Dr Wayne Wong, Lecturer in East Asian Studies in the School of Languages, Arts & Societies, delivered a dynamic martial arts stage combat workshop at Sheffield’s Millennium Gallery as part of the city’s Year of the Horse celebrations.
The event featured a short screening and live demonstration from Project Sifu – an innovative knowledge exchange (KE) initiative exploring what happens when martial arts practice with young people meets East Asian martial arts cinematography. Stepping in as an action performer, Dr Wong guided participants through the principles of screen combat, offering audiences the chance to experience the physicality, discipline and creativity behind martial arts film choreography.
The workshop drew generous feedback from attendees of all ages, reflecting the project’s commitment to accessible, embodied forms of cultural exchange. Developed in collaboration with partners including C&G Artpartment, Re-Water and the Fighting Spirit Film Festival, Project Sifu has been gaining increasing recognition both locally and internationally.
For Dr Wong, the event highlighted how research-led practice can move beyond traditional academic formats. By combining performance, film and participatory workshop elements, the project opens up new ways of engaging communities with East Asian screen cultures.
This spirit of creatively embodied knowledge exchange will continue in April, when Dr Wong joins fellow University of Sheffield researchers and Sheffield-based artists for an online event exploring future-facing approaches to KE as part of the National Centre for Academic and Cultural Exchange Festival of Cultural Knowledge Exchange. Participants can expect conversation, experimentation — and no need for protective body pads.