Located in southeast China's Fujian Province, the coastal city of Quanzhou is the starting point of the Maritime Silk Road. The rich history and multicultural intersection have made it more inclusive. It is also a thriving place for martial arts and where the Wuzu Fist emerged as one of the traditional Chinese fists.

Originating in the Song Dynasty (960—1279), the Wuzu Fist is classified as the southern fist style. It is known to merge features of five fists in one: the fierceness of the Taizu Fist, the elasticity of the Baihe Fist, speed of the Xingzou Fist, body movements of the Dazun Fist, and posture of Arhat Fist. On June 7, 2008, the Wuzu Fist was officially included in the second batch of China's national intangible cultural heritage.

Zhang Xiaofeng is an inheritor of the Wuzu Fist. He has been fond of traditional martial arts since childhood. He learned from Su Zaifu, a renowned exponent of the Wuzu Fist who taught him how to develop determination and confidence to master the complicated techniques. In 37 years of practicing martial arts, Zhang has won many competitions.

Besides being an inheritor of traditional martial arts, he is also an enthusiast about promoting martial art culture. As times change, Wuzu Fist is not as popular as before. To attract more practitioners, Zhang opened a martial arts club, unreservedly teaching young people who love martial arts, just as his master Su did to him.

To improve the practicability of Wuzu Fist, Zhang created a set of aerobic moves for primary and secondary school students in Quanzhou. Martial arts practice requires perseverance, as does its development. Zhang has made a great effort to bring traditional martial arts into modern life in an innovative way.

"I must stay true to my mission," he says. "Through the publicity of my club, I have been trying to promote traditional martial arts in schools."  

The best way of inheriting a tradition is to develop it. Under the efforts of practitioners, Wuzu Fist combines their strengths and meets the needs of the times, living with an endless flow of new blood.