JIAYO! worldwide wushu news and media

THE FORBIDDEN KINGDOM - 2-DISC SPECIAL EDITION DVD REVIEW AND EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH JACKIE CHAN.

Interview and review by Emilio Alpanseque
Courtesy of LIONSGATE

In theaters, the Forbidden Kingdom was a funhouse of a movie with non-stop action and lots of special effects. The teaming up of Jackie Chan and Jet Li had everyone in the martial arts community full of eagerness. The addition of Yuen Woo-Ping as the fight coordinator raised the expectations bar even more. And the result lives up to the promise of what you would anticipate from these exceptional martial artists.

This September, LIONSGATE releases The Forbidden Kingdom 2-Disc Special Edition on DVD and Blu-ray in North America, and along with the film come a good number of thrilling bonus features including multiple behind-the-scenes, a blooper reel, deleted scenes, audio commentary and more. A Digital Copy of the feature film is also included on a separate disk. This comes handy for those that want to bring the movie with them on a hard drive, or play it on their Ipod.

If you end up buying this DVD, you’ll be pleased with the quality of the transfers as they are all top notch. The 2.40:1 widescreen format is superb with vibrant colors and sparkling details. The definition is so good that you can zoom several times and still get a clear image. With the audio, two options are at your disposal: English 5.1 Dolby Digital EX and English 2.0 Dolby Digital. Both are crystal clear without any distortion. The box says the movie runs for 104 minutes; however you have my word that the full 113 minutes of the theatrical release are in it, divided in 24 chapters which will allow easy navigation to your favorite scenes.

The DVD & Blu-ray special features include:

• Audio commentary with director Rob Minkoff and writer John Fusco. This offers a lot of interesting information about the movie. At times serious and others time humorous, Minkoff seems more technical while Fusco reveals his love and respect for martial arts.
• “The Kung Fu Dream Team”. A remarkable view at the team that makes this movie what it is, including interviews and a behind-the-scenes look at some of the action and stunts in the film.
• “Dangerous Beauty”. Interviews and behind-the-scenes introducing Liu Yifei and Li Binbing.
• “Discovering China”. A revealing exploration of spectacular the natural locations used for the film.
• “Filming in Chinawood”. A look at the Hengdian World Studios, the largest film studio in Asia located in the Zhejiang Province. Both, Modern Boston and Ancient China scenes where filmed there.
• “Monkey King and The Eight Immortals”. John Fusco’s own journey into world of Chinese culture and Kung Fu philosophy. There is a break down of one of the synopsis of the film. An introduction to the Monkey King, the Eight Immortals, Drunken Kung Fu and more.
• Pre-Visualization Featurette. This takes the viewer from the storyboards through pre-production animation footage to the final finished look for selected scenes throughout the film, accompanied by commentary from Rob Minkoff.
• Blooper reel. A few accidents, missed dialogue and a lot fun.
• Deleted scenes with audio commentary by Rob Minkoff and John Fusco. Six scenes that did not make the final reel, but maybe should have?

In summary, the long awaited “J&J Project”, which became a reality and was a box-office smash, is now available on this bursting 2-Disc Special Edition. Don’t miss this opportunity to see Jackie and Jet perform together in the comfort of your own home!

Now, let’s get the obvious out of the way: Yes, we all have watched the movie. We’ve seen Jackie and Jet in action. We’ve seen the homage and allusions to the characters from Chinese legends and Kung Fu movies. We’ve learned about the real meaning of “Kung Fu”. But for those who wanted to hear about it from the “Drunken Master” himself, this is your opportunity. Enjoy this exclusive interview!

Emilio Alpanseque: Jackie, we were looking forward to seeing the first collaboration between you and Jet Li. how was it working with him?

Jackie Chan: We really enjoyed it, as if we were two kids playing. Lots of people said that he became more active when I was around him. He usually was very quiet. Not like me. I liked to joke around, sweep the stage, kill flies, etc. I did lots of things. He just sat there by himself (mimic his Buddhist Chanting) – “A Mi Tuo Fo”. He told me some Buddhism stories during the movie shooting. I was only interested in 3 of them, not the other 7 (laughs). I learned a lot from the three stories. Buddhism teaching has its own philosophy. After all it teaches the basics of being a good person. It is very useful.

EA: The fighting scene between you two was very impressive. How do you feel about it?

