Since wushu is characterized by Chinese thinking, philosophy, and cultural connotations, it is not easy for a foreigner to grasp to it. But Bendza did not encounter any difficulties. To him, wushu is more like a philosophy than a technique. It teaches people to see the world in a harmonious way. "Wushu helps you understand yourself better, and it also develops your potential to deal with the difficulties you may encounter in life," he explained.

A couple of years ago he began his career as a coach and referee. He has had students in Africa and Europe. "Once I was invited to Germany to teach wushu and the guy who was supposed to pick me up didn't believe his eyes when he saw me. He was murmuring, 'I was expecting a Chinese wushu master,'" he recalled.

Bendza sees teaching and promoting wushu as his mission in life. He hopes more people can share the benefits and fun of the martial art. "Wushu is an international language, through which deeper communication and mutual understanding can be reached," he said.

Special status

In the history of the Olympic Games, there have been cases where host countries' main sports were listed in the formal events, such as Japan's karate and Korea's kickboxing. But after Jacques Rogge took over as president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), he began to streamline Olympic events, making it difficult to apply for new ones.

"There will be a wushu competition during the Olympic Games. It's not going to be one of the official 28 sports but we will organize with the BOCOG (the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the 29th Olympic Games)," said Rogge during the opening of the 10th Chinese National Games in Nanjing last year.

Though not an official sport, the International Wushu Federation is still working on wushu competitors enjoying the same treatment as the other competitors of formal sports. "Equal treatment means the medals for the wushu competition should be the same as for other formal sports, and should be awarded by the IOC. It also means the same kind of TV broadcasts," said Chen Guorong, Vice Chairman of the Chinese Wushu Association.

But the IOC has said wushu medals cannot be exactly the same as for other formal sports. So the International Wushu Federation has submitted a plan: one side of the medal will carry the IOC sign and the other will have the International Wushu Federation symbol. The detailed design is yet to be approved by the IOC. Besides, the broadcasting of the wushu competition is also difficult as the IOC has already signed contracts with TV stations around the world.