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Kung Fu combined with football in Beijing
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The idea of combining two sports into one is nothing new. But mashing together soccer and Kung Fu skills is something completely different.
40-year-old Chinese promoter Kong Debao is trying to connect the talents of Lionel Messi and Jet Li for young, talented martial art performers.
Some Freerunning Parkour fans are trying something new. They've practiced Chinese Kungfu for about a decade, and now they've joined Kungfu football dreamer and former businessman Kong Debao's effort to promote Kung Fu Football. These students can do all sorts of acrobatic moves with the ball, including flip kicks and whirlwind kicks. They are proud of creating a new sport.
Zhao Yinglong, Kungfu footballer, said, "I often played football when I was studying in college. Also I have practiced Chinese martial arts for about 10 years. I think it is a good idea to integrate football with Kungfu, because football players can have more physical strength and flexibility through practicing Kungfu."
Liu Zhaoming, Kungfu footballer, said, "We don't have as many skills playing football, because we are just Kungfu and Parkour practitioners. But we do love football. We want to use our Kungfu skills in playing football. We have a lot of work to do to merge our Kungfu and football skills, before we become good Kungfu footballers."
Kong Debao started pursuing his Kungfu football dream in 2007 at the cost of his business and all of his savings. His Kungfu Football training centre now has become a department of the Beijing Gymnastic College in a suburb of the Chinese capital.
Kong Debao, Kungfu Football Promoter, said, "If it is short-term and money-oriented, then we probably will stop operation when situation gets bad. But with public welfare status and football fans and enterprises taking part, we can keep it going."
Guo Ruilong played as a national footballer in 1960s. Now he is the volunteer adviser for the Kungfu Football training center.
Guo Ruilong, Vice President, Beijing Veterans Football Club, said, "This is really something new. So we need to try and find the best way to develop it gradually. But we are confident in advancing the promotion of football in our country, and letting more and more young people love the sport."
Kong Debao believes he and his training center will benefit from the ongoing anti-corruption effort in Chinese soccer. And he hopes one day he can host a full kungfu football match, with well-trained players putting on a top-quality show.
