The Wrestling King
The Wrestling King - ‘Jiao Wang’ in Chinese - is a Chinese TV series about Shuaijiao.
(right click on the image above and save it as a desktop image!)
I managed to find a copy on a DVD that my DVD player wouldn’t read so i don’t know much about the show but here are a couple of comments:
“Although the actors in this movie are not big names, they used their skills to communicate with the audience and create an effect that no big name actor is capable of creating. Given the current state of Chinese cinema, we need more movies like this!”
“A group of outstanding producers, a group of outstanding actors, a strong and passionate team, a classic, hard-to-forget movie”
Here is a translation of the story overview on the back of the DVD case:
“Set during the Japanese Occupation of China, The Wrestling King is the the story of Shandong Wrestling King Liu Xuedong’s life and adventures. Liu Xuedong studied wrestling from an early age and after the death of his parents moved to Jinan to live with wealthy relatives. Although his relatives tried to stop him from learning Shuaijiao, he secretly continued his studies and became an champion under the guidance of famous Jinan wrestler Ma Ningzi.
First he defeated the head of a Shanghai triad Liu Qi, then in Beijing defeated Tian Qiao’s Wrestling King Zhang Dazhuang and Tianjin’s Wrestling King Xu San. After his successes he became arrogant. Then he met the Shaanxi wrestler Wang Liang, and was defeated by his unique style of wrestling. This experience bought Liu Xuedong to his senses and he realized the error of his ways.
When the Japanese aggression against China began, Liu Xuedong was angered by the news of soldiers fighting in the Chinese 8th Army dying because they didn’t have any medicine. So together with his fellow wrestlers he opened a wrestling venue to raise money to buy medicine for the Chinese 8th Army. Upon hearing this the head of the Tian Qiao Wrestling Venue Zhao Xing came to challenge Liu Xuedong. He was defeated by Liu Xuedong easily.
The Japanese Military commander for Shandong in an effort to demoralize the people of Shandong and destroy their will to resist occupation arranged for the Japanese Army wrestler Shan Tian to challenge Liu Xuedong.
Shan Tian found he could not defeat Liu Xuedong and resorted to unfair means to break Liu’s right arm. Liu continued to wrestle and defeated Shan Tian with one arm, but afterwards the Japanese tried to forced Liu to knee at Shan Tian’s feet. Shuaijiao fighters only bow to their parents and the emperor and Liu chose to be killed by the Japanese rather than bow at Shan Tian’s feet.”
Finally a real martial arts show. One where the fairy-like flying of wushu “masters” like Jet Li is eclipsed by better actors and the bone-breaking reality of China’s original martial art - Shuaijiao
Although i hate the fakeness of today’s Kungfu flicks, I hope that The Wrestling King has an important message to Chinese society, just as Jet Li’s Huo Yuanjia (Fearless) had.
One such message being that China has this national heritage that people have forgotten about. Something great for the health and spirit of the individual, the community, and the nation.
Unfortunately, today’s people have forgotten about Shuaijiao’s proud history. That Shuaijiao - unlike Wushu - was part of the Imperial military examinations for officers to enter into service for the state, and was a favorite form of entertainment for Emperors throughout Chinese history. This history and responsibility meant that wrestlers were men of strength, honor, status, and courage in the community.
And that is exactly what China - and the world - needs more of today.
Especially China…
That hopefully that is the second message.
A disturbing trend has become painfully obvious to me: The Chinese youth’s perception of masculinity/femininity as illustrated in the pictures below
“China’s Good Men”
“Super Girl”
Perhaps The Wrestling King will contribute to altering this disturbingly widespread idolization among young men and women in China of effeminate men and masculine women.
But that aside, it is the first message that matters to me. I hope after seeing this show hoards of young people say to their parents “I want to be like Liu Xuedong…I want to be strong, courageous, and honorable… I want to be a Wrestler!” and then come and find our gym.
I’ll let you know more details as i get them!
Keep Smilin’
Michael
August 17th, 2007 at 8:57 am
Hey just found your site, I am a big fan of MMA and China MA. I totally agree with you with the fact that Chinese youthes today worship sissy looking guys and manly looking girls. It is a nasty trend and must be stopped. I love your passion for this beautiful ancient art and hope you can spread this art to wider audience.