JC: I had not had that great feeling for a long time. It was great. I had that experience when I worked with Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao. When I worked with other people, either I had to compromise a little bit, or they had to compromise if I had to fight with lots of people. If I fight with those not knowing how to fight, I have to compromise in the fighting. If I fight with those knowing how to fight well, they may have to slow down for me. But Jet Li and I did not have to do anything like that for each other. I still remember the first day I saw him on the set, it did not feel like it was the first collaboration between us, it was more like we just finished a movie together.

EA: How would you compare Jet Li’s fighting style with yours and how was it to finally shoot a fight scene together?

JC: Our fighting style, we are basically the same. We know “Bei Pai” - northern style Chinese martial arts. I first learned northern style, then learned southern styles like Tiger and Crane, Wing Chun, Pak Mei, but also practice Karate, Hapkido, Boxing; during those years those other kinds of martial arts were not practiced in China yet, China was closed, but we did have them in Hong Kong. So, my style has become more of a “Chop Suey” style. I can do everything. For our fight scene together, Yuen Woo-Ping had choreographed the first action sequences and Jet and I went to take a look at them. Two stuntmen did the demonstration, once they finished I asked him to show me the sequence one more. Then I said, “OK, let’s shoot it. We do not need a rehearsal”. Jet Li said “sure, let’s do it.” So, we did not do any rehearsal. Hey, that was a long fighting scene, no rehearsal. Once we are doing the moves, I looked at Jet Li and said, “you go faster, let’s see who is faster”. We were competing, showing off. It was fun at that moment. I told him to slow down. He said to me “you slow down”.

EA: As you said, Yuen Woo-Ping is the Wushu instructor for this movie. But since you usually design your own fight scenes, was it weird for you?

JC: It felt weird. It was. Why? I usually design the choreography of my fight scenes with the Jackie Chan Team and teach others how to fight. From the stunt team of this movie, Yuen Woo-Ping and his younger brother, we know each other. The others used to be just kids, we used to call them “little ghosts”. But now they teach me how to fight. Actually they were not teaching me how to fight. They did not dare to teach me. They just showed me the moves. Some of them are left handed, but I am right handed, it’s different. It’s like my experience of teaching Chris Tucker. He never got it easy, since he was left handed and I was right handed. So I had to adjust to his left-hand habit to show him the moves, it was not comfortable. Some of the moves they showed me, if I do it, I would do 1, 2, then lower down my head, done. Those are basics. I did not change the sequence they put together. I did whatever they showed me. Because I knew if I changed, they would be messed up. I also needed to give Yuen Woo-Ping my respect. Also, if I did not say anything, Jet Li would not say anything either. If Jet Li had no comments, I would not have comments either. So we both kept quiet. It was just like that.

EA: So the sequences were choreographed as you were going on?

JC: They had their beginning and ending points, some ideas. Yuen Woo-Ping would say “we respectively ask the two big brothers out for a break” so Jet and I would go out to chat until they finished choreographing the new fight scene. Then, they would ask us to come in again. We would go in and stand there so they could slowly show us the sequence of moves. Right after that, we would say “OK, let’s shoot”. Then we shoot. It was just like that, very fast. Those moves were so easy for us.

EA: This movie has many characters such as the Monkey King, the Eight Immortals, the Bride with White Hair all combined in the same story. What is your opinion about it and what do you think the reaction of the western audience will be?

JC: About this movie, we knew that the story was ridiculous when we were making it. But the story was about a young kid, who was just like any kid from France, German, Russia, or USA and loved Chinese Kung Fu. It is about a young kid who loves Chinese Kung Fu and culture. What he wanted everybody was to practice Kung Fu, Kung Fu, Kung Fu. He fell into a hole, a deep hole; he was falling deeper and deeper. With that in mind, I can accept the story. But nobody would make such a movie in China. Also nobody would write up such a story in China. We could have a story about Monkey King. But how come Monkey King dreamed about Drunken Fist, then the Eight Immortals, then the Jade Emperor. It’s totally a mess. But for foreign audience, they do not know who is Monkey King, what is Drunken Fist. They don’t know them. Anyway it’s fine to have them all together. I think as long as the movie can make Chinese culture look interesting, it works. Wow, what is it? What is Monkey King?

EA: Lastly, how did it feel to do “Drunken Boxing” after all these years?

