"Chinese Dream" of Maltese Father and Son Engaged in Martial Arts

Gino Dalcielo is a coach of Chinese martial arts with a resounding Chinese name "Tang Tianwu". His School of Wushu-Longgui is quite famous locally. His love for martial arts originated from the Chinese movie Shaolin Temple, and the Chinese martial arts integrating strength and softness. The desire to learn martial arts gradually took root and sprouted in his heart. Later, he studied under an Italian Chinese martial arts coach in a systematic manner for six years. "During over 20 years of practice and research, I have developed increasingly strong interest in Chinese culture," said Tang Tianwu.

In his view, the moves and skills are superficial, inferior to Chinese culture underneath. He aspires to be the best Chinese martial arts coach in Europe to teach authentic Chinese martial arts. To achieve this goal, he founded the Malta School of Wushu-Longgui in 2016, integrating the philosophy of stressing on virtue rather than martial arts into teaching. In 2018, he went to Laiyang, Shandong to seek advice from local martial arts masters. To better exchange ideas with Chinese martial arts peers, he began learning Chinese language, and turned his information from the journey into a short video The Amazing Journey of the Maltese to China.

Matthia Dalcielo, his eldest son, has a Chinese name of "Tang Long". This 14-year-old boy and Chinese language learner has been practicing martial arts for eight years. Tang Tianwu is his "abecedarian" of Chinese martial arts, and the "guider" who silently introduced Chinese culture to him. In March 2023, as 2022 "junior culture ambassador" of the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation, he went to Beijing with his father for award ceremony and cultural study.

According to Tang Long, it was an "incredible" trip, and the real Beijing was even more stunning than what was described in the textbook. It is home to historical landmarks such as the Summer Palace and Prince Gong's Mansion, high-rise buildings and advanced technology, as well as delicious foods such as Beijing roast duck and pancakes. This trip to China inspired him to study in China. "As a boy, I wanted to learn martial arts in China. Now, I have another dream to study Chinese language well, and study in Chinese university," said Tang Long.

Elle Dalcielo is Tang Long's younger brother, whose Chinese name is "Tang Hao". This 8-year-old child started practicing martial arts at the age of three and learned Chinese at six, considering Chinese language school as his second home. "I want to learn martial arts in China like my father and brother, have a lot of delicious food, and see giant pandas in Chengdu," said Tang Hao.

Led by their father, Tang Long and Tang Hao participated in many Chinese cultural activities held in Malta, and dragon and lion dances and martial arts performances. "Specialized training in Chinese martial arts teach them Chinese wisdom, and I am happy to see them love Chinese culture," said Tang Tianwu.

It is a process from one person to a family, then to a group of people. For the Tang's, the Chinese movie that the father watched in childhood set his determination in learning martial arts, and later led to his family's persistence in spreading Chinese martial arts culture.

(The author Sun Yi is a doctoral student at the International College for Chinese Studies of Nanjing Normal University, and a Chinese language teacher at the Confucius Institute at the University of Malta)

Photo credit: chinaculture.org