Fans of Jin Yong’s wuxia novel The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber would be familiar with the Emei sect, an all-women martial arts school.
Though the Emei sect is fictional, a group of enterprising Gen-Z women have gotten together to form girl group Emei Kung Fu Girls in April this year.
Comprising nine members, the group blends Emei martial arts, which has a 2000-year-old history, with modern dance.
With their impressive skills, they have posted multiple videos of themselves performing martial arts choreography against the backdrop of various locations around Mount Emei, which yes, is a real mountain in China.
One of their videos has been viewed a billion times.
Emei Kung Fu Girls also gained international recognition when they shot a video at the Paris Olympics against the city’s backdrop, even sparring with a fencer.
We don’t mean to downplay the group’s efforts in bringing martial arts to the masses, but why does this feel like that time a group of Star Wars fans started a school to train to become a Jedi knight?
Expecting the above question from their critics, one of the members, Chen Yufei, said in an interview with a Chinese daily.
“Unlike the dramatised versions seen in TV shows which focus on legends, our practice is rooted in practical skills and traditions of Emei martial arts,” said Yufei.
The Emei style of martial arts was listed by the Chinese government as an intangible cultural heritage since 2008.
Even a Chinese government official is backing Emei Kung Fu Girls, calling them “Heroines out of Chinese martial arts novels”.
The group’s leader, Li Jieyu, also added that Emei Kung Fu Girls’ plan is to go global.
She also shares with the Chinese daily that its members receive training on Emei Mountain in Sichuan province every day.
According to another member, their training routine “lasts three hours in the morning, followed by a short break at noon, and then another four hours in the afternoon.”
In addition to martial arts, the group also takes up courses in horseback riding, archery, and performing arts to improve their stage presence.
Since their debut, netizens have been in awe with the stunning videos posted online with some calling them “the coolest girl group in China”.
“These girls are the pride of China! Millenia-old Chinese martial arts come alive again,” read a comment.
One even asked: “Are they accepting new members? I want to enrol my daughter into their training school”.