Best of luck
August 25th, 2007 at 10:21 am
Hi Lei,
How can we work together to spread/save Shuaijiao?
Keep Smilin’
Michael
ashleywix@hotmail.com
September 3rd, 2007 at 7:37 pm
“How can we work together to spread/save Shuaijiao?”
Good question. It’s almost dead in Taiwan. Unless you want forms, that is.
September 27th, 2007 at 9:58 pm
Mike, creepy stuff about this new trend of feminine males…brrrrr
Now that I know that you guys have a center in Beijing I will certainly include you as one of the must go places in the city for training. I will include your link to my website. cheers
September 28th, 2007 at 12:59 am
Hi Willam!
What is your website?
Keep Smilin’
Michael
October 4th, 2007 at 1:20 am
Hi Mike,
I like your updates on the national torunament and definitely agree with your comments. Here in Switzerland young guys see earings and over-size jeans as fashion, and they certainly want to show their Calvin Klein underwear than their muscle. I also agree with what Mike Martello said in his videos, and he has done a good work in promoting traditional martial art in Europe. Keep up with the great work and say best regards to Mr. Li.
Karl
October 4th, 2007 at 12:53 pm
Will do Karl!
October 8th, 2007 at 8:56 am
to be honest, i cant find this movie, anyone know where to get it?
and yea i kind of agree, the old skool kung fu flicks were way better like Boxer from Shantung, One Armed Swordsman - those movies were more realistic of martial arts in action, a bloody mess, and the actors were way cooler in the 70’s but the comment about metrosexuality is more a worldwide phenom, not just in China, and it is unfair to state that we are all like that
October 14th, 2007 at 1:37 am
fuckin a, this movie looks awesome. I wish more chinese were proud of our heritage.
October 15th, 2007 at 10:17 am
as an interesting after thought…
the Chinese Government have just outlawed TV programs like the ones i mentioned with all the guys like girls and girls like guys. They are now not allowed to broadcast during primetime. Realistically it means that they will all be broadcast after 10pm thus preventing smaller children from seeing the shows.
I have been accused of being bigoted and homophobic, but i dont see myself as such a person. I felt that my comment was valid given that i am living in this society and seeing the trends both on the TV and very shortly afterwards on the streets.
Evidently those trends are having a serious enough effect on Chinese society for the government to intervene…. i’ll get some more information on it
October 17th, 2007 at 12:56 am
I absolutely agree Mike. I think MTV has a big role in promoting this pop and hit-hop culture that is invading family homes throughout the world, not just in China but also here in Europe. Young Europeans do not go to the gym and proud of their muscle anymore, instead they show their fashy earrings and Calvin Klein underwear. They like hit-hop and pop, and this trend has a lot to do with MTV and its copycats. The Professioanl Wrestling organizations in the US is not helping neither, as their matches are fixed and they are just show. We need to have a real martial art channel.
Keep practicing,
Karl
October 20th, 2007 at 3:43 am
I can transfer that DVD for you into a format that you can view.
I have a region free dvd player attached to a HD DVD recorder.
March 25th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
I think I gotta find this DVD!
March 25th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
yea, and those type of ppl disturb me too. though i’m young myself
July 18th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
SOG knives…
Interesting ideas… I wonder how the Hollywood media would portray this?…
June 27th, 2010 at 10:25 pm
Agreed on all points! Chinese gender roles and masculine values need a shakeup that only a shoulder throw from a collar-and-elbow clinch can deliver!
On the topic of the show, overall, I enjoyed the authentic martial arts - even learned a thing or two about shuai jiao after all the reading I’ve done over the years from it. The acting at its best was superb and heartfelt, but some of the plot could have been better, particularly towards the end, when it turned into a two-dimensional jingoistic flag-waving fest. Depictions of the japanese were pretty flat and cookie-cutter, with the sole exception of an uncharacteristic display of samurai-damashi by Yamada right at the end - too little, too late. That said, that’s pretty much how the japanese occupation troops came across during the war, according to my granddad who lived through it.
Wei Yang Wo Wu! Xing Wo Zhong Hua!