Thunder: Stronger, swifter and braver

sumers would like to achieve more, instead of buying more,” said Gao.

Consumers’surgingpassion for sports or fitness activities is also reflected in the rising fame of sports celebrities who, in a sense, have stolen the thunder from film stars.

Zhang Yu, a fashion designer who has been practising Muay Thai for four months, said what she learnt the most from the experience is “never say you can’t do something before you tried your best”.

“I was scared by my own potential. I realize that through every kick, every punchandevery drop of tear, one can become stronger, swifter, braver and more confident,” she said.

Sports activity enthusiasts such as Zhang are widely found at fencing clubs, trampolineclubsandrock-climbing clubs. Their conviction is that physical activity, beit indoor or outdoor, makes them confident, braveandwiser.

“I used to a very lazy guy and I’d rarely do any kind of exercise nor go to any fitness club, until my girlfriend draggedmeto a fencing club. I became obsessed with the training courses, and every step, move and piercing feeling was so exciting. I lost 10 kilogram in two years, and I became more patient, analytical, and introspective, and my girlfriend said I am now much more charming than two years ago,” said Zhang Mingfan, 26, a software programmer.

According to Julian Chow, analyst with Shanghai-based Tang Yue Culture and Communication, sports clubs have become popular, thanks to consumers’ rising self awareness.

“Sports clubs offer opportunities for consumers to evolve from the current level to a higher level. It also deepens one’s perception of one’s own personality. A day-time white-collar worker can have another after-hours life to challenge himself or herself at an activity club, improving self all the time,” said Chow.

PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY A woman trains in Thai boxing at a kungfu school in Qingdao, Shandong province.