Keystone Magazine The_Keystone-07 | Page 43

Meet Our Teachers “Wushu Is Not What You Think It Is!” In Dialogue with Wushu Teacher Mao Xiaokun When people think about Wushu (martial arts) practitioners, they often think of the Kungfu masters depicted in popular movies and TV shows, a monk living in quiet seclusion or a hermit with an idiosyncratic personality and rich interior life. After finishing their Wushu class, students at Keystone enthusiastically run out of their classrooms. Behind them follows the smiling face of their Wushu teacher, Mao Xiaokun. Mr. Mao, dressed in a gray Chinese-style buttoned outfit, has a gentle, modest personality that is distinctive of Wushu practitioners. Born into a family of Wushu masters, Mr. Mao practiced the martial art at a Kungfu school in his hometown from childhood. Because of this love for Wushu, he chose to study Wushu alongside education during his college and postgraduate education. Before joining Keystone, Mr. Mao taught at the ISF Academy in Hong Kong. Today, he has been teaching Wushu at Keystone for almost four years. Speaking of his childhood, Mr. Mao recalls the hardships of Wushu training but it is clear that he has a strong sense of fulfillment. Having weathered many difficulties, Mr. Mao is now bringing the nourishment of Wushu to the next generation here at Keystone. Wushu is his legacy. The Keystone Magazine 39