The opening ceremony of the “2024 Asia Pair Taijiquan, Taijishan, Elementary Nanquan and Weapons Training Course” was held on July 3 at Heilan Pegasus Water City, Jiangyin City, Jiangsu Province. The course was hosted by the Wushu Federation of Asia (WFA), organized and implemented by the Wushu Administrative Center of the General Administration of Sport of China and the Chinese Wushu Association (CWA), and supported and cooperated by the Jiangsu Wushu Association (JWA) and Heilan Group (HLA).

Mr. Chan Weng Kit, President of the WFA, Mr. Li Yongqiang, Chairman of the WFA Technical Committee and Deputy Director of the Wushu Administrative Center of the General Administration of Sport of China, Mr. Zhou Jianping, Vice President of the CWA, President of the JWA, and founder of the HLA, Mr. Choy Ching Chi, Vice Chairman of the WFA Technical Committee, Mr. Mehrdad Shirazi, Vice Chairman of the WFA Technical Committee, and other guests attended the opening ceremony, with more than 50 participants presented, including 31 students from 9 countries and regions in Asia, as well as the specially invited lecturers. The opening ceremony was hosted by Mr. Zheng Nan, head of the Wushu Taolu Department of the Wushu Administrative Center of the General Administration of Sport of China and Treasurer of the CWA.

On behalf of the WFA, Mr. Chan Weng Kit expressed his gratitude to all fellows in the Wushu community who came from afar, and thanked the CWA, JWA and the HLA for their strong support for this training event. He said that Taijiquan, one of representative barehand events in Wushu, contains the traditional philosophy and health-preserving concepts of yin and yang circulation and the unity of human and nature. It embodies the cognition of the laws of the universe, nature and human body operation, and has been listed in the World Intangible Cultural Heritage List by UNESCO. The WFA invited renowned expert lecturers in this training course to teach skill techniques and advanced concepts, aiming to improve the coaching ability of coaches and the technical level of athletes for better preparation in the Asian Championships and the World Junior Championships. It is hoped that through this course, more professional guidance and training could be provided to the participants, helping athletes to achieve excellent results on the field, promoting mutual learning and exchanges, and jointly promoting the development of Wushu in Asia.

On behalf of the Wushu Administrative Center of the General Administration of Sport of China and the CWA, Mr. Li Yongqiang extended a warm welcome and heartfelt thanks to the instructors and trainees in this course. He said that the CWA, together with the WFA, is committed to the high-quality development of Wushu sport in Asia, promoting cultural exchanges and people-to-people exchanges among Asian countries, and continuously enhancing the status and influence of Wushu on the international sports stage. This training course is an important measure for us to promote Wushu. We have brought together outstanding coaches and athletes from all over Asia to build a platform for mutual learning and common progress, creating more opportunities for everyone to get in touch with the most cutting-edge Wushu concepts, the most exquisite Wushu skills, and enrich everyone's teaching experience. As the Chairman of the WFA Technical Committee, he emphasized that this training course will follow the attendance system, strict classroom disciplines, and pay attention to safety. He hoped that everyone will devote themselves to the training, not only to improve their own technical level, but also to deeply understand the philosophical thoughts and cultural connotations contained in Wushu.

On behalf of the organizer of this course, Mr. Zhou Jianping warmly welcomed all officials, lecturers and trainees. He said that at present, the development of Wushu is becoming increasingly diversified, technological and globalized. As front-line Wushu practitioners, their professional knowledge, business level, teaching and coaching abilities were particularly important. The WFA held this training course at the right time, providing a platform for learning and communication for the trainees. As the organizer, they would do their best to provide first-class accommodation and excellent services of learning, skill practice and training to ensure a wonderful and unforgettable time in this beautiful environment.

Mr. Zheng Nan finally introduced the course design and the biographies of the top expert instructors invited. He encouraged the trainees to pay full attention in class for the most leading knowledge in the Wushu field and the standardized technical skill guidance. It is hoped that all the trainees could cherish this learning opportunity with the experts, study hard, help each other, improve skill levels, enhance friendships, and make greater contributions to jointly promote the prosperity and development of Wushu in Asia.

After the opening ceremony, the instructors and trainees immediately started the training of Pair Taijiquan, Taijishan, elementary Nanquan and weapons.

Photos of the training course (For download, please scan the QR code and enter the album):