Xiaoxue (Noel), a Myanmar student at Beijing Foreign Studies University, is redefining cultural exchange – one wrestling throw at a time. The international relations major recently tried Chinese wrestling after a classmate's recommendation, blending her interest in martial arts with hands-on learning about Chinese traditions.
\\"In taekwondo, speed and kicks dominate,\\" Xiaoxue told myglobalnews.net. \\"But Chinese wrestling feels like playing 4D chess with your body. It\u2019s not just strength – you strategize using leverage and momentum.\\" Her experience highlights how sports bridge cultures, with over 68% of international students in China reporting improved cross-cultural understanding through extracurricular activities, according to 2023 education ministry data.
What started as physical training became philosophical exploration. Xiaoxue describes matches as \\"respect rituals\\" where competitors elevate each other through competitive grace. This mirrors China\u2019s growing sports diplomacy efforts, with traditional martial arts programs attracting 12% more international participants this year.
Social media users have rallied behind Xiaoxue\u2019s journey, with her training videos amassing 2.3M+ views. \\"She\u2019s proof that global citizenship thrives through curiosity,\\" commented one Weibo user. As Xiaoxue prepares for her first tournament, her story exemplifies how young people are rewriting international relations – one cultural exchange at a time.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
