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Students of Fang Xiaofen's martial arts clubs perform in Paris, France. Photo: Courtesy of Fang Xiaofen

"Go, Paris Olympics!" Recently, in the training room of the French martial arts club "Oriental Martial Arts School," Fang Xiaofen, coach of the French national martial arts team, and her French students recorded a video together, cheering in Chinese to show their support for Chinese and French Olympic athletes. 

"These students are happy to express their goodwill toward China in this way. Many of them are true 'China enthusiasts,'" Fang said with a smile.

Having taught martial arts in France for over 30 years, Fang has always used martial arts as a window for the French to understand China. 

From participating in martial arts competitions to coaching the French national martial arts team, serving as an international martial arts referee, running her own martial arts clubs, and nurturing her daughter to carry on the martial arts tradition, Fang's journey in martial arts has been a process of building cultural bridges. 

She said she has seen many French people fall in love with Chinese culture through practicing martial arts, so she hopes to continue helping more young French people understand and love martial arts.

A brilliant resume

Winning two gold medals in fist fighting and sword fighting techniques at the French Martial Arts Open, securing five consecutive championships at the French Martial Arts Championships, and taking home two gold medals for Yang and Chen-style tai chi at the Singapore International Martial Arts Competition, Fang has a brilliant resume shining with a collection of medals from various competitions.

Fang, born in Wenzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province, started practicing martial arts with her father at the age of 6. She pursued professional training at the Wenzhou Sports School before immigrating to France with her parents at the age of 20, but she never gave up on her passion for martial arts. After arriving in France, she immediately embarked on her martial arts journey.

"When I first arrived in France in 1988, wushu [martial arts] was still an unfamiliar term for many local French people. Some knew 'Chinese kung fu,' but they didn't understand the specifics of Chinese martial arts. In addition to practicing at local sports clubs, I also participated in various French martial arts competitions. My French wasn't very good at the time, but I wasn't afraid of losing - I saw it as an opportunity to prove my skills," Fang recalled. "I believed that only by achieving results in competitions could the French truly see the level of Chinese martial arts and appreciate its charm."

As she continued to compete, Fang gained a certain reputation in the French martial arts community. Her outstanding achievements also caught the attention of the French Ministry of Sports. In 2011, Fang was appointed coach of the French international martial arts team. During her tenure, the French team won four championships in events like broadsword and tai chi at the 2012 European Martial Arts Championships, raising the team's ranking to the top three in Europe. In the same year, the French team won the spear event at the World Junior Martial Arts Championships in Macao, China, marking France's first world championship in martial arts. In 2013, Fang was officially appointed as the head coach of the French national martial arts team.

When discussing her coaching achievements, Fang often focused more on the dedication and passion of French martial arts enthusiasts. 

"Unlike practicing martial arts in China, the venues, facilities, and training conditions in France are relatively simple. But the local martial arts enthusiasts are highly motivated and train hard. As professional coaches, we help them maximize their physical strengths, design innovative moves, and develop their own style and competitive edge," said Fang.

Students of Fang Xiaofen's martial arts clubs perform in Paris, France. Photo: Courtesy of Fang Xiaofen

Building bridge 

Now 56, Fang not only coaches the French national martial arts team, but also serves as an international referee for the International Wushu Federation. She also runs several martial arts clubs with more than 200 students. In addition to her sports-related work, Fang is passionate about promoting martial arts to the French public through performances, exchanges, and free training programs at French schools.

"I've taught thousands of students at my martial arts clubs, including people of all ages and backgrounds, and most of them are French. They work in different jobs during the week, but on weekends, they gather at the martial arts clubs. Some even bring their whole families," Fang said. Her clubs offer various types of martial arts training, including long fist, southern fist, tai chi, swordsmanship, broadsword, spear, staff, baguazhang (the eight-diagram palm), yingzhaoquan (Eagle Claw boxing), and tanglangquan (Praying Mantis boxing), providing diverse options for French students.

Fang is often moved by the passion of the French students for martial arts. Some parents drive an hour each way just to bring their children to a one-hour practice session, and they never miss a week. Some martial arts enthusiasts have inspired their spouses, children, and even grandchildren to start martial arts, turning club practices into family activities. Some children have even learned many Chinese martial arts terms and fallen in love with the Chinese language. One elderly student developed a deep love for Chinese culture through tai chi and eventually became a tea ceremony master. In Fang's clubs, martial arts have become a bridge connecting French students to Chinese culture, and more and more French students are filled with admiration and goodwill toward China.

In 2018, Fang organized a group of her club students to visit her hometown for a martial arts exchange at the Wenzhou Sports School. Among the 10 participants were engineers, teachers, and doctors - all martial arts enthusiasts who fell in love with Chinese martial arts traditions, local delicacies like wonton and rice cakes, and explored the Wenzhou Museum. They even went shopping for traditional Chinese crafts to bring back to France as gifts for their friends.

"After returning to France, they enthusiastically introduced China to their friends, sharing stories about China's development, the friendliness of the Chinese people, and the richness of Chinese cuisine. They kept these fond memories of the trip in China and couldn't help but share them with others," Fang said. "One student told me that the trip was the best experience of his life. Hearing such high praise, I felt very touched."

Passing on tradition

Recently, at the College of Physical Education and Health of Wenzhou University, Fang, accompanied by her 17-year-old daughter, martial arts enthusiast Fang Lefang, engaged in a lively martial arts exchange with the university's martial arts team. Together, they practiced tai chi, southern fist, and Shaolin fist. As a professional martial arts coach and referee, Fang praised the students' dedication and politeness, which she said are integral to the spirit of Chinese martial arts.

"Martial arts keep people energetic and help them become more confident and courageous. These are the valuable qualities I hope my daughter can acquire through martial arts practice," said Fang.

Born in 2007, Fang Lefang grew up immersed in martial arts under her mother's guidance. Over the past two years, she has made her mark in various international martial arts competitions, winning one silver and two bronze medals at the World Traditional Kung Fu Championships and one gold and one silver at the European Traditional Wushu Championships. She also claimed the gold medal at a French youth tai chi competition. Fang believes her daughter's connection with martial arts developed naturally.

"Lefang has always lived in France, and my husband is French, but I've always hoped she wouldn't forget the 'Chinese cultural gene' inside her," Fang said. She has taught her daughter Chinese from a young age, guided her in learning Chinese martial arts, sent her on "root-seeking" trips to China, and arranged for her to study and train in martial arts in Wenzhou for a full year. Fang hopes that her daughter will carry forward the cultural roots of the Chinese nation.

Now a member of the French Association of Second-Generation Chinese Entrepreneurs, Fang Lefang will participate in the upcoming World Tai Chi Championships in Singapore. "Through competing in martial arts around the world, she has become more independent and confident. No matter how far her martial arts journey takes her, I believe this experience will be a lifelong spiritual asset for her," Fang said. "Perhaps one day, my daughter, my club students and I will all appear together in the arena. Martial arts keep me feeling young and passionate. I look forward to participating in competitions with my students even when I'm 60 years old."