Martial Arts Livestreaming
Chapter 48 - 46: Interviews are also a Battle (Part 2)

Chapter 48: Chapter 46: Interviews are also a Battle (Part 2)

The host initially paused, not expecting Han Yuanfei to deviate from the script. Then the director spoke in her earpiece, "Keep going, let him ask."

Thus, the host did not interrupt Han Yuanfei and turned to Wu Li to see how he would respond.

Wu Li smiled at Han Yuanfei, "I won’t delve into the origins and development of Traditional Martial Arts. I will just speak about its purpose. No matter how much modern times have changed Traditional Martial Arts, its initial aim was singular—to kill enemies."

"When we learned a skill, it had to be useful enough for us to dedicate time to mastering it. In the past, Traditional Martial Arts could be used on the battlefield to earn merit and fame, or later for participating in Martial Arts Scholar exams, bringing fortune to descendants; in more recent history, it could at least protect someone’s home or earn a living as a bodyguard; but what about today? We live in a society governed by laws, where the state promotes choreographed routines. In everyday life, learning a lethal skill has no application, not even enough to sustain oneself. Who would spend their days solely on this?"

"So currently, the majority of those practicing Traditional Martial Arts are essentially hobbyists because they also juggle other jobs to sustain themselves. They can’t dedicate significant time to training daily, so their skill levels aren’t profound. These amateur practitioners are naturally at a disadvantage compared to professional fighters who train physically every day and earn their living by competing in real matches."

"Using these amateurs to represent Traditional Martial Arts seems inappropriate." Wu Li concluded, then turned back to Han Yuanfei.

Han Yuanfei scoffed, "So by your reasoning, all those who lose are just hobbyists, their skills lacking. May I ask where the professional practitioners of Traditional Martial Arts are? Are there none, or is it just you?"

Wu Li shook his head, "Of course it’s not just me. If you’re asking about professional practitioners, there are many, especially in the military. When the military adopted Fighting Skill, they invited numerous Traditional Martial Arts masters to serve as instructors, and many combat instructors in the military have backgrounds in Traditional Martial Arts."

Han Yuanfei’s face was full of mockery, "Empty claims, you say there are those—but how? You are too young, it’s as if you were there when Fighting Skill was promoted in the military."

Wu Li remained unflustered, calmly stating, "Indeed, I wasn’t present, but my claims are not baseless; several national leaders and military lords of that era employed masters of Traditional Martial Arts as bodyguards or instructors. Let me name a few: Mr. Du Xinwu, Mr. Sun Lutang, and Mr. Han Muxia. The deeds of these people are real and verifiable. I assume not everyone back then felt like you do—that Traditional Martial Arts were ineffective."

Han Yuanfei: "..."

He had initially spoken out of spite, as he was annoyed that Wu Li was gaining more attention. He hadn’t anticipated a well-argued response from Wu Li, leaving him struggling to save face.

"Those masters might have had true Kung Fu, but times advance, and Martial Arts progress. Today, Martial Arts competitions are nearly daily events with numerous styles flourishing. A modern professional fighter has perhaps faced more opponents in a few years than those Traditional Martial Arts masters did in their lifetimes. Martial Arts is skill-based and progress comes with practical combat. At the very least, nowadays, I believe Traditional Martial Arts are outdated and unfit for modern competitions," suddenly Lu Ping joined the discussion.

The host paused, she hardly had a chance to speak earlier, and now with Lu Ping joining the debate, she felt the interview was slipping out of her control.

"Continue, let them talk," the director spoke again.

Host: "..."

Wu Li nodded, then addressed Lu Ping, "I agree that Martial Arts must involve more real combat to progress, but we seemingly have a misunderstanding about what ’real combat’ is. What you refer to as real combat is more akin to sports competition—it aims to knock down an opponent or score points, whereas real combat involves inflicting damage, which isn’t allowed in sports. You mention that a modern professional fighter might face more opponents in a few years than Traditional Masters did in their lifetimes—I agree, but if it came down to a life-and-death struggle, I believe the likes of Du Xinwu would likely have the upper hand. Why? Because their awareness is different; modern fighters don’t aim for or defend against vital points, which would put them at a disadvantage in actual combat."

As Lu Ping spoke, Han Yuanfei quickly regrouped and interjected, "Ultimately, your argument is conjured from imagination; it can’t be proven and doesn’t allow those Traditional Masters to come back to life and compete against us today. Despite all the talk, Traditional Martial Arts still lack concrete proof of effectiveness; they have no real combat records."

Wu Li retorted, "How can you say that? Aside from my track record, what about Sandboxing, which many fighters in major competitions use and which evolved from Traditional Martial Arts? Plus, some fighters with a background in Traditional Martial Arts have performed well in the arena. Doesn’t this count?"

