It’s great to have you, Master TengYao for this interview!
We are an Instagram channel dedicated to showcasing the best of the martial arts world, from inspiring stories of practitioners to expert techniques and everything in between.
We have a passionate community of followers who look to us for the latest and greatest in martial arts, and we’re excited to introduce them to you!
With your vast knowledge and experience in the world of martial arts, we can’t wait to hear your insights and perspectives on everything from training and technique to mindfulness and philosophy.
So, let’s dive into this conversation and share your incredible journey with our martial arts community!
Table of Contents
1) Breaking Barriers: The Inspiring Journey of Master Tu Tengyao :
2) Martial Arts Filmmaker's Incredible Rise to Fame
3) The Art of Cultural Dissemination: The Inspiration Behind Tu Tengyao's Wing Chun Videos
4) Speaking Out: Your Take on the Role of Competition in Martial Arts
5) Wing Chun - The Practical Tool for Self-Defense
6) Frequently Asked Questions About your School
7) The Final Round - Wisdom and Inspiration from a Martial Arts Champion
Thank you very much for your attention and support! It is a great honor!
First, let me introduce myself. My name is Tu Tengyao. I am the founder of the Wing Chun Tu Tengyao Boxing Association and the Chongqing Wing Chun Boxing Association. I have been working tirelessly in the inheritance, research, and promotion of Wing Chun. My disciples are spread throughout the country and even overseas.
I have established Wing Chun teaching and research institutions in many provinces and cities, including Chongqing, Sichuan, and Guangxi. I have been interviewed by various media, including CCTV, China News Agency, Chongqing TV, Business Magazine, Chinese Martial Arts Soul, and Bazaar Men, to vigorously promote Wing Chun martial arts.
In the CCTV martial arts documentary “The Greatness of Heroes,” I guided and demonstrated Wing Chun.
I was invited to participate in the filming and starring of the “Unwavering Principles” martial arts promotional video for the Adidas “Wujin” series.
We have collaborated with many universities across the country, including the Southwest Airlines College, to offer Wing Chun courses and serve as the teaching supervisor and overall guide for Wing Chun instruction.
We have also trained numerous Wing Chun coaches and established “Promoting Chinese Martial Arts, Wing Chun Public Classroom” in multiple campuses.
Leading tens of thousands of Wing Chun students to perform Wing Chun together, we have set the Guinness World Record for “the largest-scale Wing Chun performance in history.”
We were invited to continuously develop the “Wing Chun Anti-Terrorism Combat” professional topic for the “Civil Aviation Anti-Terrorism Research Institute.”
Through many years of research and teaching in Wing Chun, we have developed a highly professional, systematic, and practical teaching research system for Wing Chun instruction.
Our boxing style and teaching philosophy have been recognized by the industry and are highly favored by martial arts enthusiasts.
Your amazing videos showcasing the rich traditions, cultures, and ideas of martial arts have propelled you to internet stardom. As a result, your followers are clamoring to learn more about the person behind the camera.
Your content has resonated with millions of people around the world, showcasing the power and beauty of martial arts, we’re curious – did you ever imagine that your passion for martial arts would lead to such incredible fame and impact?
Master Tu Tengyao:
- It was unexpected that my videos would become so widely known, and it was not my original intention when I started sharing my Wing Chun videos on Douyin.
- My initial purpose was to provide reference and inspiration for Wing Chun enthusiasts like myself, and to showcase a different style of Wing Chun for martial arts enthusiasts through my videos.
- Later on, I hoped to impact more people and generate interest in Chinese Kung Fu to encourage people to start learning.
While most people focus solely on combat or training videos, you take a unique approach by showcasing Wing Chun demonstrations and cultural dissemination
how did you come up with the idea ?
Master Tu Tengyao:
Chinese martial arts are an important part of Chinese traditional culture. Therefore, it is impossible to truly express the meaning of Wing Chun or Kung Fu without the embodiment of culture, ideology, and even character.
