STORY: Century-long legend of Hong Kong Chin Woo
DATELINE: Oct. 17, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:46
LOCATION: HONG KONG, China
CATEGORY: SPORTS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the training of Kung Fu
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Cantonese): KE JUNLONG, Chairman of Hong Kong Chin Woo Athletic Association
3. various of the training of Kung Fu
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Cantonese): KE JUNLONG, Chairman of Hong Kong Chin Woo Athletic Association

STORYLINE:

In Hong Kong, the Kung Fu world, made up of numerous martial arts sects, can be wrapped up in a single room.

More than 20 martial arts masters of various Kung Fu styles have gathered together in a studio in downtown Kowloon and aligned with one and another under the name of "Chin Woo."

After spending nearly five decades in the Hong Kong Chin Woo Athletic Association, Ke Junlong, the 69-year-old chairman, reckons Chin Woo as "a big family," drawing like-minded martial arts addicts together from various sects, and even across the boundaries of space and time.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Cantonese): KE JUNLONG, Chairman of Hong Kong Chin Woo Athletic Association
"Hong Kong Chin Woo Athletic Association first appeared in 1921 and was officially registered in 1922. Our core principle is to eliminate the boundaries among various martial arts sects, and we emphasize patriotism, self-cultivation, righteousness and helpfulness. Now there are more than 20 types of martial arts sects in Hong Kong Chine Woo, with one class per week for each type. Most of the masters here teach part-time. They are all very enthusiastic about martial arts and have devoted their time, energy and even money to promoting the martial arts culture and the spirit of Chin Woo."

The word "Chin Woo," literally translated as "advocates and excels at martial arts," has always been a magnet for martial arts lovers ever since its emergence more than a century ago.

Founded by a group of martial artists, among whom was the renowned Huo Yuanjia, in 1910 in Shanghai, the Chin Woo Athletic Association aimed to unite various martial arts sects to train young people to be strong both physically and mentally.

In subsequent years, the athletic spirit of Chin Woo affected people in and out of the Chinese mainland, including a bunch of Hong Kong students, who later formed a local division in 1922.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Cantonese): KE JUNLONG, Chairman of Hong Kong Chin Woo Athletic Association
"Master Huo Yuanjia established the Chin Woo Athletic Association first in Shanghai. Since 1922, during the past 101 years, the Hong Kong branch has been passed down till today without interruption. In prime time, Hong Kong Chin Woo attracted thousands of students every year. To celebrate the centenary last year, we held a traditional martial arts competition for practitioners all over Hong Kong. We discovered a bunch of talents who won gold medals in the competition. After the one-day competition, we held a celebration ceremony.
There are currently more than 80 Chin Woo branches worldwide. All the lovers of Chinese martial arts around the world form a harmonious community under the spirit advocated by Master Huo Yuanjia. A lot of masters in Hong Kong Chin Woo have foreign students. The students come here to learn and the masters also go overseas to teach, promoting Chinese martial arts to the globe."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Hong Kong, China.
(XHTV)