"Sandboxing?" laughed Lu Ping, "I started with Sandboxing. I must say the concept of fighting, the training methods, the entire system of Sandboxing has no relationship with Traditional Martial Arts. It’s a brand-new system. You say it evolved from Traditional Martial Arts, but which style does it represent? Bagua? Yong Chun? Xingyi?"

Wu Li remained calm and responded, "Sandboxing originated from the ’free hand’ techniques of Traditional Martial Arts. In ’79 our country initiated Sandboxing competitions to facilitate ring fights, thus refining the most practical and rule-compliant techniques from various Martial Arts. It was purely designed for competition, incorporating practical moves from hundreds of boxing styles, which have evolved over the years to fit competition rules. Today, it certainly can’t represent one style exclusively, but you can’t claim there’s no connection to Traditional Martial Arts. After learning everything about fighting in the ring from Traditional Martial Arts, you turn around and deny any association, claiming Traditional Martial Arts are ineffective—that’s akin to denying one’s heritage."

"You!" Lu Ping was visibly flushed and tense, ready to throw a punch if they weren’t on air.

Frustrated by his inability to argue or fight back, Lu Ping stood awkwardly onstage, feeling utterly disgraced.

Han Yuanfei wanted to help Lu Ping say something, but when he opened his mouth, he didn’t know what to say, making the atmosphere awkward for a moment.

"Host, speak up!" The director’s voice came through the earpiece again.

"Ah!" The host realized, she had just watched Wu Li going against two opponents, leaving them speechless, and momentarily forgot she herself was the host...

"It seems there is indeed a lot of controversy regarding Traditional Martial Arts, Wu Li, what do you think the biggest problem with Traditional Martial Arts is today?" the host asked.

Wu Li looked at the host, "Traditional Martial Arts indeed have many problems in the modern world, I won’t deny that. You could say they are restricted in modern combat sports competitions; in terms of efficiency, they indeed do not measure up to modern Martial Arts that are tailored for specific rules. But you can’t say that Traditional Martial Arts are just fancy forms without any practical use."

"I have mentioned practical examples of Traditional Martial Arts, and you say those are old examples, people like Du Xinwu are no longer here, you want current examples, but where can the general public see such current practical fights? I say Sandboxing is something that evolved from Traditional Martial Arts specifically for fighting in the ring, and you say Sandboxing has no relation to Traditional Martial Arts, isn’t that just being dishonest?" Wu Li frowned.

"If that’s the case, I do have an idea."

Host, "Oh, what is it?"

Wu Li, "Since so many people think Traditional Martial Arts are just fancy forms and can’t be used in real fight, then let’s compare them under the rules of real combat."

Host, "How would you compare?"

Wu Li, "In real combat, using weapons isn’t too much, right? The essence of Traditional Martial Arts is weapons combat, so let’s compare using weapons combat, with spears, knives, swords, all are acceptable."

Host, "Are there such competitions now?"

Wu Li shook his head, "Very few. As far as I know, aside from Japan’s Sword Dao, the only weapons combat competitions in our country are in Taiwan, which have Big Spear competitions, such as the Baji Spear; even so, they attract few people and develop with difficulty."

Wu Li’s voice heightened, "Imagine if one day, there could be a global competition, everyone wearing protective equipment, using big spears, knives, swords, sticks... essentially, a pure weapons fight!"

Host, now a bit interested, "Then what?"

Wu Li, "Then fighters of all types from around the world would come to compete. Doesn’t everyone think Traditional Martial Arts are just fancy forms? In terms of the variety of weapons, the depth of research on weapons, and the mastery of weapon handling, Chinese Martial Arts can claim to be second in the world, and which country would dare to claim they are first?"

Han Yuanfei couldn’t help but say, "That’s really funny, we practice unarmed combat, and you want us to compete in weapon fighting, isn’t that challenging the strong with the weak? What would winning prove?"

Wu Li looked at him, asking in the same tone, "That’s really funny, Traditional Martial Arts are practiced for real combat, and you want us to fight in the ring, isn’t that also challenging the strong with the weak? What would winning prove?"

Han Yuanfei, "..."

The host, feeling pity, glanced at Han Yuanfei, who was clearly struck down by Wu Li in today’s "battle."

Wu Li turned his head back to the camera, "You all think Traditional Martial Arts can’t achieve good results under your rules, then let’s have a weapons fight. If they lose then, can Traditional Martial Arts also say that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, Karate, Boxing... are all just fancy forms?"

(This Chapter reflects my personal views on Traditional Martial Arts and modern combat sports, for your reference. Sometimes I really wish there was a protagonist in real life who could speak up for Traditional Martial Arts, having huge influence and ability to host such an event.)

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