Despite its popularity in mainstream movies such as “The Matrix” and “Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon,” it is doubtful that many students have any idea of what the sport of Wushu is or what it looks like.
Wushu in a general sense is considered to be a “performance type of kung-fu,” according to club coordinator David Ng. The club’s Web page describes the martial art as “the practice of keeping one’s mind and body agile forever” and emphasizes “on posture, composure, self-control, spirit and lively movement.”
From a historical perspective, Wushu was created as a way of combining offensive and defensive tactics that could be used in a time of war. The modern version of the sport still remains a combat type of exercise and it is currently the national sport of China.
In spite of its rich cultural history and current popularity in the media, the club team practices with relative anonymity here at the University as the club consists of roughly a dozen members.
However, the club’s small numbers are not relative to the competitiveness of the team. Last year, several members of the team placed in the top three of their respective divisions, which range from beginner to advanced.
Coach Phillip Dang also competes for the U.S. national team and won two events at an international meet in China last year. At the collegiate level, he is nearly unstoppable as a three-time Men’s All-Around champion at the Collegiate Wushu Championships.
Ng realizes how lucky the team is to have a coach like Dang, “No matter how much they (the team members) know, they always learn from him,” he said.
The team has two competitions every year, one in the winter and one in the spring. The team also practices and competes with weapons such as the broadsword, straight sword, staff and spear.
The sport offers its participants “an intense physical training” that improves “speed, flexibility, coordination and strength.” There are not only physical benefits, but mental ones as well. “Students of the art are encouraged to develop self-control and good character as well. Martial virtues include self-restraint, respect, persistence and perseverance,” according to the club’s Wushu Web site.
This year Ng said there are a quite a few new members, and his goal is to help bring them up to a competitive level. However, no one is required to compete. The club is free to join and open to anyone who is interested.
Ng also hopes to teach new members more about the sport in order for them to create a stronger interest and develop a passion for it.
If there ever was a way for an individual to come close to replicating Neo’s moves from “The Matrix,” Wushu is it. Practices are Mondays and Wednesdays from 7-9 p.m. and Fridays from 5-7 p.m. in the Multipurpose Room 1, Room 41, at the Student Recreation Center.