JC: Sometimes, I feel very embarrassed! I refused to do it in a couple of movies already. Rush Hour director Bret Ratner asked me “just drink a little bit and then do some Drunken Boxing”, I said no, no more of that. But in the Forbidden Kingdom is a good opportunity to showcase different styles like mantis, tiger, etc. So it was a good idea. Show the spirit of martial arts, Chinese culture, respect, and those kinds of things. Combine comedy, excitement and education.

From The Wall Street Journal

Inner Peace? Olympic Sport? A Fight Brews
Kung Fu’s Absence From Games Reflects Divide Over Art Form
By IAN JOHNSON
August 20, 2008; Page A14

MOUNT WUDANG, China — At the Olympics in Beijing, spectators have been treated to the flips, kicks and punches of judo from Japan and taekwondo from Korea.
China’s Martial Artists Getting Their Kicks

But except for an unofficial competition due to begin Thursday in the capital, they won’t have seen any martial arts from China, even though Asian martial arts originated in Chinese fighting styles widely known as kung fu.

Why that is could be put down to the usual reasons that any sport is kept out of the Olympics. Some say the Games are already bursting at the seams and can’t host another sport — 302 events are on tap this year in Beijing. Others say Chinese martial arts aren’t popular enough internationally to warrant inclusion.

But travel to this cloud-covered mountain in central China and you are confronted with a more central question: How do you make a sport out of something that might not really be a sport? And if you try, what do you risk losing?

Mount Wudang is one of the centers of Chinese martial arts, which are more accurately known as wushu. The mountain is home to a bevy of Taoist temples, many dedicated to Zhenwu, the Perfected Warrior. Legend has it that tai chi shadow boxing was revealed to a Taoist alchemist while he slept here. The mountain’s fame spread internationally when dramatic fighting scenes in the film “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” were shot on its slopes.

Yet the form of martial arts practiced here — and in many parts of China — are hardly of the punch-’em-up variety. Students learn to kick and spin and punch, but the goal isn’t so much to knock down opponents as to use the physical activity to achieve a meditative inner peace, a cultivation of the mind.

Shi Fei’s students doing traditional martial arts. ‘Competitive wushu is pretty, but it’s empty,’ he says.

“There aren’t a lot of fancy, rehearsed actions in Wudang martial arts,” says Chen Lisheng, a Taoist and martial-arts instructor. “It is humble and plain. It starts from the nature of the human being.”

That was a problem for China’s ambitious sports administrators. During the 1990s, they began to organize wushu with an eye toward adding them to the Olympics. They identified 129 schools of fighting but realized this was too complicated. So forms were mixed together and stripped down. The inner cultivation was jettisoned. The slow movements were discarded and the more theatrical side played up. The result is part gymnastics and part boxing: A competitor is judged on a set of routines he performs on the mat alone, like a floor exercise, and he spars with another competitor, both in boxing gloves.

“It’s a question of how do you transform a traditional art form into a competitive sport,” says Nancy Chen, an anthropologist at University of California, Santa Cruz, who has written on the topic. “Or can you?”

Officials at the China Wushu Association concede they have had to make major compromises. The association’s general director, Kang Gewu, says the entire idea of competition is foreign to Chinese martial arts. Traditionally, martial artists didn’t compete against each other, and there was no ranking or points system. “It owes something to the forces of market economics,” he says.

But the idea was correct, he says. If wushu is to join the international sporting world, then it must become like other judged sports. That means standard routines so judges can award points and winners be identified. Cultivating one’s inner soul is fine, but how can judges give points for that, he asks.

Mount Wudang’s Taoist martial-arts masters are supportive of the government’s overall thrust. “We want to popularize wushu, too,” says Mr. Chen. But the way it is being done leaves something to be desired, he says.

Mr. Chen explains what he means during a visit to an institute of Taoist studies to meet students. Officials invested $100 million in an institute that teaches the Taoist classics, music, art and martial arts. But none of the students learn the government’s version of wushu because instructors deem it too simple.

Mr. Chen enters a courtyard and surveys young Taoists practicing martial arts. Mr. Chen nods appreciatively as the three young men, their shoulder-length hair tied up in knots on their head, perform “Crouching Tiger Fist,” a complicated series of slow moves punctuated by explosive kicks and punches.

