Wushu, which means martial arts in Chinese, has grown in popularity throughout Turkey. In a sports centei located on the out

Wushu, which means martial arts in Chinese, has grown in popularity throughout Turkey.
    In a sports center located on the outskirts of Ankara, the Turkish capital, young athletes are training strenuously.
    "We are committed to martial arts and there is a real interest in wushu, which incorporates different techniques. Our athletes are ambitious," Serkan Bakir,a well-known martial arts instructor and competitor, says.
    Bakir explains that amid tire global health crisis, wushu, which emphasizes quickness, power and relaxed movement, provides an excellent opportunity for people who wish to  strengthen their immune and cardiovascular systems.
    "There are many variations of Chinese martial arts. Taichi, for example, can be performed by a toddler or someone who is 85 years old. It can help people stay in good shape. Everyone can benefit from it, especially when we have to stay fit to fend off the coronavirus," he notes.
    Standard wushu training concentrates on a core curriculum of eight major styles, whereas modern wushu consists of a variety of styles which can be divided into bare-handed and weapon play.
    The team consists of bare-handed style athletes and most of them have won a local, national or an international title as part of the Turkish national team.
    Beyzanur Karakaya, a 22-year-old woman, is currently seeking a master’s degree in sports education at university in Ankara. Her goal is to improve in her field and eventually travel to China to master the art of wushu, which she has practiced for about 10 years.
    "I have never been to China or competed against a Chinese athlete, but if 1 have the opportunity, I would love to go there and train with masters. That would be wonderful," she says.