Wudang kung fu student aims to break own record

In December 2012, Zhou Yaopin received his certificate from the World Record Association.

Zhou Yaopin, an 18-year-old from Baihe county, Shaanxi province, set a world record last year for his performance of the Wudang kung fu movement translated from the Chinese as "sweeping earthworms with a nine-section whip" and he is now trying to break his own record.

In December 2012, he received his certificate from the World Record Association for sweeping the most earthworms with a nine-section whip in one minute.

Zhou managed to complete a total of 80 earthworm movements within 31 seconds. The move requires sitting up straight, holding the whip with one hand, and lifting the whole body using only the waist and stomach muscles while sweeping the whip across the lifted body.

This is described as kind of like skipping rope, except that the performer is seated, and the rope is replaced by a nine-section whip chain made of steel.

Zhou attended the kung fu school at Wudang Mountains from the age of 12 and, in 2009, the Wudang Mountains Kung Fu Academy came to his school to select members for a new Tai Chi team. The coach chose Zhou, who was seen as the “young but tough one”.

Zhou has since received guidance, training and also opportunities to do public performances. Three years ago, he found some information about the nine-section whip online, and he tried to learn to use this weapon with videos on the Internet.

Of course, it was not all smooth sailing, and Zhou said he often hurt himself quite badly, including the time when he hit his ankle and the wound was so bad that he could see his bones.

But he persevered until he managed to make the whip as obedient as a part of his body.

Later his coach suggested that he should use the whip to do earthworms, which turned out to be one of the most interesting part of Zhou's performance. He has performed in the United States, Norway, Sweden, Australia and New Zealand.

Edited by Niva Whyman and Le Qin