“The key isn’t the punches,” he says, “it’s the stuff in between. It’s the breathing, the way they move their feet, their attitude.” By contrast, government-sponsored wushu competitions “cater to society’s needs nowadays,” he says. “It tries to satisfy the demands from the public.”

Another prominent Taoist martial artist, Shi Fei, is less diplomatic. “Competitive wushu is pretty, but it’s empty,” he says. Mr. Shi left Mount Wudang 10 years ago to open a school at the foot of the mountain. His 20 or so students learn only traditional wushu.

“Children can learn the government form of wushu,” he says. “It’s fine for beginners. But no one who really wants to learn wushu learns that. It’s like a show.”

The lack of support is reflected in the China Wushu Association’s difficulty in getting its sport into the Olympics.

“Virtually nobody outside of China performs their form of wushu,” says Stanley Henning, an independent academic who has written widely on Asian martial arts. “It’s like a dance routine.”

Officially, there is an International Wushu Federation, but its officials are all Chinese and its address is the same as Mr. Kang’s China Wushu Federation. It is sponsoring an international competition that begins Thursday, but it doesn’t have sanctioning by the International Olympic Committee.

One problem, Mr. Henning says, is that Japan and Korea beat China to the punch. While China was caught up in political turmoil, Japan got judo accepted in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and South Korea got taekwondo accepted in the 1988 Seoul Games. Wushu has had a hard time defining itself because those two sports — which primarily involve throwing, kicking and punching — have already covered most of the basic fighting techniques of wushu.

Back on Mount Wudang, Taoist Master Shi is taking his students through their paces. He pulls out one, a boy of 10, and has him perform that national standard form. The boy jumps around the square, kicking his legs up and punching into the air.

“Now watch this,” he says and instructs the boy to do “Xing Yi,” a style that might be translated as “form with meaning.” The boy stands with legs apart, bends his knees and lowers his center of gravity. He moves his legs slowly, like a fighter gauging his opponent. Then with a quick whirl he lashes his leg around like a roundhouse punch.

“Guess which one is better in a real street fight?” Mr. Chen asks, a smirk breaking out beneath his small mustache. “It might be slow, but our ancestors handed us this down for a reason.”

–Sue Feng in Beijing contributed to this article.

From USATODAY

By Calum MacLeod, USA TODAY
BEIJING — The fighters are gloved up like boxers, and enter to pumping rock music too. In action, they grapple like wrestlers, and launch kicks to their opponent’s body armor like taekwondo athletes. Then a gong, not a bell, sounds to end each round.

This is Chinese kung-fu, making its Olympic debut … almost.

The Wushu Tournament Beijing 2008 kicked off Thursday at the Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium. Approved by the International Olympic Committee, but not a formal part of its Summer Games, the four-day tournament showcases the mother of all martial arts.

Wushu, as kung-fu is better known in China, boasts a history stretching back thousands of years. But the sport is now determined to move from Hollywood movies and ancient Chinese temples, into the mainstream of Olympic sports. Fifteen gold medals are up for grabs by 128 athletes from 43 countries and regions.

“This is a great day,” said Wang Xiaolin, president of the Chinese Wushu Association and head of the International Wushu Federation, who has led the push for Olympic recognition.

“For the first time we have the chance to show off the image of wushu during the Olympics. Look at the fierce fighting of sanshou,” he said, referring to the full-contact discipline.

“But wushu is also a very cultural and civilized sport,” he said. “Defense is crucial, and in taolu (the other main discipline), you will get a feeling of beauty when you watch. Wushu is a harmonious, tolerant activity. ”

Wang said that although wushu originated in China, there are now 120 countries in his federation. “We look forward to the day when wushu is an official Olympic sport,” he said, but declined to offer a timetable. “We are trying.”

Sarah Ponce of San Diego, though disappointed after her quarterfinal loss to Walaa Mohamed Abdelrazek of Egypt, said she still found it “awesome” to be competing in the home of her sport.

Ponce, 31, took up wushu 10 years ago so she could take on her brother and his friends. She has relished the Beijing experience, especially staying in the main Olympic Village.

“We get to interact with the real Olympic athletes,” said Ponce, who then argued her experience is much the same and that the sport should be formally recognized.

“I’ve trained for 10 years to get to this point,” she said.

Tat-Mau Wong, vice president of the U.S. Wushu Federation, said the sport is booming there. “I have 1,000 students at my school in San Francisco, and we have got a lot more because of Kung-fu Panda,” the recent hit film.

