After three days of intense competition, the 8th NTD World Chinese Traditional Martial Arts Competition came to a close in New Jersey, USA on September 2nd. The competition produced 2 gold medals, 11 silver medals, and 41 bronze medals.
The two gold medals were won by Taiwan’s player Liu Dayan and Germany’s player Ouyang Deke, each receiving a $5000 prize and a sword made by Chen Zhongzhi, the third-generation heir of the Qingyun Casting Sword Art Museum. Other players received outstanding awards, rookie awards, and awards for contributions to traditional martial arts.
Chairman of the competition’s judging committee, Li Youfu, expressed to Epoch Times after the award ceremony that the competition showcased more traditional routines and players, and with so many fellow practitioners working together, he felt that the revival of traditional martial arts is “very hopeful.”
The competitors stated that they gained much from the competition. One player said that the NTD Martial Arts Competition allowed him to “return to orthodoxy,” an aspect not seen in other competitions. Many players shared their understanding of “martial virtue” emphasized by NTD. Spectators praised the high level of competition and, more importantly, the peaceful and friendly atmosphere where they could experience traditional Chinese culture.
Chairman of the competition’s judging committee, Li Youfu, said, “This year has seen the most traditional martial arts, which makes me feel gratified and happy. The revival of traditional martial arts is very hopeful. I also believe that in the future, there will be more traditional martial arts athletes participating, and I hope that more people, whether practicing martial arts or not, will come to understand Chinese traditional martial arts.”
Judging committee member Yang Feilong stated that NTD’s competition is not like others, where non-martial arts elements are mixed in.
“The most important aspect of NTD’s competition is the authenticity of the traditional culture, showcasing the inheritance and practice processes of each school to everyone, allowing everyone to concentrate on appreciating and savoring Chinese culture. This is the most important thing,” he said. “Moreover, this competition is richer, with more players and more tradition. The most important thing is that everyone’s mindset is positive, not focused on winning awards, but on learning from each other and continuing to preserve traditional martial arts.”
Liu Dayan, the gold medalist in men’s boxing from Taiwan, has participated in the competition five times, previously winning gold and silver medals. He mentioned that even if he didn’t win any awards, he would still participate because each time he competes, he experiences significant improvement.
“Similar to studying for exams, I went through a lot during the preparation process, and the biggest difference I felt this time was that this was the calmest of my five competitions, especially before taking the stage, I felt extremely relaxed,” he said.
Another gold medalist in men’s weapons category, Eike Opfermann from Germany, expressed surprise at winning the gold medal, emphasizing that he participated even without any expectations.
“The concept of martial virtue requires detachment from fame and gain, and I am here to showcase my art,” he said. “Training in martial arts is not just about practicing the art form, it has become my way of life entirely. I will continue to participate.”
Taiwanese player Chen Shaoxuan, who won the silver medal in the men’s weapons category, participated in the NTD competition for the third time after winning bronze medals in the previous two competitions, expressing his satisfaction with his progress this time.
Chen Shaoxuan said that after using a crescent shovel last time, designed through many routines for the performance, he understood that NTD emphasizes authentic traditional martial arts. Therefore, this time, he used the “authentic” Liuhe spear.
“I think what NTD is doing is right; they are guiding everyone back to the traditional path, without any compromise. It can be said that NTD’s competition has led me back to orthodox martial arts,” he said.
Lin Mingyi, who won the bronze medal in the men’s boxing category with the “Xiao Niantou” form of Yong Chun Quan, had admired the NTD competition for two years and finally participated this time.
“Other martial arts competitions tend to focus on modern styles, while this competition focuses on traditional martial arts,” he said. “The level of each player is very high, and I am honored to meet everyone here.”
Lin Mingyi agreed that martial arts should emphasize the concept of martial virtue. He said, “In essence, it’s about virtue. Martial virtue is about self-discipline, self-control, primarily focusing on goodness.”
Liv Segura, a human resources manager from Pennsylvania with seven years of martial arts practice, attended the finals for two consecutive days. She said that the competition embodies the essence of Chinese traditional culture.
“This is a great competition, where players showcase themselves, emphasizing martial virtue, which is about respecting virtue and stopping conflicts; it’s more about spiritual elements,” she said. She enjoyed the atmosphere of the competition, describing it as very friendly and cooperative, with everyone behaving like brothers and sisters, radiating goodwill.
After watching the competition, Segura said she should continue practicing martial arts and hoped that NTD’s competition would be held annually.
Michelina Palmer, a high school teacher from New York, brought her son who is learning martial arts to watch the finals. She believed that the emphasis on martial virtue in the competition is crucial for children’s growth and society as a whole.
“My son and I read some background information about the NTD competition online, and when he learned about martial virtue, I found it to be so important and profound,” she said. “The current society is filled with violence and conflict, but here the focus is on being a good person, protecting the weak, learning martial arts to stop violence. This is a great learning opportunity for my son, helping him understand these morals and disciplines at a young age, realizing that skills should not be used to harm others or tempted to do wrong; martial arts are meant to do good, to treat others sincerely, and uphold justice… it’s beautiful.”