, they can also contact us for kungfu instructors who can speak foreign languages," Xue Hairong, Vice President of Shanghai Chin Woo Athletic Federation, says.

So far, 56 countries from North America to Southeast Asia have established associations to promote Chin Woo martial arts. Some overseas kungfu instructors say they find Chinese kungfu is receiving more and more attention from foreign students.

"Especially in the western countries, people are accepting more of this, especially after the Jackie show and Bruce Lee show. Because of the publicity on the Chin Woo, so many foreigners are very curious about Chinese martial arts," Jack Tan, instructor at Singapore Chin Woo Association, says.

The Chin Woo federation says it has submitted an application to have Chin Woo culture declared one of China's intangible cultural heritages, and that the application has already been approved by the Shanghai government.