“Epoch Times, August 15, 2026” – “This (competition) has been a fantastic journey. Martial arts not only teach us to engage with the outside world, but also to delve within ourselves, thereby gaining insight into our true selves,” said 23-year-old competitor Majoa Chaux Rojas from Colombia. She stood out in the women’s boxing category of the 9th NTD Worldwide Chinese Traditional Martial Arts Competition with an eight-style fist performance, winning a bronze medal.
She expressed that this competition brought not only athletic challenges but also a deeper connection with herself, others, and traditional martial arts.
She was pleased to see traditional martial arts gaining more attention. She believes that traditional martial arts are beneficial for both the body and mind, and the NTD hosting martial arts competitions can help more people understand and start practicing traditional martial arts.
Rojas hails from a tribe in the northeastern part of Colombia near the city of Diomkeo, situated at an altitude of three thousand meters. The tribe refers to themselves as ‘the people of cultivation’ and leads a lifestyle different from modern society.
They engage in daily physical exercises such as running, practicing boxing, using equipment, and meditation. They grow organic food for self-sufficiency, while also harvesting wild herbs, growing medicinal herbs, and earning a living by selling herbs or practicing medicine. At 23, Rojas currently works as a personal trainer.
Rojas began practicing martial arts at a young age, starting with various styles of martial arts at around the age of 4, accumulating 20 years of martial arts experience to date.
Throughout her martial arts journey, she has dabbled in different martial art styles like Brazilian Capoeira, Taekwondo, but among them, it was Chinese traditional martial arts that resonated with her the most.
For her, participating in traditional martial arts competitions allows her the opportunity to further immerse herself in and experience the traditional Kung Fu she loves, as well as enabling more people to understand and appreciate Chinese traditional martial arts.
This year is not Rojas’ first time participating in the NTD Martial Arts Competition. Since 2019, martial arts experts from Rojas’ tribe have been forming groups to come to New York to participate in the NTD Martial Arts Competition, frequently winning awards. In the previous 2024 competition, Rojas won a silver medal.
So, why compete again this time? Rojas stated that through the competition, she can continue to grow, enhance her skills, meet different people, and learn from each other.
“I see this as a mutual learning experience in the martial arts world. We learn from each other,” she said.
She is pleased to see that those who come here share her passion for practicing traditional martial arts.
She mentioned that another reason for participating was to showcase Chinese traditional martial arts in New York and encourage more people to understand and practice it.
Rojas mentioned that the NTD Martial Arts Competition has attracted many spectators, shining a spotlight on traditional martial arts, a positive development.
“It’s a very good thing that traditional martial arts are gaining more popularity,” she said. “Because martial arts are beneficial for both the body and mind.”
Additionally, she added that people who practice traditional martial arts become more disciplined and experience improvements in their physical and mental health. She remarked, “Just as many people save money for retirement, practicing traditional martial arts is like saving a portion of health for their older selves.”