Zhao Sheng teaches his eldest daughter martial arts[Photo by Chen Lanqing]

“Look straight ahead and focus on your posture on both sides. Keep your eyes following the moving hand.” Lately, Zhao Sheng from E China’s Shangdong province was seen coaching his daughter at the Lulang Training Base for Martial Arts and Sanda of Pingtan, Fujian province.

Since starting his career in 2016, Zhao has helped umpteen trainees who excelled in domestic and international competitions. "Martial arts is my lifetime career, and I dedicate myself to cultivating more talents for Pingtan,” Zhao said.

Before coming to Pingtan, Zhao had worked as a teacher for a school of culture and martial arts for more than ten years. In 2016, Zhao set foot on Pingtan Island for the first time. "I was impressed with the beautiful scenery here at first sight, and the idea of starting a business arose.” After an optimistic market survey, Zhao decided to settle down.

The first step is always difficult. To raise brand awareness, Zhao along with his wife took to the street to distribute leaflets, and they often worked late into the night.

"It was inevitable to encounter difficulties at the beginning, but we were upbeat and hopeful. Where there is a will, there is a way," said Zhao. The number of students has increased from 20 in the beginning to nearly 800 now.

Mark from Denmark practices martial arts under the guidance of Zhao Sheng[File photo]

There is a special student who comes almost every summer. Mark from Denmark under the influence of his kungfu-avid father Peterson is obsessed with Chinese martial arts. Peterson married a local girl, and take his son to visit his maternal family on a regular basis. Years back, they learnt that Zhao had run a martial arts base and took his son to sign up.

"It is great to see martial arts, as a quintessence of Chinese culture, has also spread beyond the border," Zhao Sheng said with a smile. Now Zhao and the father and son become friends.

Besides, Zhao is working on popularizing martial arts for the public good, and he in particular eyes schools in Pingtan. “Practicing martial arts not only helps strengthen the physical and mental health of the youth, but also an effective way to promote  traditional culture of Chinese nation.”

On a different note, Zhao is also working on popularizing martial arts for the public good, setting his eyes on different schools in Pingtan. “Martial arts is not merely a form of physical exercise that strengthens body and mind, but also part of traditional culture of the Chinese nation. It is an effective way to carry it forward through extensive participation.”

Various honorary certificates hang on a wall of Zhao’s training base. The one Zhao takes pride in most is that talents of the training base on behalf of Pingtan won 4 golds, 1 silver, 9 bronzes, and 8 excellence awards in one single competition, a record-breaker in in the history of Pingtan.

"Pingtan is my second hometown, the place where my dream started and came true. I have come a long way, and will continue fighting for greater achievements," Zhao Sheng said with confidence.

Spotted a mistake or want to add something? All rights reserved. Do not reproduce our content without permission–you can contact us directly on our Facebook messenger or Twitter mailbox.  Follow @pingtanchina (Facebook/Twitter)