(Con)Fusion

If you walk along Smith Street, you will notice this curious outfit right opposite Officeworks with a(n) (un)recognisable Chinese character on its front door:

This is the gym I’m working at now. Ok before you start questioning my motive for this blog, I’m not here to SELL the place, although yes, by virtue of the fact that I’m blogging about it,

(1) it’s related to the theme of my blog

(2) I do buy in to the concept of this gym and hope to share this with like-minded individuals.

Now that I’ve set up my disclaimer … I shall answer the next question that some of you may have in mind.

What sets this gym aside from others?
For one, this is entirely different from any other gym that I’ve come across in my lifetime – including my time spent in Singapore and Australia. The curious character at the front door, stands for ‘three’ in Chinese and symbollises the three key focuses at this gym: mind, spirit, body.

All these sounds quite new age and not really uncommon among health and fitness establishments. But you’ll realise how this establishment varies from the others when you take a short tour round the gym.

On the ground floor, we’ll come across a very modern outfit – of latest gym equipment, treadmills, bikes and these fantastic machines, called Gravity Training Systems otherwise known as GTS.

Essentially GTS is the latest fitness system designed to complement and intensify muscular and pilates workout.

While you may argue this is not quite unlike the other gyms in the market, you’ll be surprised at the set-up on second level, which sets a huge contrast to the modern out-fit on first floor.

The stairway up to next level is indeed almost like a time machine, transporting us to a time and space before modernity. This is whence the gym sheds its art of modern technology and embraces the traditional wisdom of martial arts, yoga and Chinese medicine.

The training area for martial arts students of Chinese KungFu and Taichi exudes a sense of balance between the Yin of Taichi/Chi Kung and the Yang of KungFu. With Taichi, you’ll build an energy reserve that can be tapped on to exert your movements in KungFu.

I can’t help noticing these two Bruce Lee’s posters on my first visit to the gym.

Right next to the martial arts training area is the Yoga room – a calm and serene space secluded from daily hussle and bussle of life. Again, I notice these photos on the shelves, which I presume should be portraits of some Yoga masters.

And finally, for those who need to seek relief from muscle aches or other ailments, the gym offers massage and Chinese herbal consultation services in one of these treatment rooms.

Now, how does this relate to the theme of my blog, you may ask? Well, this gym has debunked the myth of this reductionist East-West divide by fusing the virtues of (Eastern) traditional art forms with the benefits of (Western) modern technology. This is the balance we need to seek as citizens of a postmodern economy. And I will like to ask those advocating the East-West divide, how they would envision postmodern living if not through drawing the strength of such a fusion?

Photos of Chinese massage and KungFu training session taken from 3energyarts.com

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Shortly after I finished writing this post, I had a conversation with Paul, a local Australian and the founder of this gym and martial arts academy. I related my last encounter with this couple of Aussies who expressed doubts over the capabilities of our Chinese medical practitioner when they heard he’s a local Australian. Paul acknowledged that he had faced similar prejudices before from fellow Australians and visiting Asians. I found it rather ironic to learn that whilst these interested parties question Paul’s abilities, his Sifu or martial arts master of Chinese origins however, had noted how ‘Chinese’ Paul is, not just in his expressed interest towards Chinese cultures but also in his daily life practices. This is a man who named his cats, Ming, Kai and Chan – all Chinese monikers. Indeed, this conversation reminded me of Christopher Doyle, award winning cinematographer who self-deprecates as an Asian struck by a skin (whitening) disease.
While we tend to harbour a degree of sceptism towards foreigners who express interest or knowledge in our cultures, it is equally important to hold a certain optimism that such cultural exchanges will serve to extend the use value of our cultural practices. Christopher Doyle and Paul are but two case studies of people and practices abound in our daily lives that have transcended racial or national boundaries.
I would like to invite everyone to join me in celebrating these treasured encounters in our lives that serve to interrogate the ineffectual East-West binary.

*Thanks to Gerry for helping me to crystallise my thoughts. I have redrafted the last section of this blog to reflect some of the ideas in her comments below.