DEADWOOD –- “That was awesome!” Aurora Brown said, watching members of the Cobra Kai Kung Fu Club demonstrating how to break cement blocks using only their hands.
She was part of the crowd watching martial arts demonstrations on Saturday to mark the Chinese Year of the Tiger.
Miss Kitty’s, home of the Chinatown Cafe, began celebrating the Chinese New Year in 1990 to commemorate the important role Chinese immigrants played in Deadwood’s early history, when ethnic workers served the booming mining town’s laundries and kitchens. Amber Chipman, manager of the Chinatown Cafe, said they continue to celebrate the Chinese New Year in the hope that people will realize there is more to Deadwood’s heritage than gambling.
But renovations nearly canceled this year’s events. Julia Sherman, marketing director for Miss Kitty’s, said they were closed during the winter season and had not planned to hold the festival, but the new management decided to continue the tradition, albeit in a different way.
In the past, the celebration was held outdoors on Main Street and included a parade with traditional lion costumes and fireworks. This year however, the celebration was held inside Miss Kitty’s and featured martial arts demonstrations. Scheduled performers included local groups Phil Bowman Tai Chi of the Black Hills, Jade Forest Kung Fu and Cobra Kai Kung Fu Club. Each group displayed various forms of martial arts, spanning from the internal art of tai chi to the combination of speed and fluidity of kung fu.
Amid the bright lights and loud noises from surrounding slot machines, the martial arts groups brought a sense of calm. Presenters emphasized that martial arts are more than a means of self-defense –- they can enhance an individual’s sense of well-being.
Before the demonstrations, Sherman asked trivia questions about Chinese heritage and gave traditional Chinese prizes for correct answers. For example, each year of the Chinese lunar calendar is represented by a different animal. The year 2010 is the Year of the Tiger, and people born in it are thought to be forthright, sensitive, and possess great courage, according to the Chinese zodiac.
