The Faculty of Physical Education (FEF) at Unicamp has supported, since 2000, through an agreement with the Chinese Martial Arts Study Center (Ceamc), the practice of Wushu (Chinese martial arts). This partnership bore fruit not only for the university community and its surroundings, but also had an impact on the development of Wushu in Brazil. Today, according to its coordinator Paulo Sakanaka, the University is a national reference for these practices, being present with its athletes in the main international championships. Furthermore, it contributes to the training and selection of athletes from across the country. Among the modalities taught and practiced at the University are Tai-chi-chuan and Kungfu.
“I started training at Unicamp. I graduated in Music. I liked it so much that I switched to Physical Education. Afterwards, I went to do my master's degree in China, at Beijing Sport University and my doctorate at Birmingham University, in England. Now, I'm back at Unicamp doing a postdoc at the Faculty of Medical Sciences (FCM), on movement analysis in children with cerebral palsy”, said Tania Emi Sakanaka, gold medalist at the Wushu World Championship, in the Baguazhang category.
According to Paulo Sakanaka, who is a retired professor at the Gleb Wataghin Institute of Physics (IFGW) and co-founder and director of Center for Chinese Martial Arts Studies (Ceamc), Currently, the FEF has a solid and internationally recognized team of athletes. The Center, in partnership with FEF, promotes the practice of Wushu in the modalities Tai-chi-chuan, Sanda and Kungfu, including forms and fights. The practices are developed in extension courses, offered every semester, from beginners to advanced, via the Sports Development Coordination (CODESP).
In addition to the courses, the Faculty receives, four times a year, the selection of the Brazilian Wushu Confederation. For two days, the best wushu athletes in the country gather at Unicamp to improve their skills and be selected for the main international competitions.
Ceamc and the Brazilian Confederation also promote arbitration courses together every two years at the FEF. “Learning the rules of arbitration also serves to train athletes and improve their efficiency in competitions”, explained Paulo.
Third Age
Ceamc has also been operating, since 2017, alongside Unicamp's UniversIDADE Program, offering courses in Tai Chi Chuan for the elderly. “The return is gratifying. We heard many reports of improved balance, pain, everything”, said Kazuko Sakata Hayakawa, responsible for the course together with Masuko Yokoyama Karawsawe. According to her, Tai-chi-chuan acts on brain oxygenation, body movement, balance and the mind. “Students leave class much more excited, with much more energy. They can’t wait for class next week,” she reported.
The success of the classes is such that the teachers are now creating a new class in the FEF extension courses, aimed at seniors. "At the UniversIDADE program each student cannot enroll for more than two semesters in the same workshop. And the people who train Tai-chi don’t want to stop,” said Kasuko. “Tai-chi respects everyone’s limits, which is why it can be performed by any age, from the elderly to athletes. Sometimes, people think they don't have balance, that they don't have coordination, that they don't have strength and in the end Tai chi she acquires all of this”, he recalled.
