CyberFair Project ID: 7248

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International Schools CyberFair Project Narrative
Title: Ba-Ji
Category: 8. Local Music and Art Forms
URL: http://librarywork.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2012/gsh7248/
Bibliography: http://librarywork.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2012/gsh7248/narrative-9.htm

School: Rixin Primary School
    Taipei, N/A, Taiwan

8 students, ages 10-12 worked together to complete this CyberFair project on February 22, 2012. They have participated in CyberFair in the following year(s): 2011

Classes and Teachers: teacher of gifted

E-Mail contact:

Our School's Web Site: http://www.zhps.tp.edu.tw/

Project Overview

1. Description of Our Community

http://librarywork.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2012/gsh7248/narrative-2.htm

The subject of this research project, “Ba-Ji-Quan”, was mainly taken with reference to the “Wufong Martial Art Study Center”, which is located at Ping-an St., Sanchong Dist., New Taipei City.

“Wufong Martial Art Study Center”, founded by Master Chi-Wen Chen in 1992, was originally intended to gather some martial art fans and provide a place for them to practice. How time flies! It has been 20 years since its founding. Since then, the Center has fostered many talents, including national coaches and referees for martial arts and has promoted the “traditional martial art” in places. The members of Wufong comprise students from National Taiwan University of Arts, Jinwen University of Science and Technology, Ming Chuan University, Huafan University and Rixin Elementary School and various areas of the society. Anyone of any age who is devoted to the practice of “traditional martial art” can be a member of Wufong.

Teaching at is mainly in “Ba-Ji-Quan” and “Pi-gua-quan”, along with supplementary courses like Tang-lang-quan, Ba-gua-zhang, Chen’s Taiqi, Mi-zong-quan and various weapons. Wufong features the importance taken in “traditional martial art”, which requires the disciples at Wufong to respect their tutors, value the philosophy, be friendly to the alumni and respect other schools as well as observe “Benevolence, Righteousness, Etiquette, Wisdom, Creditability, Seriousness and Valiancy”, to be a person with integrity and do right.

2. Summary of Our Project

http://librarywork.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2012/gsh7248/narrative-2.htm

This research project aims to explore “Ba-Ji-Quan” among Chinese martial arts. “Ba-Ji-Quan” is particular about eight human body areas, the head, the shoulders, the elbows, the hands, the hip, the groin, the knees and the feet, to remind the learners of the coordination of the body and the balance with the surrounding. The phrase “Ba-Ji” thus can be interpreted as constant vigilance and requires the practice on these areas to perfect to the extreme extent.

This research takes importantly the spirit of “martial virtues” which is highly valued in “Ba-Ji-Quan”, as the motto goes, “Among static arts, there is Taiqi that pacifies the all people, while among the martial arts, there is Ba-Ji that settle the world”. It is the soul of Ba-Ji School, which is about the equal importance of both martial virtues and the fist techniques, that keeps the School survive long with profundity. It is also the martial virtues, which link all the veins of Ba-Ji-Quan, that enable Ba-Ji School to pass on till date without ebbing.

“Martial virtues”, including “Benevolence, Righteousness, Etiquette, Wisdom, Creditability, Seriousness and Valiancy”, are not a slogan; rather, they are the norm which a martial art practitioner should observe. They are literally a concept and an attitude toward martial arts in living, and essential to being a “man”!

It is hoped, through the exploration of the research project, that the spirit of martial virtues would slowly influence the mind of practitioners and readers, to achieve the purpose of virtue cultivation.

3. Our Computer and Internet Access

A. Percentage of students using the Internet at home:more than 50%

B. Number of workstations with Internet access in the classroom:4-6

C. Connection speed used in the classroom:dedicated connection

D. Number of years our classroom has been connected to the Internet:more than 6

E. Additional comments concerning your computer and/or Internet access (Optional):

http://librarywork.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2012/gsh7248/narrative-2.htm

The internet environment at the school: There are two computer classrooms in the school equipped with the Windows XP system. A computer is in each class; every of the other subject-based classrooms is equipped with computer for surfing the internet. The school is connected via optic fiber to the server at Taipei City Government. The school also has Wi-Fi for administrative and teaching use.

The internet environment at home: The members use ADSL at 12M/3M and optic fiber at 50M/5M to surf the internet at home.oth the teachers and the students use the platform of joint network center, which the teachers built with XOOPS, to enable the members to upload the gathered information at any time, participate in issue discussions and to grasp messages and work progress at all times.

4. Problems We Had To Overcome

http://librarywork.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2012/gsh7248/narrative-2.htm

We did not have a clue when first approaching Ba-Ji-Quan. The information gathered must be identified as whether correct or not; many terms could not be understood—they are in classical writing. Fortunately we had Master Chi-wen Chen explain on them, with motions complementing the description, by which we eventually felt through. With the preliminary understand of Ba-Ji-Quan, we were better at managing to screen the information as needed.