Wong said there are close to 100,000 people practicing wushu in United States. “It can grow into a very popular sport.”

From Guardian.uk

By Lee Chyen Yee
BEIJING, Aug 22 (Reuters) - You’ve seen it in the “Matrix”. Bruce Lee is its most famous proponent. An animated panda tickled audiences this year. Now practitioners hope that wushu, more commonly known as kung fu, will be contested at the Olympics.
Wushu’s backers are trying to cram the millennia-old art on to a packed Olympics calendar, arguing a growing following. They claim a victory for a sport that for the first time held an unofficial competition on the sidelines of the Games in Beijing.
China’s growing clout, hit films such as “Kung Fu Panda” and “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” and international stars Jet Li and Jackie Chan have helped the martial art lure devotees from Vietnam to Sweden.
“They have boxing at the Olympics. They have taekwondo. This is all that in one package,” said Sarah Ponce, 32, doffing her gloves and vest after a sparring match. She took three months off her job to train and paid her own way from the United States to China.
But it might take more than a decade before wushu’s signature whirling kicks and lightning punches will be seen at the Games. The sport needs to carve out a wider professional presence, train referees and find funding before it can get a stamp of approval from the International Olympic Committee.
Sports for the 2012 Olympics have been decided and wushu is not shortlisted for 2016. Its advocates are holding out for 2020.
The Games in Beijing showcased 28 sports. In London, the number will fall to 26 after the exit of baseball and softball. And a slew of other sports will be vying for a place in 2016, such as squash, rugby, golf and karate.
GRACEFUL MARTIAL ART
The International Wushu Federation is one of the IOC’s 31 recognised federations along with cricket, golf, karate, rugby and squash, meaning a spot on the programme is not impossible.
“Wushu will need to prepare for submitting a strong file in 2011,” said Jan Fransoo, president of the Association of the IOC Recognised International Sports Federation. The 2020 Games would be determined seven years before, he added.
Ever since Bruce Lee wielded his double-section staff, more popularly known as the nunchuks, wushu has evolved into a graceful art similar to gymnastic floor exercises.
This week in China’s capital, practitioners compete in a range of events: Sanshou or full-contact sparring akin to Thai kickboxing; Nanquan or graceful somersaults and punching manoeuvres; Daoshu, or flashy Chinese sabres.
“We know it’s not easy, but we’re working quite hard. We are widening our worldwide presence and promoting wushu as a sport internationally by having more demonstrations abroad,” said Han Jianming, spokesman for Chinese Wushu Association in Beijing.
The sport needed better management and more funding, however.
“I’d like to see more international cooperation and more events in different countries,” said Mike Altman, Ponce’s trainer at a U.S. athletic club. “I’d like to see better organisation.”
Tat Mau Wong, vice-president of the U.S.A. Wushu-Kung Fu Federation, admitted that cash was hard to come by in a country that swears by basketball, baseball and football.
Still, some are happy to make it to the Beijing Olympics.
“Although it is not an official Olympic event, this is the first time that wushu has come so close to the Olympics,” said Ma Lingjuan, ranked first in a weapons competition.
“This is a great opportunity to show the world wushu.” (Additional reporting and editing by Edwin Chan) (For more stories visit our multimedia website “2008 Summer Olympics” at http://www.reuters.com/news/sports/2008olympics; and see our blog at http://blogs.reuters.com/china)

From SkyNews 

Click the photo for the entire photo gallery.

From the Bermuda Sun

There’s only one real way to train to be a fighter and that’s to fight.

Bermuda’s San Shou team have been preparing for the regional championships for the brutal full contact Chinese fighting art - with full-on, no holds barred fight sessions.

Garon Wilkinson, president of the Bermuda San Shou association, said the four fighters who head to Brazil on July 13 and their sparring partners had been slugging it out at regular Wednesday ‘fight club’ sessions to prepare their bodies and brains to react under the extreme pressure of fight conditions.

“You can do all the running, skipping and jumping in the initial stages but the only way to truly prepare cardiovascularly for a fight is to actually fight.

“Ordinary sparring doesn’t really prepare you for the sort of oxygen debt you experience when you get hit so we’ve introduced weekly fight sessions to our training regimen.

“Basically we just warm up and then go at it as hard as we can.

“We find our fighters are getting nervous before Wednesday fight sessions. We want them to be nervous because that’s what they will have to deal with in a fight.”

