Li Wanfeng, chief coach at Emei Martial Arts Development Center, leads about 30 of his disciples in practicing Tai Chi, a martial arts form especially known for being practiced with slow movements. Mount Emei in Sichuan province is home to many expert martial arts practitioners, with a wide range of kung fu styles even said to have originated from the mountain. Sources from the 16th and 17th centuries allude to the practice of martial arts in the monasteries of Mount Emei, including the earliest extant reference of the Shaolin Monastery as the place of origin of Chinese boxing. [Photo provided to people.cn]
Yang Rui, 64, practices Emei knife skills with fully extended movements and many ups and downs. Since the age of 13, he has been honing the skill, which he believeshas benefited his sense of balance and flexibility as he ages. “Knife skillsare characterized by the movement of hands and feet, especially the motions of feet changing constantly, quickly and forcefully. The changing styles take both offence and defense into consideration,” Yang explained. [Photo provided to people.cn]
Martial arts performers practice Tai Chi at Emei Martial Arts Development Center, at the foot of Mount Emei. Founded in 2008, the center has trained more than 500 martial arts practitioners, who have performed at various domestic and international events. [Photo provided to people.cn]
A practitioner performs a nine-section chain whip, which produces a rushing sound as the whip swings through the air. [Photo provided to people.cn]
Tunisian reporter Abdallah Walid from People’s Daily Online receives training in how to strike poses for Emei knife skills. [Photo provided to people.cn]
French reporter from People’s Daily Online gets a taste of how it feels to be a kungfu master. [Photo provided to people.cn]
A Mexican reporter poses for a picture with her Chinese martial artsinstructor. [Photo provided to people.cn]
Li Wanfeng, chief coach at Emei Martial Arts Development Center, takes his foreign students from Egypt, Mexico and Chile to experience Tai Chi. [Photo provided to people.cn]