The first time we took photos, we took whomever with the fist drill and weapon, and we took a lot. But, we found none of the photos taken useful after sorting them out. There were even some shots missed; so, we went back again and again till all the photos were complete. Finally, we learned to plan on shooting and to picture in mind what they look like; we then discussed with Master Chen and shot as he instructed. It turned out much better.

At first, we wanted to make a video of the art; but, the file was too big in size. After discussion, we took the movements apart into several photos in fixed form in GIF format, which finally solved the problem of oversize of the file.

When we were organizing the interview materials, we forgot the name of some motions in the photos and were unable to link the photos to the article correctly. We had no other ways but to go back to the big brothers and sisters in Wufong for clarification. As with the tape recording of the interview, we had to listen to it repeatedly to type it out and reorganize it, which took much time. But, when, at last, it was finished, we all went with a big cheer of YA!

5. Our Project Sound Bite

http://librarywork.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2012/gsh7248/narrative-3.htm

In this research project, our team learned about the history, weapons and fist techniques of Ba-Ji-Quan by interviewing Chi-wen Chen, instructor at the Martial Art Society of the school.

We recommend the school to incorporate martial arts in the curriculum of physical training so that the children increase their individual physical ability in the course of martial arts; also, the learning of martial virtue serves as the cultivation of personal character.

Further, the school and the community are combined to jointly promote the learning of martial arts, so that the people in the community have the opportunity of exposure to the beauty of martial art, further to achieve the state of integrated body, mind and soul.

6. How did your activities and research for this CyberFair Project support standards, required coursework and curriculum standards?

http://librarywork.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2012/gsh7248/narrative-3.htm#area http://librarywork.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2012/gsh7248/narrative-5.htm http://librarywork.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2012/gsh7248/narrative-5-1.htm

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Project Elements

1) What information tools & technologies did you used to complete your CyberFair project?

http://librarywork.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2012/gsh7248/narrative-3.htm#equipment

2) In what ways did you act as "ambassadors" and spokespersons for your CyberFair project both on-line and in person.

http://librarywork.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2012/gsh7248/narrative-7.htm#father http://librarywork.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2012/gsh7248/interview.htm http://librarywork.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2012/gsh7248/survey.htm

3) What has been the impact of your project on your community?

http://librarywork.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2012/gsh7248/survey.htm http://librarywork.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2012/gsh7248/narrative-3.htm#community

In this research project, our team learned about the history, weapons and fist techniques of Ba-Ji-Quan by interviewing Chi-wen Chen, instructor at the Martial Art Society of the school.

We recommend the school to incorporate martial arts in the curriculum of physical training so that the children increase their individual physical ability in the course of martial arts; also, the learning of martial virtue serves as the cultivation of personal character.

Further, the school and the community are combined to jointly promote the learning of martial arts, so that the people in the community have the opportunity of exposure to the beauty of martial art, further to achieve the state of integrated body, mind and soul.

4) How did your project involve other members of your community as helpers and volunteers?

http://librarywork.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2012/gsh7248/honor-7.htm http://librarywork.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2012/gsh7248/interview.htm http://librarywork.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2012/gsh7248/survey.htm

5) Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises (Optional)

http://librarywork.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2012/gsh7248/narrative-3.htm#surprises

We would use the practice time at the Wufong martial art study center on Sundays to do the interviews, record and take photos. We found at the first time we were there that their stately motions and posture were just like a worrier swaying his broad saber; what was more, their instructor, Master Chi-wen Chen, was like ‘Ip man’ in the movie, agile and powerful. The number of practitioners is so great that the size of their array is incredible; it was only then that we realized that with sport centers studded everywhere, there are still many people practicing and passing on the traditional martial arts as their top choice for strengthening the body. That is invaluable!

During interviewing, while we took the photo of various fist styles and weapons, we further observed that every learner was always highly attentive and respectful when Master Chen taught or preached, and that they were kind and polite to each other. In our eyes was a totally different atmosphere, in which they really accomplished the practice of both martial arts and morality.

The most impressive thing was that the young Chuin-Kai Hsu, said to suffer cerebral palsy, remained smiling all the time despite he could not make accurate punch with his limbs. We heard that he had had a worse spine and his shoulders had been uneven on both sides, but those have improved greatly because his father has persistently accompanied him in the training. He was even interviewed by the TV network! I think with such surprising outcome from practicing Ba-Ji-Quan, there should be more people drawn to learn this excellent traditional martial art.

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View our CyberFair Project (Project ID: 7248)

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