A Chinese Fulbright Scholar arrived at Northern this semester to instruct a martial arts class and help students and the community with self-healing.
Master Han Jingsheng is a martial arts instructor, therapeutic massage healer and doctor of tuina, a traditional Chinese medicine.
As a Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence, Master Han is one of 800 teachers and professionals given the opportunity to come to the United States. The grants are awarded to individual scholars to conduct research, give lectures or both at universities in the United States, according to the Fulbright Scholar Program Web site.
The award is competitive and one must have a host in the United States to send a letter to the scholar’s country ensuring that the scholar actually has an individual assisting them in the States, according to the Web site.
Z.Z. Lehmberg, an NMU professor, was the host Master Han needed to attain the Fulbright grant. She brought him to Northern for this semester to teach the martial arts class and give lectures to the community. Lehmberg met Master Han while traveling with students to China in 2006. She will act as his translator until his departure in May after the end of winter semester.
“I was inspired by how well my students and Master Han got along with each other in China,” Lehmberg said. “I noticed a mutual attraction between them; the students were curious about and interested in traditional Chinese medicine and Chinese martial arts, while Master Han was curious about and interested in the American culture and people.”
Lehmberg also said she thought having Master Han come to NMU would be a great experience for both him and the university.
While at Northern, Master Han has written two articles about martial arts and Chinese medicine.
Starting March 11, Han will teach HP295Q Martial Arts in the Berry Events Center on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 7:40 p.m. This class will focus on the art of yiquan.
In an article written by Master Han and his brother, Han Jingyu, they said, “Summed up, [yiquan] could be called man’s pursuit of a healthy mind and body . aimed at training and cultivating the practitioner by developing the natural instinctive abilities of the human body and mind.”
Master Han has also been giving lectures to NMU classes and to residents of the Marquette area.
NMU students have been working closely with Master Han in preparation for his lectures and classes. These students have been conducting an independent study by translating these lectures into English.
Master Han is teaching the students many different aspects of Chinese culture, said Ellisa Clumpner, junior undeclared major. She is one of the students participating in Master Han’s studies.
“I’m learning a lot of new vocabulary as well as culture as Master Han explains to me Chinese philosophies, martial arts, acupressure and their relationships,” Clumpner said.
Master Han has also had his lectures and speeches translated by NMU student William Gasper.
He said he thought that Master Han’s teachings could benefit more than just individual students.
“Chinese medicine has a lot of things for us to learn,” Gasper said. “This will be very good for our society and it will be interesting.”
Master Han said he feels that he has had quite a different experience than his life in China before he left.
“I feel pretty good here. This is a very quiet and peaceful environment,” he said, through a translator. “The only inconvenience I have experienced is living without a car, and also the language barrier.”
Students can still register for HP295Q Martial Arts with Master Han. The class will only be offered this semester while Master Han is at NMU.
