But for traditional Chinese martial artists, their kung fu extends beyond protecting the village from brigands and beating rival fighters in the next village, province or state. Their strength, agility, balance and athletic skills are demonstrated annually not during knock down dragged out tournaments but during the lunar New Year through the lion and dragon dance ceremony.

This shamanistic ritual is believed to be vital for the community by chasing away evil spirits, bad karma and purify the space to usher in peace and prosperity for the New Year. Something we all could us these days.

In the Big Apple this tradition continues as you can see in this video of an awesome lion and dragon performance by the Wan Chi Ming Hung Gar Institute.
And for those whose appreciation of martial arts is practical, check out these guys’ leg strength, endurance, flexibility, and balance concealed behind these thrilling – and dangerous – lion and dragon movements. Acquiring these physical attributes would enhance any modern martial artists fighting abilities.

By the way, in this video there is a shot of Hung Gar Master Wan Chi Ming. In 1984, he led ten martial art teachers – I had the honor to be one – to visit the Shaolin Temple. We were among the first foreign guests of the Chinese government to visit the Shaolin when it was still closed to the outside world.

It’s over 28 years since I was with him in the Shaolin courtyard. His New York Chinatown school has evolved: five pristine lion heads, a dragon, uniforms when once there were only two simple lion heads, no dragon and performers in blue jeans and street clothes. And the elaborate staging and precise coordination of the show elevated the simpler street performances to theater. That’s progress.

But now watching Master Wan’s students pounding the drums and performing the lion and dragon’s ritual movements as he once did a generation ago, I realized that no matter how much things change – or seem to progress – in the end, things are the same. That’s tradition.

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