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M
y name is Armen Melkonyan. I’m from
Yerevan, Armenia. I have been studying
Wushu since 2003. I’m more specialized in
Taichi. Since 2006, I have been a perma-
nent member in the national team of the
Traditional Wushu Federation of Armenia. I have partici-
pated in many European and international competitions and
have received several awards. In 2009, I received training at
the Athletic Studies University of Chengdu, China. In 2010-
2011 I was trained by Master Mao Mingchun of the Confu-
cius Institute in Armenia.
Every nation has its own customs and traditions which
play a great role in their language learning, in getting to
know their country and people, their national music, reli-
gion, and arts, as well as their sports. In terms of Wushu, a
typical Chinese martial art, it’s vitally important that those
who study it must receive training in China from Chinese
masters at least once. As for me, I am very thankful to all
my Chinese masters who trained me both in China and here
in Armenia. Due to their efficient and intensive training, I
attained those skills and techniques and understood those
nuances in Wushu I never would have, had I not studied in
China. Only thanks to them, mainly to Master Mao, I was
able to earn prizes in my competitions. In the last interna-
tional Wushu competition which took place in Armenia in
2011, I performed the famous Taichi 45th form and Taichi
stick form as taught by Master Mao and got 1st and 2nd
prizes. Thanks to them, Wushu has become not only a sim-
ple sport, but also a way of life, way of thinking, way of en-
tire philosophical doctrine for me, which I must study every
single day.
At first I was much more interested in Wushu only as
a sport and as a means of gaining physical strength. I was
especially motivated by such great and famous Wushu prac-
titioners as Jet Li, Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and many oth-
ers. But as I got deeply into it and understood the depth of
Wushu, I learned that it is not just a sport but rather a whole
philosophy. It makes not only your body and your muscles
strong, but also your mind. It brings harmony to both mind
and body. With Wushu, both wisdom and emotions are sure
to be in harmony.
Wushu is not only a physical art but an aesthetic one as
well. If one grasps the key moral of Wushu, it will surely
bring peace to the soul and will teach how to attain pleasure
every step of the way.
Wushu has inevitably become the essential part of my life
and, after many years of training, I see that it has a great im-
pact on both my personal and professional life.
VIEWS OF CHINA
Confucius Institute
VOLUME 17 | NO.6 NOV. 2011