Chinese+Sports+and+Recreation

=Chinese Sports and Recreation= Chinese sports have been a valuable aspect of their culture forever. Today, Chinese citizens engage in modern activities such as basketball and ancients activities such as martial arts.

CHINESE MARTIAL ARTS: The Development, Styles, and Weapons.
By Ethan

So What Exactly are Martial Arts? A martial art is a method of self-defense (fighting) that uses hand-to-hand and weaponry combat. Martial arts were first developed as an art of combat to be used in war. The governments of China sought to strengthen their army by encouraging the practice martial arts. Therefor they created games and tournaments using martial arts. This was a success, martial arts grew in popularity and still exist today.

[[image:yellow-emperor-ch.jpg width="252" height="291" align="right" caption="The Yellow Emperor"]]Development of Martial Arts
Chinese Martial arts were created many thousands of years ago and are still developing today. The first Martial were created by the Yellow Emperor as a new style of fighting. These Martial arts became an extremely successful art of war and thus grew in popularity. In fact these arts were so successful rulers and governments would often host competitions and games to encourage the growth of Martial arts in china. Martial arts grew to become more then a fighting technique, eventually it became a way of life, values such as respect were an important part of almost every art. Today there are over a hundred well know Martial arts the have been at least sort of developed from China. “According to legend, the reign of the Yellow Emperor (Huangdi, traditional date of [taking the throne] 2698 BCE) introduced the earliest forms of martial arts to China. The Yellow Emperor is described as a famous general who, before becoming China’s leader, wrote lengthy books on medicine, astrology and the martial arts. He [first] developed the practice of jiao di or horn-butting and utilized it in war.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_martial_arts) Chinese martial arts were developed thousands of years ago by the Yellow Emperor. Governments encouraged the training of these arts, hoping in turn to create a stronger military. Since its creation it has gained popularity it has became a more then just a martial arts, it has became a style of life, and a way to act.

What are they?
In china there are two main styles of martial arts: hard arts and soft arts. ‘Hard’ and ‘Soft’ arts refer to the style of blocking and possibly attacking in a martial art. The two styles are very often represented by the symbol of Taoism, a popular symbol of religion and philosophy in china which shows the opposites in everything.

Hard Arts
Hard arts utilize your force to block. Hard arts usually require greater strength to overcome an opponent. For example lets say you through a punch at somone, the receiving person would catch your hand and use there force to push back upon the energy of the punch, slowing it down. An example of a hard art is Shogun karate, which features an extremely ‘Hard’ Martial art.

Soft Arts
Contrastingly, soft arts used an opponent’s energy to overwhelm an opponent. For example if you were to punch another person the receiving person might dodge the persons punch, briefly sidestepping then catching the punchers hand then guiding there energy (punch) away from them. After a dodged the receiver of the strike would often take advantage of there opponents faulty balance, twisting the sticker into a lock or striking them while they were unbalanced. An example of a soft art is fencing (sword fighting), when a attack is made, at someone they would gently guided the blade away from their body. Some martial arts feature elements of both hard and soft martial arts though most arts had a general preference for which type of art they used. In soft martial arts, “the receiver uses the [attacker's] force and [movement] against him by leading the attack in a direction where the receiver will be positioned in advantage, then, in a seamless movement, effects an appropriate martial arts technique. A hard technique by contrast meets force with force, either by directly blocking the technique with a head-on force or by cutting through at an angle with one's own force. This can also serve as an example of the receiver using the aggressor's force and momentum against them. It is sometimes claimed that 'hard' styles rely primarily on superior strength or conditioning to be successful, but [people that practiced] of these styles would claim that it is the mechanics of their blocking actions that results in success rather than raw power as such.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_and_soft_(martial_arts)). The two types of martial arts both offer significant advantages. Most martial arts try to incorporate both styles of martial arts, trying to blend them together to get to most effective form of fighting.

Weapons in Chinese Martial Arts
====== Weapons in Chinese martial arts were very popular, weapons made an already deadly form of martial arts even more efficient. Not only do they offer a more effective attack or defense for the user, they also can include a significant range boost, more leverage, and a stronger defense. Many weapons were utilized in Chinese martial arts, the most popular of them were known as ‘The Eighteen Arms of Wushu’. “Sparring forms, which utilize weapons, are especially useful for teaching students the extension, range and technique required to manage a weapon” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_martial_arts). Weapons were adopted into martial arts to make fighting styles more efficient. Weapons offered benefits such as increased range, a deadlier attack, stronger defense, and leverage. The eighteen arms of wushu are considered the main weapons of Chinese martial arts. Chinese martial arts have been an integral part of culture. To understand Chinese martial arts it is important to know about the arts development, hard and soft arts, and weapons used in Chinese martial arts. Overall Chinese martial arts have thrived since development, incorporating soft and hard styles of martial arts as well as weapons so as to increase effectiveness.



Top of the World: The Story of Yao Ming
By Dan

Yao Ming, at seven-foot/six-inches, is the tallest basketball player in the NBA. The only thing that rises higher than his skinny body is his status as the greatest Chinese sports icon ever. He has achieved this due to his accomplishments, his off-court behavior, and his support from his fans.

Background Info
Yao Ming was born in Shanghai, China on September 2, 1980. His parents were the tallest couple in the entire country of China, a country where any thing around 6’ 1” is considered extremely tall, with his father measuring 6’10” and his mother, a former Olympic basketball player, at 6’2”. When he was 11, he had already begun to play for the professional Shanghai Sharks’ junior team. When he was 17 he made the senior team, and had an above average rookie season with them. He played with the Sharks organization for a total of 9 years (4 years on the junior team, 5 years on the senior team) until the beginning of his fame commenced in 2002, when he entered the NBA (National Basketball Association) draft, creating his first interactions with the American nation (Wikipedia.com).

