Mariatu Kargbo learns Qingcheng kung fu from her teacher Liu Suibin on Qingcheng Mountain, Dujiangyan,Sichuan Province. Photo: Courtesy of Liu Suibin

A 24-year-old woman from Sierra Leone and a 30-year-old Canadian man recently became the first foreign student-apprentices of a renowned Sichuan Province kung fu master, Liu Suibin, 46, a well-known practitioner of Qingcheng Pai, one of four Chinese major martial art forms.

The decision to admit Mariatu Kargbo and Daniel Crevier as apprentices came over the objections of older Qingcheng kung fu masters, Liu said.

"They said foreigners invaded our country in the past," Liu said. "But I said that the genre promotes harmony and inclusiveness, let alone the fact that the students have nothing to do with old invasions.

"I am strict in admitting apprentices. But there were reasons to break the traditional rules for them," Liu told the Global Times.

Kargbo, who first came to China in 2004 as a contestant in the Miss Kite Beauty Pageant in Weifang, Shandong Province and later was a volunteer aid worker following the 2008 Wenchuan, Sichuan Province earthquake, said that when she expressed her wish to be Liu's apprentice, Liu asked her the exact time of her birth. 

Synchronicity

"The question surprised me and I answered 'May 13, 1986.' But Liu needed details as far as the 'hour and minute,'" she told the Global Times.

Kargbo had no idea, but called her mom and brother and found that it was 2:48 pm, almost the same time as the earthquake. "I always talk about my interest in kung fu with my (earthquake) volunteer friends. By chance, one of them introduced Liu to me," she said.

Kargbo has a strong interest in Chinese culture and won Best Talent and Best Fashion awards using Chinese skills in the 59th Miss World Contest in Johannesburg in 2009.

Mariatu Kargbo

International reputation

Her interests also extend to kung fu and she said she had also heard of Liu when she was in Africa.

"He is world-famous. The Qingcheng snake fist, crane fist, tiger boxing, whisk boxing and swinging dragon sword are unique. His reputation makes me more nervous now that I am apprenticed to him," she said.

Liu said Kargbo's birth time goes well with his. He listened to her background and talked about the morality and justice of Taoism. Liu sent her a sword when he decided to admit her.

"Holding the sword, I feel like a kung fu star," she said.

Unique relationship

"The relation between a master and his apprentice is like kinship," said Liu. "I should select the proper one. That's why I have more than 20,000 students in the world, but only have admitted 21 apprentices.

"Her loving heart moved me," Liu said. "She is financially helping 450 orphans in her country, just using money from her hard work."

 Kargbo has been dancing since she was eight and is also a model who works for an Italian company in Hangzhou, Zhejian Province as a swimsuit designer. She said her dance experience helps her improve her kung fu skills.

"Though I am still at the basic level, if a guy assaulted me, I could grasp his wrists and trip him down," she told the Global Times.

First foreign apprentice

Daniel Crevier from Montreal, Canada, 30, was Liu's first apprentice. An English teacher at Chengdu Neusoft Institute of Information located in Qingcheng Mountain county, Crevier has stayed in China since 2006, the year he began to learn Chinese in Sichuan University.

When traveling in Sichuan Province in 2008, he learned about Liu's Qingcheng kung fu and tai chi and eventually became the first foreign apprentice due to his sincerity, Liu said.

"I love Chinese culture, especially Taoism. Taoism teaches us how to lead a safe and happy life," Crevier said.

Qingcheng tai chi is also medicine for him, Crevier said. He has asthma and said neither Western or traditional Chinese medicines were effectively treating it, but that since practicing Qingcheng tai chi, he is getting better.

"From kung fu, I also learn to respect nature and my own health. Only by being healthy can I be able to help others," he said.

Crevier won the Golden Prize at the 2009 Chengdu Tai Chi Championships. In the future, he wants to open a Qing-cheng kung fu club in Canada to promote Chinese culture.

Liu said that Qingcheng Pai is not exclusive to Qingcheng Mountain county or China. It should benefit more people and countries, letting them understand Chinese culture's grandness and humanity.

"Learning kung fu is a good way for foreigners to know Chinese culture," he said.