In a wushu (Chinese martial arts) club located in the city of Sulaymaniyah in Iraq, over 100 Chinese martial arts enthusiasts clad in training attire are diligently practicing wushu routines, each strike executed with power, precision and thunderous short yells.
Despite temperatures soaring above 40 C, their passion for wushu burns even hotter.
Amid the intense training, Burhan, the founder of this wushu club, weaves through the lines of students, correcting and guiding their techniques.
Like many foreign enthusiasts of Chinese kung fu, his fascination was sparked by Bruce Lee’s movies. He devoured books, bought DVDs and sought out masters, starting his martial arts journey at the age of 8.
As he delved deeper, his interest in Chinese culture grew stronger. “To master Chinese martial arts, one must understand the culture and philosophy behind it,” he explains. “Just like an Arab proverb says, ‘Seek knowledge even if you have to go as far as China’, the same applies to wushu.”
In 2011, he embarked on a journey to China’s Henan province to pursue his kung fu dream.
This dream-fulfilling journey provided him with comprehensive wushu training and a deeper understanding of the cultural logic and traditional spirit behind various Chinese martial arts styles.
“Shaolin kung fu emphasizes both internal and external cultivation; tai chi embodies the wisdom of conquering the unyielding with the yielding; and Wing Chun balances both hardness and softness. Every move in wushu embodies the essence of ancient Chinese philosophy,” he says.