Accomplishments
Yao Ming has had many accomplishments that have helped his importance in the world of sports rise. The first accomplishment, being drafted in the NBA began his journey. Although Yao was the first Chinese player to be drafted in the first round (besides Tom Meschery, whose Russian parents had fled Russia in the 1930s and gave birth to him in Harbin, China, where he lived for 2 years), he was not the first Chinese player to play in the NBA. Three years prior to Yao entering the draft, there had been a Chinese power forward named Wang Zhizhi drafted 36th overall by the Dallas Mavericks in 1999. However, his team in China, the Army team, refused to let him go for another two years (Zhizhi at 7’1” was the tallest soldier of China ever). By then, the Mavericks had a new big man, the All-Star German Dirk Nowitzki, and Zhizhi was obsolete. Fortunately for Yao Ming, his team allowed him to leave for the draft right away (insidehoops.com). When the Houston Rockets, who had won the draft lottery for the first overall pick, heard this news, they knew immediately that Yao was the perfect choice. Yao became one of only seven foreign players to be drafted first overall. With this hype came great fame, but even greater expectations. Thus, when Yao averaged 14 points and 4 rebounds in his first eight games, people began to wonder if Yao was any good. Dick Vitale, a respected analyst, said that Yao would fail, and the talkative Charles Barkley said he would “Kiss Kenny Smith’s [gluteus maximus]”, if Yao scored more than 19 points in a game (he kept his word when Yao scored 20 against the Lakers) (Wikipedia.com). Yao ignored the negative opinions, and finished the season with a respectable average of 14 points and eight rebounds. He was the West’s starting center in the All-Star game thanks to the voting of the Chinese people, finished second in rookie of the year voting to Amore Stoudamire, and was a unanimous (meaning everyone voted for him for the award) choice for the first-All-NBA rookie team. When the Rockets brought in Jeff Van Gundy as the new head coach, the offense was changed to rely on Yao and superstar Tracy “T-Mac” McGrady, who they got in a trade that sent Steve Francis to the Orlando Magic. In the first season under Van Gundy’s control, Yao averaged 18 points and 9 rebounds per game, including a 41 point showing against Atlanta. He kept a still active streak of starting the All-Star Game going, which is currently at seven straight years. Every year Yao improved, and despite some injuries, has managed to retain his status as an international superstar. Children in China look up to him, not just for his skills and statistics, but also his classy and generous off-court behavior.

Off-court behavior
Yao Ming has been an immensely important figure in international sports because of his interactions and care of the community. He is very charitable despite being the wealthiest Chinese celebrity in the world. His organization, the Yao Ming Foundation, has donated over thirty million dollars to the earthquake-terrorized villages in China. He has given money to Red Cross and Project Hope, a group that donates money to poverty-stricken areas (looktothestars.org). This is one of the rarest attributes for athletes as popular as his. The public image an athlete creates is a key part on whether people think they are truly an icon, or just an obnoxious star. Yao Ming has done more than necessary to prove his role of an icon. If the “public” is bigger, then the importance of the athlete rises as well.

Fans
Yao Ming has one of the biggest fan bases in the entire NBA. Not only do the Houston Rockets fans cheer for Yao night after night, but the biggest supporting area is also the second-biggest country in the world, China. These fans helped Yao set the record for the greatest amounts of votes for the All Star game, surpassing Michael Jordan with 2,558,278 votes. Having so much support is a clear indication of glory and popularity. He still resides in China, and annually plays for China’s FIBA team, and their Olympic team as well, creating opportunities for the Chinese fans to watch Yao play in his homeland. They look at him as a symbol of China’s greatness, no matter what area of competition.

Yao Ming is the paramount Chinese athlete ever. He has been one of the few players to succeed despite being surrounded by tons of pressure. He is one of the most charitable athletes ever. Lastly the fan base that fuels him is the widest spreading span of supporters the NBA has seen since Michael Jordan.

=Works Cited For Martial Arts=

Info
"Chinese martial arts -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 24 Feb. 2009 . "Hard and soft (martial arts) -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 24 Feb. 2009 .

Pictures
The Yellow Emperor. (Online Image) Available http://silviahartmann.com/images/yellow-emperor-ch.jpg, March 13, 2009.

The Symbol of Wushu (Online Image) Available http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_and_soft_(martial_arts), March 13, 2009.

The Eighteen Arms of Wushu. (Online Image) Available http://www.chinwoo.com.au/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=category&sectionid=21&id=71&Itemid=142, March 13, 2009.

Picture Name. (Online Image) http://riceandtimes.com/v1issue01_2003/images_v1no1/yaoming/rt_v1no1_sub_yaofans.jpg, March 13, 2009.

Picture Name. (Online Image) http://www.nbaloud.com/images/the-simpsons-yao-ming-and-lebron-james1.jpg, March 13, 2009.

Picture Name. (Online Image) http://lh5.ggpht.com/_3mfWoJ0KM9Y/R_9XExj2YrI/AAAAAAAAGSg/1eQhmV-DOD0/Yao+7'6+n+Earl+Boykins+5'5.jpg, March 13, 2009.

Picture Name. (Online Image) http://www.blackandwhitecat.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/lin_hao_with_yao_ming.JPG, March 13, 2009.

Picture Name. (Online Image) http://farm1.static.flickr.com/43/74050605_3ae56e6e1f_o.jpg, March 13, 2009. = =