Chinese Wing Chun martial art unites people around world with great practicality, philosophy

Originating from southern China, the Wing Chun martial art -- a form of Chinese Kung Fu -- has been well-embraced by people around the world because of its function in keeping fit and the good philosophy it contains.

In an international cultural exchange TV program called "Harmony in Diversity", co-produced by China Media Group (CMG) and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Zheng Zujie, a Chinese Grand Master of Wing Chun, explained the history and the impacts of Wing Chun.

"This is our international exhibition hall. These are the current representative Wing Chun practitioners. Grandmaster Ip Man, Bruce Lee, and my master -- Master Joseph Cheng. Master Joseph Cheng was also the first to bring Wing Chun overseas. The book below - The Art of Simultaneous Defense and Attack - is the world's first book about wooden dummy. It was written by my master and published in London, England in 1976, in English," Zheng said.

"Wing Chun is very popular among foreigners all over the world and is still highly favored today," he emphasized while giving an example.

"This shows the event I participated in Europe's Malta back in 2018. It is for all ages, from kindergarten children to the elderly. These are all the signatures of the elderly, and this is a special souvenir with glazed tiles. This event really touched me a lot. Via teaching, I can feel that these foreigners not only like the practicality and the physical fitness that Wing Chun brings, but also the profound philosophy and connotations that Chinese culture contains," Zheng said.

There are also some foreign Wing Chun teachers abroad. Zheng highlighted one of them -- Keith R. Kernspecht.

"It should be said that Wing Chun has been promoted very well throughout Europe. There is a representative figure called Master Keith R. Kernspecht. He was my master's apprentice in London, England from 1970 to 1976. He is currently (2024) the chairman of the European WingTsun Organization (EWTO). We had never met each other before. He is nearly 80 years old now. But when we met, it was like a reunion of brothers who had been separated for many years, with a kind of special sincerity and sentiment.  I really felt that Chinese culture can bring people of different nationalities, skin colors and ages together, like a family. I'm really inspired," Zheng said.

"EWTO is the abbreviation of European WingTsun Organization. This is a photo of its 40th anniversary. It is a very touching moment for us Chinese people. It shows that our traditional Chinese culture is so highly respected in the West. According to incomplete estimates, the organization so far has nearly one million members, so it has a great influence in Europe," he added.

Sarah Kalbreier and Gianfranco Leandrin are Wing Chun practitioners in Germany. Not only have they benefited from this martial art personally, but also have won awards due to their exceptional performance.

"My name is Sarah Kalbreier. I have been practicing Wing Chun since 2010 and now I have an instructor certificate, and even a title of 'master'. Wing Chun not only will help children to build a stronger physique, but also show them how to behave correctly, how to be an upright person, and where is the bottom line for being a human," Kalbreier believed.

"This is my medal collection and they are very special for me, because it was also the first Wing Chung World Championship and was held at the Southern Shaolin Monastery. In addition to my gold medals, there is also something quite unique, which is my winner trophy. I became the champion at the tetrathlon," Leandrin shared.

Zheng said an initiative launched after the competition showed the great value within Wing Chun and the harmony it brings to unite people with different backgrounds.

"After the competition, we launched an initiative called 'Wing Chun has no bounds, the world is one family'. All the participants signed the initiative, committing themselves to promoting such a cause that benefits human civilization, health and development -- purifying hearts and stopping wars. Wing Chun has no bounds, the world is one family, with respect for diversity and upholding of the beauty of each civilization," Zheng said.

Chinese Wing Chun martial art unites people around world with great practicality, philosophy

The Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada, the country's parliament, will hold a vote on May 8 to ratify a natural resources agreement signed with the United States earlier this week.

The U.S. Treasury Department announced on Wednesday an agreement between the two countries to establish the U.S.-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund, which will give the U.S. preferential access to some of Ukraine's natural resources.

The fund will become operational within a month to a month and a half after the agreement is approved by the Ukrainian parliament, according to Ukraine's First Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko on Friday.

Speaking to Ukrainian media, the minister expressed her hope for the early launch of the fund, saying it should become a tool for the recovery and development of key sectors of the Ukrainian economy.

Also on Friday, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that the follow-up technical documents for the fund will not be intergovernmental, but will be signed at the institutional level.

He said that the follow-up agreements will be of an implementation nature between Ukraine's designated agency and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and therefore will not require ratification by the parliament.

Although there are no formal security guarantees in the agreement, but each new military assistance provided by the U.S. to Ukraine is considered a capital contribution, which will encourage the U.S. administration to continue and not to stop supplying Ukraine with weapons and intelligence, said the Ukrainian Prime Minister, who also called on the legislature to ratify the agreement as soon as possible.

Ukrainian parliament to vote on natural resources deal with U.S. on May 8