Jianzi is the Chinese version of a hackey sack (Jianzi kicking is also translated as shuttlecock kicking). The rules are simple, but the game is not. It's been played in China for more than 2,000 years. And it's still hugely popular. This 72-year-old is known as the King of jianzi kicking in Beijing.

"My name is Fan Tianyuan. I am 72 this year. I love playing jianzi very much, and I started kicking jianzi when I was young. Playing jianzi brings me happiness, friendship as well as health."

Fan was a fragile child and always bullied when he was a kid. But this games changed his life.

"When I went to Tiantan Park by chance in 1969, I saw an old man with long white beard kicking the jianzi and doing tricks. I was mesmerized."

The elderly man that Fan saw was Zhang Jisheng, who was famous in the early 20th century as a master of this sport.

Fan was lucky enough to be chosen as his pupil.

"He told me it was not easy for a student to find a good master, while it was also hard for a master to find a good student. My teacher was particular about two things. Moral integrity…and diligence. To succeed, you must have those qualities."

The master's teaching method was unique.

"As a novice, he only asked me to practice primitive movements, not too many tricks. I had to watch carefully and think a lot."

The master died at the ripe age of 98. But Fan never forgot what he had taught him and continued to pass on his skills until he was 58 and an illness got in the way.

"I was told I was in the middle to late period of rectal cancer. Everyone was worried about me. Fortunately, I recovered very well after the operation. After half a year, I was the champion in a jianzi competition...1798 times…in a row."

Fan is still going strong. He still plays and continues to teach.

A team member of the Xingfuercun Jianzi Team in Beijing,

"Fan is highly placed among the jianzi fans because he has played it for over 40 years and kept up his pursuit of the game his whole life. He had cancer before, and kept on doing the sport after the operation, which benefited his recovery. His story gives inspiration and confidence to lots of patients. I was inspired by Master Fan, and my ability to kick jianzi along with my health are getting better day by day."

"Like father, like son", Fan's son is also a player and he's also won many national matches.

"My son likes jianzi as well, and he is a quick learner with good flexibility, so he easily improves the skills, and in some respects, he has exceeded me."

Fan is sure his son will follow in his footsteps and one day himself be the Jianzi king.

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