http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2011-03/23/content_12213770.htm
As we saw in Kungfu Hustle, there are countless schools of Kungfu, and one such martial arts form is Wing Chun. Wing Chun is known for the way its hand-to-hand combat embodies visual simplicity. Masters of Wing Chun often look “relaxed” while their hand motions are based on efficiency to conserve energy. Although Wing Chun has been rising in popularity thanks to movies about the life of Yip Man it has yet to reach commercial success in China. Countless clubs have sprung up, but they are more useful as places to practice a hobby than make money. However, in foreign countries similar clubs are able to make significant profits. Perhaps the Chinese business model has not been refined enough to suit club owner’s business interests. More likely, I think this might have to do with the fact that abroad martial arts is more of a rarity. Because Kungfu clubs and schools possess a seemingly exotic appeal in the West, club owners are able to charge more for their services and thus make money. If this is the case it will be difficult for clubs to ever become commercially successful in China where martial arts is often incorporated into everyday life.
This blog is meant to be a space for the Austin College community to discuss issues related to China and the Chinese language. For author permissions, please write to Dr. Jennifer Thackston Johnson: jtj.at.ac –at- gmail.com. Austin College is a leading national independent liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas.
I agree; kung fu schools are definitely more popular and successful in the West. People are always more willing to shell out money for something foreign rather than ordinary. It's exotic and different and provides a glimpse of another culture. Another reason I think that kung fu is more popular here is because it reminds Chinese people here of the culture they left behind in China. Leaving your home and going to a completely new country is like losing a bit of your identity. So events like the Chinese New Year festival that are held every year are extremely popular. There are always huge crowds of people watching the firecrackers crackle, the dragon dances, and mock kung fu fights. Whenever my family and I would go, my parents would always tell me this was how they celebrated the new year in China. Kung fu schools add to the nostalgia.
ReplyDelete