by sportswriter Vladislava Chugueva
MOSCOW, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- In the heart of Moscow, beneath the open sky of the Muzeon Park of Arts, the rhythmic clash of wooden weapons and the flutter of silk fans marked the opening of the capital's first-ever Wushu Festival on Saturday.
More than 30,000 spectators and about 830 athletes from multiple Russian cities gathered to celebrate a martial art that has traveled far from its Chinese roots to become one of Russia's most popular Eastern disciplines.
The festival was organized by the Moscow Department of Sport, the "Moscow Sport" non-profit organization, the Moscow Wushu Federation and the Moscow Mayor's project "My Sports District."
A BRIDGE OF CULTURES
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Zhang Wei, Minister-Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Russia, noted that wushu embodies deep Eastern philosophical wisdom about the "unity of heaven and man."
"As a bridge linking the hearts of people of both countries, wushu has already taken root in Russia and is developing actively," Zhang said. "We sincerely celebrate the achievements of Russian athletes at international competitions".
Sergey Sanakoev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian-Chinese Friendship Society, echoed the sentiment, saying that wushu can help deepen cross-cultural communication. "Wushu is deeply loved in Russia. I am confident that this festival will serve to further popularize it, drawing more and more people, both young and even older, into this beautiful art and sport," he said.
WUSHU, EMBODIMENT OF CHINA
For Radik Zaripov, a world champion in traditional wushu, the festival was a celebration of both the sport and the culture behind it. "I think Chinese culture itself, all of its richness, is embodied in this sport," he said. "Knowledge, culture, philosophy and atmosphere are passed down from generation to generation. I believe wushu is the very embodiment of China."
Zaripov recalled a phrase from one of his coaches to describe what wushu means to him: "Martial arts came into my life like spring and stayed there forever."
He added that the core lessons wushu imparts are discipline, spirituality, empathy, culture awareness and respect for traditions, expressing hope that wushu would gain greater popularity once it joins the Olympic family.
Maxim, a father whose son practices wushu, watched the performances with admiration. "My son does wushu, and we have a great appreciation for Chinese culture," he said excitedly. Asked what he would say to parents considering enrolling their children in a wushu class, he replied: "I would advise them not to hesitate and to make the right decision quickly. Wushu gives a child discipline, strength and flexibility."
A CELEBRATION OF SKILL AND SPIRIT
Among the participants of wushu competitions were young girl athletes from Oryol, Vika and Sonya, both of whom have practiced wushu for nine years. While preparing for their performance, they recalled their travels to China's Shanghai and Shandong. "It was very beautiful, and we were very well received," Vika said. "There are many seasoned athletes there."
When asked whether they want to become coaches in the future, they smiled: "It is only a dream for now. We want to earn higher ranks, and then plan for the future."
Vanya and Semyon, two young boys who came from Voronezh, called the festival the biggest event they had ever participated in. "It was really cool. This is the first time I've performed on such a scale," Vanya said, while Semyon admitted he was nervous at first before "everything fell into place." Vanya added that he has already visited Shaolin and other sites in China and now hopes to compete at the national level in Russia.
Apart from age-group wushu contests, the festival featured a performance by Shaolin monks, along with a dragon dance show and an attempt to set a record for the largest wushu training session.
The first Moscow Wushu Festival may have been a debut, but it already carried the weight of something much larger: a bridge built not on words, but on a shared love for sports and respect for heritage. ■