The full programme is actually extremely sophisticated, incorporating plyometrics, mitt work, boxing training, strength and conditioning, spinning and beach work as well as fight techniques and tactics.

The team Sentwali Woolridge, Wilkinson, Jermal Woolridge and Leroy Maxwell, all of whom competed in the World Championships in Beijing in November last year, have been in training since January, a minimum of five times a week.

Despite the heavy sessions on Wednesday there is no let-off on Thursdays, one of the toughest days of the week.

“You need to prepare your body for back-to-back fights. My fight in Beijing was at 11.30 at night.

“If I’d have won I’d have been fighitng again at 7.30 in the morning. You have to be able to take a bruising and a battering and still get up the next morning and do it all again, so we’re training hard on Thursdays too.

“In some sports you can not train and the worst that can happen is that you are going to get a bad result. If we don’t train, well….”

The team have adapted their programme over the past few years, incorporating features from the other countries they have met at past tournaments.

“Our programme has become pretty developed over the past few years. Every time we go to compete we learn something new.

“Going to the World Championships was just amazing. We got to see how our style of fighting in the west measures up to the European and Asian styles.

“We tend to use more of a boxing/kick boxing style. They really use their martial arts skills more.

“There’s a lot more straight knockouts with kicks.

“Our basis is in traditional martial arts so we have the skills to fight that way. It is just a matter of being able to blend everything together, which is really tough.”

Wilkinson believes that, though the competition will be tough at the PanAm Wushu Championships, it will not be as competitive as the worlds.

And he believes that Bermuda, who picked up two silvers and two bronzes at this event last year, has genuine medal prospects.

“All of us are experienced fighters now. We have had at least five fights. If everything goes well I don’t see why we shouldn’t come away with gold.”

Pan Am Wushu Championships
San Shou section

Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil

July 13 - 20

Bermuda team: Sentwali Woolridge (Under 70kg), Garon Wilkinson (under 75kg), Leroy Maxwell (under 85kg), Jermal Woolridge (Over 90kg), Oscar Lightbourne (judge), Damion Wilson (coach), Khalid Pitcher (coach) Talia Iris (manager).

From The Telegraph 

PUPUL CHATTERJEE

Ranchi, June 27: Wushu practitioners are in a fix. They have the finest quality of carpets and mattresses to practice on and coaches to help them but no proper place to train.

Fenced arena of at least 8×8 dimension is a basic requirement for the game. But aspiring practitioners for the 34th National Games are being forced to make do with the hockey stadium. As the construction of the indoor stadium is still on at Hotwar, the practitioners have no choice.

Chief coach L. Pradeep Kumar from Manipur said: “Among the other options available, we opted for the hockey stadium as we have proper lodging facilities here. Also, the Morabadi grounds are nearby and players can use it for outdoor exercises. We will adjust with the facilities till the new stadium is ready.”

Besides Kumar, coaches from Uttar Pradesh and Ranchi are helping the practitioners improve their skills.

Joint secretary of Jharkhand Wushu Association Shivendra Dubey said the issue of indoor stadium would be solved before the third camp begins.

“The lack of an indoor stadium is a minor problem and will be solved by the third phase of the camp. In fact, the government has promised us Chinese coaches for the last camp before the Games. As of now we have been successful in training players. They are undergoing proper practice sessions and are also being given nutritious food.”

About 45 participants, including 11 girls, have come together for the camp, which is going on since May 12. This is the second wushu camp and after rigorous practice, some will be selected for the third session. Later, 27 will be selected to participate in the 34th National Games in December.

Apart from lodging, participants of the 45-day camp are also getting the best diet possible, said a wushu practitioner.

“We get food as per the diet charts from (the National Institute of Sports) Patiala. Fruits, vegetarian and non-vegetarian items are on the menu and in good quantity. The government has also given us tracksuits. The only thing missing is an indoor stadium,” said a participant.

But the coaches are confident that Jharkhand team would perform well at the National Games.

From CCTV.com

Photo by CCTV.com 

With just over 40 days to go before the start of Wushu competition in Beijing, members of South Africa men’s team are also sharpening their skills. They are going to take part in two events during the non-Olympic competition: the men’s rapier and the men’s broadsword.

