by sportswriters Zhou Xin and Chen Hao

BUDAPEST, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- At the Hungarian Wushu Championships near Budapest, the five-member Arutyunjan family, which includes world champions, European medalists, national titleholders and coaches, showed how the sport is taking root in Hungary through perseverance, unity and long-term development.

MOTHER'S JOURNEY INTO WUSHU INSPIRED BY CHILDREN

When Maria first stepped into the world of Wushu in 2019, she was six months behind her daughters. All she wanted was to spend more time with her children and document their progress.

Within five years, Maria has become one of Hungary's most decorated Wushu athletes, winning 11 Hungarian national titles, four European titles, and a silver medal at the 2023 World Kungfu Championships in Emeishan, China.

She also serves as the international relations coordinator at the Hungarian Traditional Kungfu and Wushu Federation.

"My children started training in 2018, and I joined them six months later," Maria said as she competed alongside her three daughters - now aged nine, 13 and 14 - at the championships in Fot, a small town in the Budapest region.

"Kungfu became our common language. We train together, compete together, and grow up together," Maria said.

"At this National Championships, I compete in Shaolin all-around category, while my daughters have their own competitions," she added.

THREE DAUGHTERS, ALL CHAMPIONS

The youngest daughter, Adelaida, started practicing Kungfu at the age of two, crawling across the mats while her elder sisters and mother trained. She made her competition debut at four and became a Hungarian champion at six.

"I do Kungfu because my mom started it, and my dad and sisters all do it, so I like it. But my mom is not my teacher," said the nine-year-old Adelaida, an eight-time Hungarian national champion.

Thirteen-year-old Aurora's breakthrough came at the 2023 World Kungfu Championships, where she won gold in Barehand and bronze in Long Weapon.

"I've practiced Kungfu for seven years now. My favorite specialties are Gun and Barehand. I like traditional Kungfu because it's fun, and competing in championships is exciting," said the two-time European bronze medalist and nine-time Hungarian national champion.

The eldest, Anna-Maria, holds 12 Hungarian titles, two European silvers, and one European bronze. She also finished sixth in the Taolu category at the World Kungfu Championships, the youngest competitor in her group.

"I practiced Taolu for several years, and recently I switched to Sanda. I really like Sanda because it's more exciting. You never know what will happen in a fight. You have to rely on your skills and reactions. I used to fear getting hit, but not anymore," said the 14-year-old.

A FATHER DEDICATED TO KUNGFU FOR 40 YEARS

The children's achievements are rooted in their father, Alex Arutyunjan, who began practicing Kungfu at age 12 and has dedicated himself to martial arts for more than four decades.

He has trained across multiple disciplines, from sword and Baguazhang to Sanda in recent years.

"Sanda is not a style," Alex explained. "It's a rule system. It allows different Kungfu styles to meet, and the results speak for themselves."

Several years ago, the couple sold their two apartments to transform a gym into what is now the Dragonsword Kungfu and Wushu Sports Association, where their children and many of Hungary's young champions have trained.

"Kungfu and Wushu act like a filter -- they teach discipline, respect and resilience. Only the best people stay with the sport for life. That's why our family has never left it," said Alex, who tries to balance the roles of father and coach.

"The roles of father and coach can clash. We learned that it's healthier to keep them separate. Sometimes my daughters accept my advice, but it's better for us to let the professional coaches handle their daily training," said the 55-year-old PhD in management and business administration.

A FAMILY SHAPED BEYOND MEDALS

For the Arutyunjan family, Wushu is more than a sport. It is a shared discipline that shapes their daily life, strengthens their bond and connects them with Chinese culture.

As they continue training, competing and teaching the next generation, the family hope their experience can help more people in Hungary discover the values and vitality of Wushu.

"Kungfu is not just movement, it connects us to Chinese culture: calligraphy, tea ceremony, and values. I want to show that age, background or family situation should not stop anyone from living an active, healthy life," Maria said.

"We want to demonstrate that neither age nor background should stop anyone from doing sport. Kungfu proves that it can and should be a family activity that brings generations together and builds strong, healthy relationships," said the mother, who cheered up for her daughters and teammates.

"Our lives are built around Wushu. It is our hobby, lifestyle and our ways of seeing the world. We hope to make it much more popular in Hungary, and hopefully bring more Hungarian athletes to European and world stages, given greater support," Alex concluded. ■