Window to the World, calling for Wind of Wisdom, as common sense is a gift to each soul, as common environment is the inseparable planet, as common desire is to live in a better world.
“Kung Fu Granny” still practicing and teaching kung fu (for free) at 98 – “Learning kung fu is for defending, not for bullying others. We should help others”
The particular type of kung fu she practices is called Xiao Hong Quan, which is one of the most popular forms of Shaolin boxing. Her village is home to a school that teaches it, and it’s been around for at least 500 years.
She was even appointed as the chief referee at a martial arts competition that took place in her village in early June 2021. There, she showed off her skills, including her speciality, which involves hand-to-hand combat and the use of a blunt wooden baton called a cudgel.
Despite her strength, as spritely as it is, she’s still ageing, and she hopes to pass on the martial art to newer generations, so as to keep the tradition alive, even well beyond her lifetime. That’s why she’s been giving kung fu classes in the courtyard of her home, free of charge to anyone who’s interested in picking up the sport. “I am old, so this task can only be handed down to the next generation.”
The Shaolin senior: Meet ‘kung fu granny’
Zhang Hexian, 98, from Zhangkeng in southeast China, is being recognized for her demonstration that “kung fu spirit never gets old.”
“I would practice boxing every day and do movements like chopping, pushing and thrusting. Although I am old, I still have the strength,” she told the broadcaster, gesticulating the movements with grace and precision as she spoke.
