Bulgarian has a Wudang Complex

( chinadaily.com.cn )

Updated: 2013-05-08

Stanev, the "Beard Guy", a Bulgarian who got his nickname from the Chinese ambassador to Bulgaria, loves the Wudang Mountains.

He is a big fan of Chinese kung fu and has practiced it for 45 years. During his six-year stay in Beijing, he learned kung fu, qigong, Chinese, Chinese calligraphy and Chinese medicine. He now owns a kung fu club in his country and teaches 200 students

The Beard Guy is a frequent participant of the Hong Kong Wushu International Championship. In 2013, he took part in four competitions in the event including Taiji Sword, Wudang Taijiquan, Baguazhang and Piguaquan. His 18-year-old daughter, who has practiced for 12 years, is also on the team and won fourth place in the competition.

The Beard Guy has a special complex about the Wudang Mountains and visits every year for the World Taijiquan Health Congress. He confessed that he had participated in so many kung fu competitions in China that he hardly remembers the total number

He has noticed that although there are enormous competitors participating in those events, most of them do not grasp the essence of kung fu. He also found that foreigners tend to be interested in kung fu more than the Chinese are, a phenomenon that is widely seen in other traditional arts across the world.

The Beard Guy's dream is to open kung fu clubs all over the world. He now operates a second one in Germany.