Kung Fu Girl Group Puts Fresh Spin on Ancient Chinese Art

Wider Audience

In front of a secluded temple in southwestern China, Duan Ruru skillfully executes a series of chops and strikes, practicing kung fu techniques she has spent a decade mastering. Chinese martial arts have long been considered a male-dominated sphere, but a cohort of Generation Z women like Duan is challenging that assumption and generating publicity for their particular school of kung fu.

Since I was little, I’ve had a love for martial arts… I thought that girls learning martial arts was super swaggy,” Duan, 23, said.

The ancient Emei school where she trains in the mountains of Sichuan is thought to have historically welcomed a higher proportion of women and girls. But it has not achieved the same level of public fame as other kung fu schools, such as Shaolin.

Confidence Boost

Founding member Duan, who has been training since she was 12 years old, said her generation “loves being independent and free-spirited.” Some Emei students have been inspired to keep pursuing martial arts, including Ren Nianjie, who wants to study it at university.

Publicity for Emei Martial Arts

The Kung Fu Girls’ videos have been “very good” at bringing the local art to a wider audience, according to kung fu master Wang Chao, a national-level representative of Emei martial arts. “Publicity for Emei martial arts is much more powerful now,” he said.

Fresh Spin

In slick videos, the troupe performs everything from combat scenes to flips in front of the Louvre in Paris, often backed by booming hip-hop beats. They also show off their moves alongside branded beverages or cars, though the group declined to comment on whether they make money from advertising. Since their debut last April, they have amassed more than 23 million views and over a million followers on Douyin, China’s version of TikTok.

Conclusion

The Kung Fu Girls’ success is not only a testament to the growing popularity of Emei martial arts but also a reflection of the changing attitudes towards women’s involvement in the traditionally male-dominated sphere. As Duan hopes, the group’s popularity will inspire more young girls to take up martial arts, seeing it as a path to self-confidence and independence.

FAQs

* What is Emei martial arts?
Emei martial arts is a style of Chinese martial arts that originated in the Emei mountains of Sichuan province.
* How many members are in the Kung Fu Girls’ troupe?
The troupe consists of nine women, all of whom are skilled practitioners of Emei martial arts.
* How did the Kung Fu Girls get their start?
The group was formed by a group of friends who were passionate about Emei martial arts and wanted to share their skills with a wider audience through social media.
* How many views and followers does the Kung Fu Girls’ account have?
The group has amassed more than 23 million views and over a million followers on Douyin, China’s version of TikTok.