“Competition in the Land of Thousands Hills” Looks Forward to Chinese Martial Arts Promotion—Confucius Institute at University of Rwanda-College of Education Holds 2018 International Chinese Martial Arts Invitational Tournament

From June 9th to 10th local time, the Confucius Institute at University of Rwanda-College of Education held the 2018 International Chinese Martial Arts Invitational Tournament, which was attended by nearly 200 competitors from Tanzania, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Kenya and Rwanda. Hundreds of locals made presence to watch the game in full swing, with Chinese and foreign media outlets covering the event.

Subsequently, all teams held pre-contest performances, entertaining all the audience with amazing actions such as jump, flip, kick and splits. Some also recorded such shocking moments with their mobile phone.

The performance by the Confucius Institute at University of Rwanda-College of Education at the opening ceremony was a spectacle part. “One Two Three Four—The Song for Martial Arts Fighters” and “Ocean’s Roar”, two songs adapted and sung by the Confucius Institute choir for the Rwandan national martial arts team, were fairly refreshing. “Sword Practice at Cock-Crow”, a performance integrating the pictographic boxing of Sleeping Buddhist Fist, Drunken Boxing, Snake Boxing, and Scorpion Boxing, combining the peer-training of martial arts with Shaolin boxing, added fuel to the heat. Tai Chi performance “Asking Taoism at Zixiao Temple” presented by teachers of the Confucius Institute, the Chinese Martial Arts Club and the Children’s Martial Arts Club of the Confucius Institute won rounds of applause. In the martial arts drama “After School”, performed by the Children’s Martial Arts Club of the Confucius Institute, the monkey boxing and Tong Zi Gong (Shaolin Kung Fu for Boys) presented by the young martial arts performers brought down the house.

Tai Chi Performance “Asking Taoism at Zixiao Temple”

Tong Zi Gong Performance

More than 30 members from Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Democratic Republic of the Congo wore various Taoist costumes and presented a wonderful martial arts performance to the audience. The female players’ agility and their momentum amazed the audience. Chinese songs with powerful lyrics such as “Defiantly laughing at ten thousand waves, with righteous ardor burning hotter than the sun” were played during the performance. Under the accompaniment of the magnificent and classic songs such as “A Man of Determination” and “Chinese Kung Fu”, the martial art fighters were strong and steadfast, bringing visual and auditory stimulation to all present.

The competition included Five Steps Boxing, Nanquan, Changquan (long fist), Daoshu (broadsword play), Southern Broadsword, Gunshu (cudgel play), Southern Cudgel, Qiangshu (spear play), swordplay and many other forms as well as free combat. The team from the Confucius Institute won 3 gold medals, 7 silver medals and 1 bronze medal.

A Contestant of the junior form group performing five step boxing

Swordplay form competition

Gunshu form competition

Qiangshu form competition

70kg free combat competition

At the closing ceremony, Uwiragiye Mark, Chairman of Rwanda Kungfu Wushu Federation, thanked the Confucius Institute at University of Rwanda-College of Education for its support for this competition. Rao Hongwei, Chinese Ambassador to Rwanda, and John Ntigengwa, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Sports and Culture of Rwanda presented the awards to the winners.

Rao Hongwei presenting medals to winners

Zhang Xian, Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute at University of Rwanda-College of Education, said that the Confucius Institute’s holding of this international martial arts competition is to promote an initiative of “peace and development” in Africa and the world, with hopes that the people would have good health and happiness, the countries would flourish and the world would advance in peace and stability. He hopes the competition would be held in rotation in many countries in the future, so that more and more overseas Chinese in different African countries will participate in the promotion of Chinese martial arts and bring the joy and discipline that comes with it to more Africans.

Contestants

Members of the Chinese Martial Arts Club of the Confucius Institute at University of Rwanda-College of Education

Su Wen, a martial arts teacher at the Confucius Institute and a consultant to Rwanda Kungfu Wushu Federation, said that Rwanda has a strong atmosphere of practicing Chinese Kung Fu and a long-standing player base. The development of martial arts in the country takes on a trend of “practicing from young age and paying attention to the gender balance”. There are 23 martial arts clubs in various provinces and cities across the country, with approximately 2,500 registered students. This international event is a “Competition in the Land of Thousands Hills” for the national martial arts elites in Rwanda. There are also many martial arts amateurs in Rwanda. Chinese martial arts courses have begun to reach primary and secondary schools and universities with students at various ages.

Story by Su Wen