NTDs Martial Arts Comp Showcase Traditional Techniques and Inner Values

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Martial Arts lovers will be in for a treat this weekend. NTD is holding its third International Chinese Traditional Martial Arts competition in New York City. Preliminary finalists from the Asia Pacific region are already on their way to join their North-American counterparts. Together, they'll bring to life ancient fist forms and weaponry.

Masters of martial arts from around the world are coming to New York. This weekend, NTD's Third International Chinese Traditional Martial Arts Competition will see dozens of martial artists going head to head in a display of traditional fist forms and weaponry.

Competition organizer Yue Feng says audiences will be in for a rare treat.

[Yue Feng, Competition Organizer]:
"This year we have even more martial arts schools represented. Some of these do not normally participate in competitions, because traditional martial arts are usually taught and practiced in private, where practitioners focus on both their skills and morals. They see NTD has provided a platform to really promote the essence of traditional martial arts, and so have joined the competition."

Martial arts, or wushu, is an ancient part of China's history. While modern portrayals of wushu are often embellished with special effects, Master Youfu Li explains there is much more to this traditional practice.

[Youfu Li, Head Judge]:
"Traditional martial arts is characterized by artistic performance, personal cultivation and the suppression of evil while promoting goodness with combat. As history developed the artistic elements, the elegance, rhythmic and aesthetically entertaining aspects developed into classical Chinese dance. Martial arts then became focused on practical use in combat, to overcome evil and promote goodness."

This moral aspect of traditional martial arts is what's known as "Martial Virtue." It's developed internally and demonstrated through self-restraint, rather than showing off one's skills. Li Youfu explains this essence of traditional martial arts is being lost, along with the promotion of so-called "modern wushu" that's become popular in China.

[Youfu Li, Head Judge]:
"Modern wushu lacks the basic elements of wushu. It's all geared towards running, jumping, flipping, throwing your knife into the air and catching it after a flip. That's actually artistic gymnastics, something from the West."

To preserve and promote traditional martial arts, contestants for NTD's competition are asked to demonstrate their chosen fist forms or weapon with traditional techniques. They will also be marked on their Martial Virtue displayed during interactions with judges and other competitors.

The two-day public event will take place this weekend at the Baruch College ARC Arena. For tickets or more information, please visit our website at martialarts.ntdtv.com.