officials of Chinese Embassy
A team of eight (8) participants who have just returned from China, where they attended the 2017 training course on Taiji Boxing of Chen Style for Developing Countries visited Mr. Shen Xiaokai, the Economic and Commercial Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Freetown on Monday, 13 November, 2017.
The essence of the visit according to Abu Bakarr Kamara, Team Leader of the group was to express their gratitude by thanking the Counselor, and the staff of the Confucius institute at Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone for providing the opportunity for them to attend the training course in China.
They also decided to perform their Taiji skills in front of a packed audience. The duration of the program was six (6) months from 8th May to 3rd November 2017 and the training was organized by Henan University of Technology. Those who were present to grace the occasion included Staff of the Confucius Institute at Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, members of the Chinese Business Community, and staff of the Economic & Commercial Counselor’s office.
The participants said the six month training program was very good for them and suggested to the Economic & Commercial Counselor that they intend to establish a Martial Arts Association in Sierra Leone to continue learning Tiaji boxing. They also showed the medals that they won and played a brief video highlighting the content of the training program.
The Taiji Boxing is a worldwide internal health/martial arts training program. Its focus is based on the supreme healing/fighting arts of Taiji Quan (Tai Chi Chuan). There are currently more than 10,000 students in 30 Countries who are learning Taiji boxing skill, and there is even a World Taiji Boxing Association (WTBA).
Mr. Shen Xiaokai, the Economic and Commercial Counselor, in his remarks welcomed the participants in his office and said he was delighted to see young Sierra Leoneans learning new skills that will benefit them in life. Mr. Shen told the participants that he deliberately invited the Chinese Business Community to create the bridge that will connect them for possible future opportunities. He stated that the Chinese government will continue to provide more training opportunity for Sierra Leoneans in the years ahead. The occasion was climax with 30 minutes of live demonstration from the participants to the amusement of the cheering spectators.
Thursday November 16, 2017.