CHANGSHA, China, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- A trailblazing educational movement is taking shape as schools embrace the traditional martial arts within their teaching frameworks across central China's Hunan Province.

At Siyuan Experimental School in Xinhua County, as early winter brings a refreshing chill, students dive into martial arts training with vigor and enthusiasm. Their movements, an elegant fusion of traditional Meishan martial arts techniques, display an impressive combination of physical skill and cultural awareness.

Xinhua County, renowned as a center for martial arts and the birthplace of the respected Meishan style, is capitalizing on its rich cultural heritage to encourage the inclusion of martial arts in school curriculum.

According to Zhou Longze, a local education official, this initiative involves incorporating martial arts into the overall educational quality assessment framework and offering specialized training for physical education teachers.

Over 400 schools in Xinhua have incorporated martial arts into their curricula. This significant shift has transformed nearly 1,000 physical education teachers into martial arts instructors. As a result, around 200,000 students are now actively engaged in martial arts training, with over 60,000 of them having attained martial arts grading certifications.

"Martial arts education encourages children to be active and engaged, leading to increased strength, positivity, and self-confidence, as well as enhanced vitality and enthusiasm," said Wu Bin, Principal of Siyuan Experimental School.

Wu added that with the "Double Reduction" policy to ease academic stress for schoolchildren in place, schools are committed to further promoting martial arts on campus.

Parents, like Mrs. Yang from Xinhuang Dong Autonomous County of Huaihua city in Hunan, are openly praising the program for its beneficial impact on their children's physical development and martial arts skills, which is demonstrated by their children's achievements in martial arts competitions.

Commencing in 2021, Xinhuang Dong Autonomous County has embarked on a project to integrate traditional studies, medicine, and martial arts into the school curriculum. This includes a well-structured martial arts syllabus tailored for all levels of education, with seasoned martial arts practitioners imparting their knowledge in schools.

"In the last three years, the county has hosted over 130 martial arts events in schools, training nearly 70,000 students in total," said Liu Shaozhong, the Director of Xinhuang Dong Autonomous County's Education Bureau.

Liu added that the consistent integration of martial arts into the school curriculum has significantly enhanced the culture of practicing martial arts and embracing its virtues among primary and secondary school students. This initiative has also markedly improved key metrics such as the students' overall physical health and fitness levels. Enditem

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