SHENZHEN — Lunges and squats, arms outstretched, American teenager Makenna Kelpman was ready to “take off” in Beijing. Members of the martial arts team at the Capital University of Physical Education (CUPES) gave a quick tug on the wire, and Kelpman rose into the air, making her feel like a chivalrous woman from a kung fu movie.
“The feel is great, but handling the wire is not as easy as it looks. Compared to a martial arts team, my position in the air is not ideal. I need to practice more,” Kelpman said.
Kelpman is a high school student at Steilacombe High School in Washington state, United States. Along with more than 20 other students from Washington state's Lincoln High School and Steilercombe High School, she set out on an 11-day trip to China in mid-March as part of a new group of “friendship envoys” to China. A five-year program that invites 50,000 American youth to China for exchange and learning.
The movie “Kung Fu Panda” is one of Kelpman's favorites. She is very interested in Chinese elements in movies, from Chinese martial arts to giant pandas to Chinese food. At CUPES, 15-year-old Kelpman saw for the first time an amazing martial arts performance by Chinese students, and she was eager to give it a try.
“I love sports. I've played football, I've wrestled, I've won a state golf championship, but I've never studied Chinese martial arts. I can't wait,” Kelpman said. . Learning martial arts in China is definitely one of the most anticipated and unforgettable experiences for Kelpman and her friends.
From cities to mountains to rivers, the delegation visited many places in China over several days, experiencing the colorful Chinese culture and feeling the enthusiasm and friendship of the Chinese people.
Lincoln High School students Jake Jr. Tay and his twin brother Lucky Joe Tay drive through winding mountain roads and walk over rough roads before finally arriving at the scene they saw in the 2010 film The Best Kid . Arrived at Wudang Mountain in Hubei Province, central China.
“I love kung fu movies and watch them often.” ip man Many times. “Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, and Donnie Yen are my top three favorite kung fu stars,” Jake Jr. said.
The brothers felt a deep and earnest desire for this trip, which was meant to see and challenge authentic Chinese martial arts. In a lush green valley, they finally met a master who was waiting to teach them the art of Tai Chi.
“This is really amazing. We had to endure a long struggle to come here to do Tai Chi, but now we know it's all worth it!” Jake -Junior shouted.
What the Tay brothers didn't know at the time was that a big surprise was still in store for them – they would later come into close contact with Bruce Lee in Guangzhou, southern China's Guangdong province. Noda.
Bruce Lee's family's former residence on Guangzhou's Yongqing Square Old Street has been transformed into a museum commemorating the legendary martial artist, with its original exterior and furnishings intact.
Jake Jr. said, “When I look at old photos, I feel like I'm walking into a movie.It's interesting to learn more about Bruce Lee and his family. I also spotted Mann,” he said while showing a friend a photo he took indoors. museum.
As their stay in Guangzhou drew to a close, the American teenagers became reluctant to leave. While visiting Shenzhen, another city in Guangdong province, the American students met and sang with Chinese students from Shenzhen Nanshan Foreign Language School High School (Group), turning the venue into a sea of friendship.
“Friendship! The biggest thing I've gained from China is definitely the friendships. I've met a lot of Chinese friends and I'll definitely keep in touch,” enthuses Jake Jr. told. “It's great to get together and sing together. I realized in that moment that we have a lot in common,” he added.
After studying martial arts in China and making friends with Chinese students his own age, Jake Jr. came to understand how to cultivate virtue and make friends through martial arts, just as he was taught at CUPES.
Through this common experience, Chinese and American high school students were able to join forces to plant a friendship forest in Qianhai Bay, Shenzhen.
After planting the seeds and watering the friendship sapling, Kelpman said, “I hope it may come back in the future and that the friendship will grow.”
