Extreme Martial Arts Is Catching On
It is literally the age of Internet clubs. There are more than 13,000 sports-related clubs in Daum Café. There is nothing that these clubs do not have. If you are curious about something, all you have to do is search, and soon you will find many people who share your curiosity. From mermaid wannabes, who wear flippers on their feet, to people who practice stunt martial arts, theres nothing you cant find on the web. Here are some unusual sports clubs.
A movie named Shaolin Soccer was released in 2002. On the surface, the film comically portrays comical martial arts soccer, but deep down, the film can be interpreted as a search for how martial arts can survive in the modern world.
Likewise, there are people in search of a new field of martial arts in Korea. They are the members of Extreme Martial Arts X-file, a martial arts club in Daum Café.
On July 30, some 20 people gathered at a gym in Gyeonggi Province. After stretching briefly, they started to fly across the gym. The people are members of a club named Extreme Martial Arts, and the members practice stunt martial arts.
Asian martial arts, such as Taekwondo, aikido, and kung fu, are now very popular in Korea. Kim Dong-jin (30) first started the club with a few others in 2004. In just two years, there are now about 25,000 online members.
The young generation finds martial arts attractive because it is cool. Kim Yong-bum (19) brought his girlfriend to the gym that day and said that he likes martial arts because its cool and showy. His girlfriend couldnt close her mouth upon seeing her boyfriend doing stunts in the air.
Another attraction would be that the atmosphere is liberal and that self-expression is possible. This is a clear distinction from a typical martial arts gym.
You are free to express what you wish, and you can even name a new technique after yourself, said Woo Young-gong (24), a member of the club.
Elementary techniques are easy, but advanced techniques require a minimum of one year of practice for even black belt holders.
Practice is difficult and painful, but the satisfaction of a successful move is beyond words, said Kim Dong-jin, who is one of those who initiated martial arts in Korea and a member of Jump, a martial arts performing group.
kimsk@donga.com
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