The International Olympic Committee confirmed on December 26, 2006 that Wushu will appear during the Beijing Olympics as a special sport. A total of 15 martial arts events will be held, allowing 8 athletes to compete in each of them. Two invitations have been allocated to Africa, with Egypt taking part in the events of the Men’s Nanquan and the Men’s Nangun, while South Africa will take part in the Men’s Rapier and the Men’s Broadsword. Representing South Africa in the events is Bryan Son, a 22-year-old third generation Chinese South African.

Having had years of experiences in learning Wushu, Son has been making rapid progress in the past few years under the guidance of Yang Lihua - a former Chinese martial arts athlete, and currently head coach for the South Africa Wushu team. Son is especially skillful in the apparatus department.

Yang Lihua, Head Coach of South Africa Wushu Team said “As they have to work to make a living, our athletes can only train in their spare time, which normally comes down to twice a week and two hours for each session. We are going to have a two-week intensive training in Beijing before the Olympic Games begins, and I hope that’ll help our athlete improve greatly and have good results from the competitions.”

Wushu have become a fad in South Africa in recent years. Bryon Son is just one of some 400 amateurs lucky enough to be picked to represent South Africa in Beijing. He hopes he’ll be good enough to earn a medal or two for his country.

 Click to watch the video.

From Xinhua.net

NANNING, South China, June 16 (Xinhua) — The 2008 National men’s wushu routine championship, scheduled from June 13 to 15, concluded at the Gymnasium of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in China on Sunday.

A total of 42 teams from across China participated in the competition consisting of 11 events such as Nanquan, Taijiquan and outines of sword and broadsword.

Lv Yongxu from Shandong Province earned the gold medal in the broadsword competition for his impressive performance, followed by hanghai’s Yang Yuhong and Anhui’s Yang Nianwu, while Zhao Kun from Henan Province won the sword contest with Wu Di and Wang Congranking second and third.

Written by Y Chan

Jiayo.com moderator

I recently had the opportunity to meet up with Alex Huynh and his old teammate Alex Lo (who was my teammate at the time), while he was here in New York City to do a show with Fox news. He was kind enough to give up some sleep and take my lady friend and I out for a drink. Here’s is the interview that resulted…

1) Could you please let our Jiayo! members know which projects you have worked on recently, and which upcoming projects we can look forward to seeing you in?

Recently I was in Pirates 3: At World’s End. Since then I’ve worked on a couple episodes of Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight. It’s like Power Rangers on steroids washed down with some Sparks. I’m currently in pre-production for an upcoming pilot, and I’m really excited about the upcoming Will Smith/Charlize Theron film Hancock. You should be too. Please, be excited.

2) I’m sure the Jiayo! community would love to ask, how did you get into the industry?

Since I was a kid I had always dreamt of being in the movies. After college, I moved out to Los Angeles where I barely knew anyone. I didn’t know of any place to train, so some of my sport karate friends from my NASKA days suggested that I come train with them at open gyms. It was there one night that I was discovered by my now very good friend and mentor James Lew. It’s been one blessing after the next since then.

3) In what ways would you say Contemporary Wushu training and competition has prepared you for the work that you do?

I started my martial arts training in ShaoLin Kungfu, which really helped me discipline myself for the more dramatic roles. Wushu prepared me for the more theatrical demands: the physicality, acrobatics, and definitely the elements of flavor and drama. Mentally, both Wushu and Kungfu taught me how to keep myself balanced.

4) What other skill-sets did you require that your Contemporary Wushu Training did not prepare you for, and how did you acquire those skills?

For stunts, thankfully I studied some Ditang and Internal, so that prepared me for the ground-pounding. As for other skill-sets, learning wirework required that I re-learn how to move while in the air. It’s one thing to do a 720 jump-outside on your feet, and a complete other dynamic to do it on wires. Stunts are very sophisticated and now very technologically advanced. Also cinematically, you have to learn what works and doesn’t work on camera. I’ve had a lot of great stunt coordinators, stuntmen and stuntwomen that I have worked with who have taken the time to teach a young grasshopper like myself. For acting, it’s a matter of revealing something within yourself and (not to sound too sappy) but becoming one with the character you’re working to bring to life. That can take a good acting coach, but even moreso and open mind.

5) If you could only offer 3 pieces of advice to somebody looking to break into the industry, what would they be?

Stay HUMBLE, stay hungry, work hard, and keep your teeth clean. Oh wait, that’s four. Stay HUMBLE, hungry, and work hard. You should be keeping your teeth clean anyway.

