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Courses too tough
University students wash out
of
traditional martial arts classes
University
students practice the basic forms of North
Shaolin at the beginning of a Chinese martial arts
lesson.(Cherry Cheung)
By Cherry Cheung
Two rows of students, wearing martial arts costumes, moved their hands and legs to the instructions shouted out by their instructor.
Those students are the 10 percent left from the initial intake, the few who persevered through the harsh training.
Ying Fun Fong, instructor of Chinese martial arts at the University of Hong Kong, said, “At the beginning of a semester, there can be 30 new members. But by the middle of the semester, only four of them remain in class.”
Martial arts is a Chinese cultural heritage. It has different styles such as Shaolin, wing chun and tai chi.
Student organizations in a few local universities offer Chinese martial arts courses for students. Examples include The Chinese University of Hong Kong, The University of Hong Kong and City University of Hong Kong.
Members of the United College Chinese Martial Arts Society at The Chinese University of Hong Kong practice North Shaolin every Monday and Thursday.
The chairman of the society, Tang Ying Wai, said students spend about one semester learning the basic forms.
A form is a specific set of hand and leg movements. Each style has its own forms, and they reveal the characteristics of their own style.
Basic forms are important because they help students stretch their muscles. Therefore, students have to practice them at the beginning of each training session.
However, because basic form practice requires a lot of physical strength, Mr. Tang said that students tend to give up easily because of the harsh training.
Wong Ho Wing, chairlady of the Chinese Martial Arts Club at The University of Hong Kong, agreed that the need for long-term practice is one of the major causes of the unpopularity of Chinese martial arts in universities.
She said, “Students need to spend a lot of time to practice Chinese martial arts if they want to be good at it.
“However, many students do not have such patience,” she added. “It takes a long time to learn a whole style. Students are impatient with the slow process, and they quit after a short time.”
The other reason for the unpopularity of Chinese martial arts in universities is that very few primary and secondary schools offer martial arts courses for students.
Ms. Ying of The University of Hong Kong said, “There are few opportunities for students to know about Chinese martial arts before entering universities.”
To attract more students, the club organizes various functions, such as an annual Chinese Martial Arts Night.
Ms. Wong
said, “We invite different Chinese martial arts organizations
to perform.”
Students also perform in the activity.
“We also hold a Chinese Martial Arts Week. During the week, there are films and seminars about Chinese martial arts,” she added.
The club also holds Chinese weapons exhibitions. Items displayed include weapons such as sabers, swords, spears and three-section staffs.
Ms. Wong said that students like them because they seldom have chances to see Chinese weapons.
They also hold talks to promote Chinese martial arts.
"Through the talks, students can learn more about Chinese martial arts even if they do not engage in it," added Ms.Wong.
However, responses to these functions are disappointing.
Despite students having little interest in the sports, Ms. Ying said that the standard of martial arts courses in universities is high when compared with those outside.
"The ability to comprehend the instructions among university students is higher, so they learn more effectively," she added.
However, students' lack og time hinders them to get to a higher standard.
"If they had enough time, the standard could be very high," she said.
Student
members of Chinese Martial Arts at
University of Hong Kong perform. (Cherry Cheung)