A Study On The Influencing Factors And Corresponding Strategies To Promote Wushu Among Adolescence In Shanghai

The development and promotion of Wushu among adolescence contribute not only to enhancing their physical health but also to developing their morality and willpower, consolidating their national pride. It has proved to be an important means of transmission of national culture.However, against the backdrop of globalization, traditional Wushu has been challenged by other foreign sports such as taekwondo, karate and etc. In Shanghai, the number of adolescent practitioners of taekwondo in extra-curricular activities has already exceeded that of Wushu. Adolescence tend to prefer such sports as taekwondo and karate in their pursuit of fashion. Accordingly, Many Wushu teachers also switched over to teaching taekwondo. Despite the fact that in April 2004, the Central Propaganda Department, the Ministry of Education issued "the Program for Implementation of Promoting and Cultivating the National Spirit in Primary and Secondary Schools ", in which it expressly pointed out: "Wushu should be increased appropriately in physical education", the situation of adolescents Wushu in Shanghai is still far from optimistic. Statistically, one-third of junior high school students have never had Wushu education.Therefore this study attempts to reveal the influencing factors that influence the development of Wushu among adolescence in Shanghai from social and cultural perspectives and accordingly, put forward the corresponding strategies to develop the Wushu in Shanghai, so that the traditional sport as a national heritage can be well kept and better promoted.In this study, the investigation methods is adopted and questionnaires are designed respectively for students, physical education teachers and coaches , including the students'perceptions of Wushu and the implementation of Wushu activities in and out of the school. Furthermore, some junior high school students, physical education teachers and coaches are also interviewed for the purpose of collecting more detailed ideas about and suggestions for the development of adolescent Wushu in Shanghai. The results of this study demonstrate: the promotion of Wushu among the adolescence in Shanghai is yet far from optimistic. 30.8% of the junior high school students have never attended the Wushu classes; the number of adolescent practitioners of taekwondo in extra-curricular is exceed that of Wushu.; A lack of motivation and value recognition together with an insufficient understanding of Wushu practice among the adolescents are identified in this study.The reasons that cause the decline of the development of Wushu for adolescents in Shanghai are: the influx of foreign sports in Shanghai diverts the adolescent participations of Wushu; Wushu can not satisfy the needs of adolescents; school leaders, physical education teachers attach inadequate importance to Wushu lessons; the allocation of time to Wushu lessons are not up to the curriculum standards; the teaching methods and content of Wushu lesson are timeworn and dull; students pay more attention to the teaching methods than the professional skills; the monotonous teaching method restricts innovation; The unique features of Wushu, which set itself apart from other sports are yet underdeveloped; though the appraisal system for Wushu Dan has been made more suitable for adolescent levels, its effects remains rather limited.In order to promote the sports of Wushu among adolescence in Shanghai, the following measures should be taken: in the spirit of promoting national culture and pride through Wushu practice, more importance and concrete measures should be attached and taken to Wushu Education; the appraisal system of Wushu Duan should be integrated into Wushu education so as to effect adjustment in its teaching content; teacher training is to be carried out more effectively to build a team of more professionalism and higher quality; to create a better Wushu practice environment., Wushu activities in and out of the school should be enriched; highlight the unique features of Wushu through the promotion of technology and culture; appropriately take advantage of the mass media to build martial arts stars.