(ATR) Wushu is leaning on its combination of style and athleticism in its bid for entry to the Olympic Program.
The Chinese martial art is one of four sports taking part in the Nanjing 2014 Sports Lab, along with skateboarding, roller sports, and sport climbing. Attendees can view demonstrations and participate in each of the four sports.
"We have more and more kids every day, and some of them also practice in wushu, and they show to us how to move and they’re really excited about," said wushu athlete Daria Tarasova of Russia. "They really like it."
Colvin Wang, a wushu athlete from the United States who also handles the English announcing at the demonstration area, said inclement weather could not even keep the crowds away. They planned to cancel the show, but with a large group assembled, they moved the show under a nearby roof.
"We’ve never had a slim audience."
Tarasova says wushu’s eyes are on the Olympic Program, saying the sport is putting "all power" toward getting into the Games, including its work at the Sports Lab, "a really good idea" on the part of the IOC.
"We need to show people [our sport], and I think if it will be in the Olympics, they will like it."
Wang says wushu brings an element that is "incredibly unique" to the Olympics.
"I think a lot of sports, they’re very straightforward in your goal. Your goal is to make it to the finish line before anyone else. Runners run, and there’s a certain perfect technique. There’s a way to run that is the fastest way to run, and you just do that and then you train that a lot."
With wushu, the Chinese have a saying that means "getting to the maximum flavor" to describe wushu excellence.
"You can do a move and it looks good and it’s perfect, no deductions or anything, but then you can do an extra plus-one.
"So you’ve got an element of style."
The crowds at the Sports Lab have liked the style so far. The format has been particularly beneficial, allowing visitors to try the sport for themselves and also see it performed at a high level.
"That coupling is really powerful," said Wang, "in terms of showcasing the challenge of the sport and also how awesome it is, how cool it is when you get to try it and you get to see people who have mastered it and really perfected it over 10 to 20 years of training.
"That combination is really powerful."
Written byNick Devlin
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