6) I’d recently heard you got to work with Will Smith. I have to know, what was he like?

Will Smith is the freshest prince ever. Seriously, the entire experience was absolutely amazing. I grew up watching him on “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air,” and “Parents just don’t understand” was the first song I ever heard, so working alongside such a stellar performer was a dream come true. And as friendly and humble as he appears to be on TV, he’s 100 times that. Plus, he’s the most fun actor I’ve ever worked with!

7) How do you decide which projects to become a part of, and which ones to leave alone? Is there a process, set of rules, or somebody’s advice you follow?

Honestly, I take whatever I can get. I love to work. But that doesn’t mean I take everything. There are guidelines. I prefer to do work that I feel will affect people positively and/or make them smile from ear to ear. You gotta believe in what you do, no matter what it is you do. And always, have fun and be thankful. I’ve got the best job in the world and I appreciate every moment of it.

8 ) Your schedule must be brutal both physically and mentally. What does your training regimen look like, and how does it prepare you for your schedule?

My workout schedule varies depending on my work schedule, but I try to get in a couple hours a day. Weight training, cardio, gymnastics, stunts and of course Wushu and Kungfu, and I give myself about 30 minutes a day to just meditate and find some peace. It gives me time to ponder life’s great questions, like, “How do they get those ships into tiny bottles?” Mindboggling.

9) How did you get involved with the stunt team you are on and what is the dynamic like?

Reelkick started out as a bunch of guys from different backgrounds (Kungfu, Wushu, Tae Kwon Do, MMA, Gymnastics, etc.) who got together on weekends to train and throw around fight choreography ideas. With inspiration coming from all angles, including from our friends at Zerogravity, we organized and formed a team. Currently the team is spread all over the globe working on next year’s big blockbusters.

10) What is the next step for Alex Huynh?

Fight Science opened me up to the international audience, so I want to do more work to entertain that audience. I really want to promote not only Wushu but also Asian Americans in Hollywood movies. I’m taking it step by step, paying my dues, loving the journey, and always keeping my eyes on that delicious prize.

11) What would you say is your favorite thing about the work you do?

I’m doing what I love and loving what I do.

12) What would you say is the thing you like the least about the work you do?

Having to tame the four snakes in my right arm.

13) You must have so many stories doing what you do. Is there one you’d be willing to share?

Stories, stories, oh the many stories. Here’s a good one:

One time my friend and I went to the movie theater and saw that “Hero” (one of my all-time favorite movies) was being screened before the US release date and so we tried to get in. So we got in, and when we got to the theater they gave us free drinks and popcorn. I’m thinking, “Maaaan this is dope.” So we roll in, she’s in a tank top and shorts, I’m sporting a T-shirt that says, “I have a Black Belt in keeping it Real.” Completely slumming. We cruise into our seats, right between the tuxedo-clad theatre patrons. Something felt funny, and then I realized that it wasn’t a screening. It was the premiere. And one of my heroes, Jet Li, was sitting a few rows above me. I went in and out of consciousness probably three times.

14) Ok, now for easy question #1: who’s your all-time favorite wushu athlete?

My all-time favorite Wushu athlete (besides my Coach Zhang Gui Feng and idol Li Lian Jie): the man, Yen Wen Qing. Oh and Dennis Ta.

15) Ok, now for easy question #2: new-school or old-school?

Old school, all the way. Jumps and spins are nice, but you can’t touch the flavor.

16) How are your goals different doing the work you do now vs. your goals as a competitive wushuer?

I think the goals I have now are similar to those from my competition days, just on a bigger scale now: keep learning, keep growing, do my best, and give ‘em a great show.

17) What is your favorite memory from your competitive wushu days?

Hmm… 2003 US Team Trials. It was my first official Wushu competition, and I got to meet the people that today are still some of my good friends (including the Y and the Jiayo). And I learned that my white silks were see-through.

18) Is it true your parents discovered the infamous “Gay Wushu Cowboy” picture on Jiayo.com?

[Sigh…]
Jiayo.com is an international phenomena, my parents were bound to find that picture. But surprisingly, they were proud that I filled out that costume very well.

Thanks Alex, for taking time out of your crazy schedule to do the interview. If anybody is interested in some cowboy wushu love, feel free to contact Y Chan at ychan@jiayo.com