Steady Progress in Preparations for the Martial Arts Exchange Committee of the CCFPA

Against the backdrop of deepening global cultural exchange, the practice of using Chinese martial arts as a link to promote international folk exchange is gradually unfolding. Since 2024, the preparatory work for the Martial Arts Exchange Committee of China-Cyprus Friendship Promotion Association, initiated by martial arts enthusiast Zhou Tsz Shan Sam (Jeffrey), has been moving forward in an orderly manner. The Committee aims to promote sports and cultural exchange between China and Cyprus through Chinese martial arts, a uniquely charming cultural symbol.

Figure 1. Group photo with the fourth and fifth generation heirs of the Lanitis Family, the five leading families of Cyprus

Zhou Tsz Shan Sam (Jeffrey) has devoted himself to martial arts since childhood. In December 2012, at the age of 4, he began systematic martial arts training at the Tsinghua University gymnasium, studying under Zhang Jidong, a world martial arts champion and professor of Tsinghua University, thus embarking on his journey of martial arts. Over the following years, he won numerous awards in Beijing youth martial arts competitions. Since 2015, he has consecutively won championships and outstanding results in events including the Beijing Primary and Secondary School Students Martial Arts Open Competition and the Beijing Sports Traditional Project Schools Martial Arts Competition. For him, martial arts is not only a skill but also embodies the spirit and heritage of Chinese culture.

The renowned martial artist Bruce Lee has long been his role model. Bruce Lee brought Chinese martial arts to the world, exerting a profound influence on western films and cultural works, which also strengthened Zhou Tsz Shan Sam’s aspiration of promoting martial arts on the international stage.

Figure 2. Zhou Tsz Shan Sam (Jeffrey) award photo

Figure 3. Some of Zhou Tsz Shan Sam’s award certificates

During his junior high school years, Zhou Tsz Shan Sam (Jeffrey) studied and lived at Foley’s School in Limassol, Cyprus for over a year. During this period, he participated in a speech competition themed “Telling Cyprus’ Stories in English” and forged deep friendships with local peers. In his spare time, he often organized activities with neighbors, demonstrating and teaching martial arts movements to them. The keen interest shown by local youth in Chinese martial arts deeply moved him and further consolidated his conviction in promoting Chinese martial arts to Europe.

Starting in 2023, Zhou Tsz Shan Sam (Jeffrey) began systematically researching the foundation for cooperation in martial arts cultural exchange between China and Cyprus, and gradually conceived the idea of establishing an exchange platform. Based on extensive consultation and preparation, in early 2024 he formally initiated the preparation of the “Martial Arts Exchange Committee of China-Cyprus Friendship Promotion Association,” hoping to use martial arts as a bridge to promote folk sports and cultural exchange between China and Cyprus.

Today, although Zhou Tsz Shan Sam (Jeffrey) is studying in the United Kingdom, he has never forgotten the original aspiration that took root in Cyprus. He believes that martial arts possess the unique power to transcend linguistic and cultural barriers and can serve as an important bridge connecting people of different countries.

As of early 2025, the preparatory team has initially completed the Committee’s development positioning and working framework design, clarifying “Martial Arts Exchange, Cultural Communication, Folk Friendship” as the core orientations, and is committed to building a platform for China-Cyprus martial arts and cultural interaction.

In terms of specific preparation, the team is actively carrying out a number of foundational tasks, including organizational structure design, member recruitment and volunteer team building, and activity planning for martial arts cultural exchange events. At the same time, the preparatory team is communicating with relevant sports and cultural institutions, martial arts organizations, and educational institutions, hoping to carry out cooperation in martial arts training, cultural experience activities, youth exchange, and other areas in the future.

In addition, the Committee plans to disseminate Chinese martial arts culture through online platforms, and expects to gradually establish Chinese-English bilingual exchange channels within 2025, allowing more European youth to understand the spiritual connotation and cultural value of Chinese martial arts. In the future, when conditions are ripe, the Committee will also promote the organization of martial arts performances, cultural exchange camps, and China-Cyprus youth interactive activities.