What Ivan Gets from Kites and Tai Chi

By Zhang Qingnan

Ivan Cardillo, a 34-year-old Italian teacher, has been in China for four years. From the very first moment he was exposed to Chinese martial arts at the age of eight, he was hooked, most especially on Tai Chi. Ivan loved it so much that he left for London in 2008 immediately after he found out that there was a Chinese Tai Chi master there.

“I went to visit him at his training school and he asked me to do some Tai Chi exercises. At that time, I was very young and burly, so I could punch quickly.But I was really shocked when I saw him, a man over 60 years old,punch even more quickly than I did. So, without a moment’s hesitation, I decided to become his disciple and learn Tai Chi from him.”

伊萬和妻子娜佳 Ivan and his wife Nadya

Ivan’s love for Tai Chi has never wavered. He believes that Tai Chi plays a big role in building his character, moral fiber and abilities, and it enables him to have a clearer idea about himself and overcome his own shortcomings. “Moreover, what I have learned from Tai Chi is that it takes a long time to achieve success, so I require myself to do Tai Chi exercises and read every day, and I try to always be kind.”In his eyes, “kind” means to be ready to help others, be fond of peace, yearn for love and focus on health.

Ivan’s father gave full support to his son in learning Tai Chi, and after his father passed away, Ivan continued to do the exercises in remembrance of his father.

伊萬放風箏 Ivan flying a kite

風箏中悟道

文/張清南

34歲的意大利籍教師伊萬在中國已經生活了四年。從8歲接觸中國武術，他就著了迷。他尤其喜歡太極拳。2008年，伊萬得知倫敦有個中國人太極拳特別厲害，立馬去了倫敦。

“我找到他之后，他叫我打一拳看看。當時我還很年輕，肌肉、骨頭很結實，出拳很快，但他比我還快，我覺得不可思議，因為他60多歲了。我毫不猶豫，立刻拜他為師?！?/p>

這么多年來，伊萬從未放棄過。他覺得太極拳培養了他的性格、道德觀念和能力，讓他能克服自身的障礙，認清自己的問題。“同時我也明白了成功需要很長時間的磨練。我要求自己要天天練拳、天天看書，做一個好人。”伊萬所理解的好人就是樂于助人、愛好和平、向往愛情、關注健康的人。

父親很支持他學習太極拳，父親去世后，他依舊堅持練習，以寄托對父親的懷念。

伊萬是家里的長子，當他提出要到中國發展時，母親的弟妹們都舍不得他離開，但他們知道伊萬打小喜歡中國，最終還是支持了他的決定。

20歲時，伊萬第一次到中國，跟著意大利的一個中國留學生去了山東青島老家。他覺得那兒特別有意思，“我們去河里洗澡，他奶奶在小院里做飯，特別有農村生活氣息?！庇忠淮?，伊萬到北京大學做博士交流。他每天上午去北京語言大學學漢語，下午就到北大看書學習，漢語水平得到了很大提高。

Ivan is the eldest son in his family. When he told his family that he wanted to go to China, his mother and younger siblings were loath to part with him. Yet they all knew his deep love for China ever since his childhood. At last they supported his decision.

Ivan went to China for the first time at the age of 20. He was then invited by a Chinese student studying in Italy to his hometown in Qingdao, Shandong Province,where Ivan had an exceptional experience. “We had a bath in the river and his grandmother cooked in the courtyard, all of which are a portrayal of typical rural life.”Later, Ivan came to China again for an academic exchange as a doctoral candidate in Peking University.During those days, he learned Chinese at Beijing Language and Culture University every morning and attended classes or read in the library in Peking University every afternoon, which enabled him to make unbelievable progress in Chinese.

Then in 2014, Ivan came to Wuhan in Hubei Province, and Law School was employed as a teacher by the Law School of Zhongnan University of Economics and Law.He is not only a law teacher but also a learner of Chinese law. “Law is the most important part of a culture and it embodies a society’s values,” he remarked.

As the president of the Association of Italian Scholars in China, Ivan often attends various cultural exchange events held by the university and the Chinese and Italian governments. During the 19th CPC National Congress,his website and translated essays concerning this congress drew attention from both the Chinese and Italian governments and were reported in the media. “The reason why I did so was that I want more Italians and Westerners to learn about Chinese law and traditional Chinese culture,” Ivan said.

Recently, Ivan has been practicing flying a Beijing eagleshaped kite. He figured out, “The key to flying a kite successfully is the speed. If it’s too quick or too slow, then it won’t work. Just like practicing Tai Chi, you need to use the strength properly and freely,which is a principle also applicable to other things.”

Now, Ivan has married a Russian wife in Wuhan and he regards China as his second home. As always, he still likes doing Tai Chi exercises and flying a kite after work. He sometimes goes shopping and enjoys the local cuisine with his wife. (Translation: Zhou Xianxian)

2014年伊萬來到中國武漢，當上了中南財經政法大學法學院教師。他邊教書邊研究中國法律，他說：“法律是文化中最重要的部分，體現著一個社會的價值觀念。”

伊萬還是中意學者協會的主席，經常參加學校以及中意政府舉辦的文化交流活動。中共十九大期間，他建立的網站和翻譯的十九大文章，引起了中意政府的關注，媒體競相報道?！拔乙尭嗟囊獯罄撕臀鞣饺肆私庵袊姆珊蛡鹘y文化。”伊萬說。

伊萬最近在練習放北京的盤鷹風箏。他領會到，“放風箏既不能放得太快，也不能放得太慢，力氣要合適，就像打太極拳，要收放自如。放風箏和做事是一樣的道理?！?/p>

伊萬在武漢娶了俄羅斯妻子，他把中國當成第二個家。還是那樣，每天工作之余，他就會練太極拳、放風箏，有時候帶著妻子嘗嘗武漢美食，逛街購物。