The theory and principles of Chinese martial arts are crucial, and culture is actually the soul, while combat is just a technical aspect. Therefore, in my videos, I strive to combine both culture and technique to the best of my ability.
We want to hear your thoughts on the hotly debated topic of competition in martial arts! Do you think it’s a necessary component for growth and development, or do you believe it detracts from the true essence of the practice? Share your insights with us and our followers on our martial arts blog.
Master Tu Tengyao:
- Competition on the ring is a form of promotion and athletic activity closely related to martial arts fighting. It is also a great display of competitive spirit and Olympic values.
- While I do support some of my students who choose to compete in this field, my personal goal is to emphasize the importance of Chinese traditional culture embedded in martial arts, and to show people the philosophical and intellectual aspects behind the techniques.
- The ideas and wisdom of traditional culture can not only strengthen one’s body but also provide stability and strength to one’s mind, thoughts, emotions, attitude, and spirit.
In your experience with Wing Chun, how has the practice influenced your approach to self-defense? Have you found that Wing Chun techniques and principles are effective in real-world situations, and if so, can you share an example with us? We’d love to hear your insights on how Wing Chun can be used as a practical tool for self-defense.
Master Tu Tengyao:
- Self-defense is the fundamental purpose of practicing martial arts. Therefore, any Chinese martial arts style that has been passed down for many years has the ability to defend oneself, and Wing Chun Kung Fu has a particular emphasis on self-defense techniques. It is skilled in using rapid speed, short bursts of force, and flexible footwork, and even uses techniques such as using both hands and feet, weapons, and the environment to achieve self-defense goals. There are also many simulated combat and application breakdowns in the training system.
- However, the effectiveness of practicing martial arts depends on the individual. Practicing one kind of martial arts cannot represent the whole style, but only represents one’s own level of understanding and mastery, as well as the conditions achieved through the development of the brain and body using the martial art.
- Everyone is different and naturally has different levels of strength and skill.
Regarding your School, there seem to be some inquiries from potential students and other schools. Firstly, many are curious if you have plans to conduct distance learning in the near future. Additionally, for those who plan to travel to China, do you accept foreign students? And will there be interpreters available for those who don’t speak Chinese? Lastly, some schools have expressed interest in knowing if Master Tu Tengyao has any plans to go abroad to conduct demonstrations or collaborate with different schools. Could you provide any information on these matters?
Master Tu Tengyao:
- Thank you very much for the love and recognition of Chinese martial arts from overseas enthusiasts. Like the Chinese people, Chinese kung fu has great inclusiveness. China, like many other countries, has always shared and learned many excellent cultures and technologies with the world.
- Currently, my abilities and energy are limited, and I do not have any plans to cooperate with or teach martial arts overseas.
- However, I warmly welcome enthusiasts who love Chinese kung fu and respect Wing Chun to come to China to learn. Our martial arts school also has foreign students and disciples who have reached the level of translation and can help foreign students in teaching.
Before we wrap up this amazing interview, do you have any final words of advice or inspiration for your fans and those who have been moved by your story and your practice of martial arts? We’d love to hear your parting words and any words of wisdom you have to offer
Master Tu Tengyao:
- Hello to all the fans overseas, and thank you for liking Wing Chun and Chinese kung fu. I am just one of thousands of martial arts inheritors in China, and my videos have been fortunate enough to catch your attention.
- In the eyes of the Chinese people, martial arts are not just a combat technique, but also a spirit that is fearless in the face of danger and tenaciously struggles on, representing our positive energy.
- Wing Chun originated from Shaolin and has undergone over a hundred years of inheritance and development. Its characteristics are speed, efficiency, and wisdom. It is also a way to develop the body and mind. It is a valuable martial art that is worth everyone’s love and study.
- I hope that while you enjoy Chinese martial arts, you can also gain a deeper understanding of the ideas and spiritual qualities within our martial arts.
- I wish you all a richer and more practical harvest.
