New Shekou morning school for expats starts with self-defense training

Punches, polite smiles, and a burst of cultural exchange marked the start of Shekou’s new semester of the Expats’ Morning School on last Friday, when nearly 20 Chinese and expat residents gathered to learn traditional Chinese self-defense at Dexiu Martial Arts Hall.

Chinese and international residents take part in a Chinese self-defense class at Dexiu Martial Arts Hall, marking the start of the new semester of the Expats’ Morning School in Shekou on Friday. Photos courtesy of Shekou MSCE

Organized by the Shekou Management and Service Center for Expats (Shekou MSCE), the morning class opened with a lively demonstration led by Dexiu coaches who framed each move in everyday scenarios. Instructors guided participants through fundamentals — stances, punching, and power generation — before teaching practical escape techniques for sudden street confrontations, underscoring the martial principle of “skill over strength, defense first.”

South African participant Irma Egan (L) focuses on mastering self-defense techniques during the class.

South African participant Irma Egan concentrated while practicing women’s self-defense moves. “These techniques are practical and easy to understand,” she said. “They don’t just help you protect yourself, they show the wisdom behind Chinese martial arts.”

Marie Gielens, a Belgian expat who has lived in Shekou since 2020, practices a knee strike during a self-defense class at Dexiu Martial Arts Hall on Friday. 

An interactive sparring session elevated the energy as attendees paired off to simulate street attack scenarios, testing their newly acquired skills under the supervision of coaches. Japanese resident Ayumi Seki, who successfully executed a front-throat escape technique, laughed with excitement afterward. “I hadn’t realized how much technique there is behind what looks like a simple move. The morning school is more fun and meaningful than I expected.”

Japanese resident Ayumi Seki (R) and her partner rehearse a front-throat escape technique during a hands-on self-defense class at Dexiu Martial Arts Hall in Shekou.

Beyond self-protection training, the session served as a window into Chinese culture, letting expat residents experience firsthand the balance of toughness and flexibility at the heart of Chinese martial arts, said a Shekou MSCE staff member who oversaw the class.

The nonprofit morning school program will continue in the coming months with community-focused activities, including morning jogs, Zumba classes, workshops on Chinese pastry culture, and introductory sessions on traditional Chinese medicine.

Participants pose for a group photo at the end of the self-defense training session.

For details about the Shekou MSCE’s morning and night school schedules, please contact them via their WeChat account: MSCE26678381.