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Exit the Dragon? Kung Fu Culture Waning

    • Charollte Yang | NYT News Service
    • Publish Date: Aug 24 2016 12:35PM
    • |
    • Updated Date: Aug 24 2016 12:35PM
Exit the Dragon? Kung Fu Culture Waning

Bruce Lee was only 14 years old and on the losing end of several street fights when he took up kung fu. It was 1955, and Hong Kong was bustling with schools teaching a range of kung fu styles, including close-combat techniques and a method using nine-dragon trident. Lee soon became an international star, introducing kung fu to the world in films like “Enter the Dragon“ in 1973.

 
Decades later, cue the dragon's exit. The kung fu culture that gave the city a gritty, exotic image is in decline. Hong Kong's streets are safer, with fewer murders by the fierce crime organisations known as triads. Moreover, its real estate is among the world's most expensive, making it difficult for training studios to afford rent.
 
With a shift in martial arts preferences, the rise of video games and a perception among youths that kung fu just isn't cool, martial artists worry that the future is bleak.

“Chinese martial arts are more popular overseas than in their home now,“ said Leung Ting, 69, who has been teaching wing chun for 50 years. Nathan Road -where young Bruce Lee learned his craft from Ip Man, the legendary teacher subject of 2013 film “The Grandmaster“ -is now lined with cosmetic shops and pharmacies.

In a twist, kung fu has enjoyed a renaissance in mainland China, where the government has standardised it and promoted it in secondary schools as wushu to foster national pride.

Have you tried your hands at learning Martial Arts? Tell us your experience. 
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Comments

Amish Agarwal Goldcrest High Vashi

Martial arts has always seemed appealing to me. I do have tried a form of Japanese style called "Jiu Jitsu" which was way terrific. From the first class itself I learnt some impressive moves. Despite being novice eagerly participated in a 2 day camp at some hill station where we interacted with professionals and I was eventually conferred with the yellow belt. My journey in the sport continued untill I accidentally fractured my leg and lost practice.

Raju kumar Sree Narayana Vidya Bhavan

nice

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