A (short) video has gone viral on Chinese social media today showing a "fight" between a mixed martial artist and a Tai Chi "master."
On one side was Xu Xiaodong, a Beijing-based MMA fighter, coach and promoter, known by fans as a "madman" for his ruthless aggression. In the other corner was Wei Lei, the founder of the fledgling "Thunder style" of Tai Chi in Chengdu. Make your bets now!
About 10 seconds after the fight started, it was over with Xu taking Wei to the ground and pummeling his face with punches in front of a large crowd in Chengdu.
Chinese netizens have mocked Wei for being nothing more than a "fraud" while also bemoaning how weak traditional Chinese martial arts are when faced with more modern styles of fighting .
Though, in Wei’s defense, he said in an interview before the match that his "Thunder style" was only a "primary student" in the long history of Chinese martial arts with still much to learn. He probably won’t forget this lesson anytime soon .