The force of destiny shapes master of traditional kung fu

Ding Wenjun began watching the performances of kung fu masters when he was three. Small wonder. His parents were skilled practitioners who both had won national championships. Ding studied kung fu for 10 years before he turned 18 and decided that he wasn’t cut out for martial arts.

“It was truly painful to master the skills, and I believe to this day that it’s nearly impossible to earn money by teaching kung fu,” he said. “I told my parents that I would never choose it as my career.”

So the rebel son went to Japan to study architecture, and while there, he supported himself by teaching kung fu.

“It turned out that many Japanese were interested in tai chi, and my mother’s photo was used on the cover of one tai chi book,” said Ding.

When he returned to China, he founded his own company.

The turning point came in 2013, when his father died. Ding was stricken by conscience and decided to honor his father’s dying wish that he carry forward the tradition of kung fu.

“When someone passes away, his spirit leaves this world with him,” said Ding. “People gradually forget or attack his beliefs. I didn’t want such a tragedy to befall my father’s spirit.”

In time, he came to appreciate the legacy left him by his father. Though he knew he would never get rich with kung fu, he understood his filial duty to pass on martial arts to new generations.

In 2016, Ding purchased a property in Huacao Town of Minhang District and turned it into the Jinyou Wuyuetang martial arts club. Most of his friends frowned at his choice.

“They said I was either crazy or had too much money to spend,” he said.

But persistence and courage were merits rooted in him through kung fu.

Wang Xingwei, senior coach at the Shanghai Wushu Institute and a former student of Ding’s father, came to Jinyou Wuyuetang martial arts club after retirement to support Ding.

“I now live here,” said Wang. “Many people come to us with all kinds of problems, like hip replacement discomfort or joint pains. After practicing martial arts for a time, they say they feel normal again.”

He recalled the case of a grandmother living in the Pudong New Area who travelled two hours every day just to practice at the club because tai chi helped restore her health.

However martial arts still aren’t nearly as trendy as yoga or boxing with young people in China. The younger generation goes for taekwondo and karate, which were developed from Chinese martial arts, but young people ignore the culture behind the ancient traditions, Ding said.

“Tai chi has become an exercise for the elderly because it’s slow-paced,” said Ding. “It’s important to strip away that conception and introduce its benefits to a wider public.”

Ding’s latest move to boost popularity of kung fu among youngsters led to a linkup with mixed martial arts fighting. An association was founded on January 26 to promote the tie, and entertainment performances are expected in the future.

“My thought is to explain kung fu during the shows,” he said.

Ding is a mixture of businessman and inheritor of martial arts. He often jokes that he may be the person with the most business acumen in the realm of kung fu.

Even with that, the Jinyou Wuyuetang martial arts club is struggling to make ends meet.

Traditionally, there is the ritual of acolytes becoming students of great masters, but that rarely happens at the club.

“Some cling to tradition as a way to show they are original and thus better,” said Ding. “But in today’s world, martial arts don’t have the same status as before. If we rigorously stick to all the ancient rules it would be even harder for us to survive.”

Chinese martial arts hit a low after the cultural revolution (1966-76). The tradition enjoyed a renaissance after the release of the blockbuster film “Shaolin Temple” in 1982.

Kung fu was initially developed for use in fighting. Ding said he wants to bring that hidden cultural heritage to light.

“If one relies only on the moves taught to him, he will never learn tai chi well,” said Wang. “Posture is important, as well as spirit felt and seen through the eyes. You need to think about the meaning behind each move.”

The name tai chi refers to a philosophy of the forces of yin and yang, the two basic life forces of the universe in Chinese culture.

“Working with mixed martial arts combines power within culture,” said Ding. “The time has come for a revival in traditional Chinese culture. The stage is set. I will do what needs to be done and leave the rest to fate.”