STORY: A U.S. family's bond with Wushu
SHOOTING TIME: Nov. 8-18, 2023
DATELINE: Dec. 7, 2023
LENGTH: 0:02:50
LOCATION: FORT WORTH, U.S.
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Skye taking a Wushu class
2. various of the Saucedo family
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): DAVID SAUCEDO, Wushu enthusiast
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ANGELA SAUCEDO, Wushu enthusiast
5. various of Angela Saucedo and David Saucedo practicing Wushu in China 
6. various of the Saucedo family practicing Wushu in their yard
7. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): ANGELA SAUCEDO, Wushu enthusiast

STORYLINE:

Every week, six-year-old American boy Skye takes a one-hour trip to attend the Kung Fu class at a Wushu school in Plano, about 50 miles away from Fort Worth, Texas.

Skye and his little brother River's passion for martial arts was inspired by their parents, Angela Saucedo and David Saucedo.

Now working in the aircraft industry, David started learning Wushu when he was under 12 years old. He went to China for the first time in his early 20s and studied Shaolin Kung Fu in Henan, central China.

As an aerial skill coach, Angela is also obsessed with the acrobatic charm of Wushu.

The common passion for Wushu led them to meet and start a family.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): DAVID SAUCEDO, Wushu enthusiast 
"Angela and I, we met in Hawaii, and she heard of me because she knew a friend that was also my friend. And my friend told her that I had experience with Wushu, and that's martial arts. She was interested in it. She was really curious about Kung Fu and about, you know, where it came from and everything. So when we met, that's pretty much the first thing that interests her about me. She wanted to know my experience about being in China and everything I've learned."

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ANGELA SAUCEDO, Wushu enthusiast
"The acrobatic part of it (Wushu) really impressed me. There's also the spiritual side, you know, and practicing something like that, having that kind of discipline to obtain such extraordinary skills, I think you have to be very strong, you know, mentally and have a real conviction. So I very much admire the athletes who have done that. And I wanted to be like that."

In 2014, Angela and David attended a Wushu school in east China's Shandong Province, where they said the training was very intense but got them in great shape.

Coming back to America, the couple has never stopped on their Wushu journey. 

Over the years, they participated in a lot of events across the United States including competing and dragon dancing together.

In the backyards of their home, the family has kept daily Wushu practice.
   
Following the father's command circulating 1 to 10 in Chinese at a rhythm, the family switched Wushu forms orderly.

Angela hoped that someday they could revisit China to train Kung Fu as a family.

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): ANGELA SAUCEDO, Wushu enthusiast
"When he gets old enough, when he is more disciplined, we'll go back to China and train as a family."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Fort Worth, U.S.
(XHTV)