Jet Li wants to make Taiji an Olympic sport
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"The Expendables" star Jet Li is not just eying Hollywood but is working to include Chinese martial arts in the Olympics.
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Action star Jet Li teaches his self-developed exercise Wuji in Beijing on August 5, 2009. [CRI] |
Li announced his plan on August 26 in Beijing where he was named image ambassador for the inaugural SportAccord Combat Games, the Beijing News reports.
Li will work specifically on promoting the martial art of Taijiquan.
"It's my dream to help Taiji push-hands become an official Olympic sport," Li was quoted as saying. "I'll spare no efforts to make that happen in 20 years."
Taiji push-hands, or "tuishou" in Chinese, refer to the two-person training routines involving Taiji moves and concepts that improve flexibility and balance.
Li used Korean Taekwondo and Japanese Judo as examples, and said he dreamed about Chinese Taiji being practiced around the world.
In 2008, Li launched a nationwide fitness project to promote his self-developed exercise called Wuji among urbanites. Wuji blends martial-arts moves with Yoga positions.
The weeklong SportAccord Combat Games, which open on August 28 in Beijing, will see more than 1,000 competitors from 66 countries and regions vying in 13 categories, including Wushu, Taekwondo, Judo, Karate, Muay Thai, boxing and wrestling.
