KUNMING－Wearing boxing gloves and shin guards, Wang Yuchen, a 9-year-old student from Yunnan province, repeatedly throws punches and kicks at the boxing pads his coach is holding.
For over a year, Wang has been practicing Muay Thai, a kickboxing style known for its use of fists, feet, elbows and knees to land blows, in a gym located in downtown Kunming, the provincial capital.
"I used to catch colds frequently, but not as often after I began practicing Muay Thai, and my athletic performance at school has also improved," said Wang, showing off his newly developed muscles.
Wang was accompanied by his father Wang Jian, who has been practicing Muay Thai at the Kunming OngBak International Muay Thai, Boxing and MMA Gym－or OngBak Gym for short－since 2018.
"I became interested in Muay Thai after watching a Thai martial arts movie series called Ong Bak, which is the origin of the gym's name," 36-year-old Wang Jian said, adding that he has become healthier, more energetic and has a good grasp of self-defense since he began training.
He says that he and Wang Yucheng are not the only father and son team learning Muay Thai together at the gym, which offers an opportunity for parents to enhance interactions with their children and for their young ones to make new friends outside of school.
Since it was founded in 2016, OngBak Gym, one of the first Muay Thai gyms in Kunming, capital of Yunnan, has helped popularize the sport among residents. It has more than 1,200 members, among whom 400 are more active.
"Generally speaking, men come here to practice Muay Thai to boost their masculinity, while women come here in search of a slim body," said Zhu Jinqiu, the 37-year-old head coach who runs the gym.
"As for children, practicing Muay Thai can help build their physical strength and mental toughness. That's why more and more parents are turning to Muay Thai."
Lou Liping, a 39-year-old white-collar worker who started learning the sport in 2016, said: "Practicing Muay Thai doesn't mean resorting to violence. When dealing with conflicts, it teaches us to restrain ourselves rather than act on impulse."
For Lou, what started as a way to relieve stress from work has now become an indispensable part of her life. She even tries to teach her niece Muay Thai.
Lou's opinion is in perfect accordance with the values that Zhu wants to encourage. By teaching Muay Thai techniques, Zhu expects everyone who practices the sport to become gentle and powerful.
He has noticed that an increasing number of Muay Thai clubs are sprouting in major cities, not to mention numerous gyms that offer classes in the sport across the country.
"As more and more citizens become passionate about Muay Thai, there are tremendous opportunities for the sport to develop in China," Zhu said.
Xinhua
