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.”

伊万和妻子娜佳 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.

伊万放风筝 Ivan flying a kite

风筝中悟道

文/张清南

34岁的意大利籍教师伊万在中国已经生活了四年。从8岁接触中国武术，他就着了迷。他尤其喜欢太极拳。2008年，伊万得知伦敦有个中国人太极拳特别厉害，立马去了伦敦。

“我找到他之后，他叫我打一拳看看。当时我还很年轻，肌肉、骨头很结实，出拳很快，但他比我还快，我觉得不可思议，因为他60多岁了。我毫不犹豫，立刻拜他为师。”

这么多年来，伊万从未放弃过。他觉得太极拳培养了他的性格、道德观念和能力，让他能克服自身的障碍，认清自己的问题。“同时我也明白了成功需要很长时间的磨练。我要求自己要天天练拳、天天看书，做一个好人。”伊万所理解的好人就是乐于助人、爱好和平、向往爱情、关注健康的人。

父亲很支持他学习太极拳，父亲去世后，他依旧坚持练习，以寄托对父亲的怀念。

伊万是家里的长子，当他提出要到中国发展时，母亲的弟妹们都舍不得他离开，但他们知道伊万打小喜欢中国，最终还是支持了他的决定。

20岁时，伊万第一次到中国，跟着意大利的一个中国留学生去了山东青岛老家。他觉得那儿特别有意思，“我们去河里洗澡，他奶奶在小院里做饭，特别有农村生活气息。”又一次，伊万到北京大学做博士交流。他每天上午去北京语言大学学汉语，下午就到北大看书学习，汉语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年伊万来到中国武汉，当上了中南财经政法大学法学院教师。他边教书边研究中国法律，他说：“法律是文化中最重要的部分，体现着一个社会的价值观念。”

伊万还是中意学者协会的主席，经常参加学校以及中意政府举办的文化交流活动。中共十九大期间，他建立的网站和翻译的十九大文章，引起了中意政府的关注，媒体竞相报道。“我要让更多的意大利人和西方人了解中国的法律和传统文化。”伊万说。

伊万最近在练习放北京的盘鹰风筝。他领会到，“放风筝既不能放得太快，也不能放得太慢，力气要合适，就像打太极拳，要收放自如。放风筝和做事是一样的道理。”

伊万在武汉娶了俄罗斯妻子，他把中国当成第二个家。还是那样，每天工作之余，他就会练太极拳、放风筝，有时候带着妻子尝尝武汉美食，逛街购物。