The Fighter Who Exposed China's Martial Arts Mythology - And Paid a Devastating Price

🌀 Wandering
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How One MMA Fighter Triggered a Cultural Crisis

In a basement in Chengdu on April 27, 2017, something happened that would shake the foundations of a billion-dollar cultural industry. Xu Xiaodong, a 40-year-old MMA fighter, faced off against Wei Lei, a self-proclaimed “thunder master” who claimed supernatural powers including invisible force fields and the ability to pulverize watermelons without damaging their skin[1]. The fight lasted roughly 20 seconds, with Wei Lei barely landing a blow before being overwhelmed[2].

This wasn’t just a martial arts bout—it was the beginning of one of the most comprehensive government punishment campaigns in modern history, revealing the extraordinary lengths to which authoritarian systems will go when profitable mythologies are threatened.

Xu Xiaodong fighting the Thunder Master
Xu Xiaodong fighting the Thunder Master1536×1024 27 KB

The Man Behind the Controversy

Xu Xiaodong was born in Beijing on November 15, 1979, and trained in traditional sanshou and boxing before transitioning to mixed martial arts in 2001[3]. His frustration with what he saw as fraud and hypocrisy among martial arts practitioners drove him to challenge the supernatural claims made by self-proclaimed masters[4]. Many in China believe that kung fu masters possess mystical powers, and Wei Lei was just one of many making such extraordinary claims[1:1].

What Xu couldn’t have anticipated was that exposing these claims would transform him from a martial arts critic into one of China’s most prominent dissidents.

The Systematic Destruction of a Life

The viral video of Xu’s victory triggered immediate backlash. He was accused of disparaging Chinese culture, his family received death threats, and beverage tycoon Chen Sheng offered over $1.45 million to any traditional fighter who could defeat him[1:2]. But the government’s response went far beyond public outrage.

In 2019, following a court case where Xu was ordered to pay 400,000 yuan in damages and publicly apologize for insulting tai chi grandmaster Chen Xiaowang, Chinese authorities implemented a punishment so comprehensive it defies imagination[5]. When Xu refused to apologize, his social credit score was lowered to “D”—the lowest possible rating[6].

This single rating change transformed every aspect of his daily existence:

  • Travel restrictions: Banned from purchasing plane tickets, train tickets, and high-speed rail[6:1]
  • Accommodation limits: Prohibited from staying in star-rated hotels, restaurants, and nightclubs[6:2]
  • Real estate: Cannot purchase property[6:3]
  • Education: His children would be banned from attending private schools[6:4]
  • Digital erasure: Removed from Chinese search engines[7]

The most surreal punishment came when authorities forced him to wear clown makeup and fight under the pseudonym “Xu Dong Gua” (Winter Melon) for his matches to be broadcast in China[8]. This wasn’t voluntary trolling—it was state-mandated humiliation designed to strip away his dignity while allowing him to continue as a cautionary spectacle.

The Wudang Connection: When Sacred Mountains Meet Modern Commerce

Among the traditional martial arts institutions threatened by Xu’s campaign, Wudang stands out as particularly significant. According to investigative reporting by Beijing News, major traditional martial arts streams including Shaolin, Wudang, Qingcheng, Emei and Kongdong have all evolved into business corporations that operate martial arts schools, produce movies, sell Chinese medicines, and develop touristic sites[9].

The confrontation with Wudang became personal when Chen Shixing, a Wudang master and successor of the Sanfeng faction, publicly responded to Xu’s challenges. Chen accused Xu of using “anti-counterfeiting” as a way to make money, claiming that Wudang Taoists are “indifferent to fame and fortune”[10]. Xu fired back, challenging Chen directly and calling him a “decent hypocrite” whose martial arts were merely “slick performances,” daring him to “cut off the Internet” and fight[10:1].

Despite the heated exchange, Chen Shixing never accepted Xu’s challenge to fight. Instead, he continued teaching at his China Wudang Kungfu Academy, where he leads monthly classes for students from around the world[11]. The refusal to engage in actual combat while maintaining claims of martial superiority exemplified exactly what Xu was trying to expose.

This pattern repeated with other masters—they would challenge Xu or criticize him publicly, but when it came to actual fights, they would either back down or send lesser-known practitioners. When Chen Yong, a different tai chi master claiming to be a sixth-generation master of the Wu lineage, finally fought Xu in November 2020, he lasted only 10 seconds before surrendering[12].

The Journey from Fighter to Political Dissident

Xu’s transformation from martial arts critic to political enemy crystallized in August 2019 when he made comments about the Hong Kong protests. In a YouTube livestream, he stated: “Hong Kong people are Chinese. I am Chinese. So I love Hong Kong. I don’t believe that there are so many violent thugs there”[13].

By international standards, these views were extremely moderate—Xu didn’t support Hong Kong independence and regarded Hong Kongers as Chinese[13:1]. However, in China’s dissent-paranoid environment, publicly questioning state media narratives about Hong Kong was tantamount to betrayal. Four days after the livestream, state security visited his apartment for questioning[14].

This evolution reveals how authoritarian systems treat any challenge to official narratives, regardless of the original domain of criticism.

The Economic Forces Behind the Fury

To understand the government’s extreme response, we must examine what Xu accidentally threatened. Traditional Chinese martial arts aren’t merely cultural artifacts—they’re integral to a massive economic ecosystem that China has spent billions developing:

Tourism Infrastructure: The Wudang Mountains alone have attracted massive investment, with Hubei province promoting the “Wudang Tai Chi” brand and developing it into what officials call a “model area for inheriting and developing excellent traditional Chinese culture”[15]. The site generates substantial revenue through tourism, with over 70,000 international visitors annually[16]. Cities like Zhengzhou have invested heavily in martial arts tourism, with the Shaolin Temple region generating substantial revenue through martial arts schools and training centers.

Soft Power Investment: China’s 2014 sports development plan aimed to create a five trillion yuan industry by 2025, with traditional martial arts as a key component. The government issued the Martial Arts Industry Development Plan (2019-2025) to build “smart wushu” services and promote the arts globally. Research shows the central government uses traditional kung fu styles to boost national patriotism and as a form of soft power internationally[17].

Cultural Diplomacy: Since the 1930s, China has used martial arts as tools of international influence, with mixed results. Despite massive investments in promoting wushu globally, China has struggled to get it accepted as an Olympic sport, highlighting the disconnect between cultural aspirations and practical effectiveness.

Film Industry: The global popularity of kung fu cinema has created substantial commercial value, with films like “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” boosting tourism to sites like Wudang Mountain[16:1].

When Xu systematically demolished master after master in seconds, he didn’t just expose individual fraudsters—he threatened the mystique upon which this entire industry depends.

The Government’s Response: Damage Control

The impact of Xu’s campaign became evident when, in July 2020, the Chinese Wushu Association issued directives warning practitioners not to appoint themselves as “kung fu masters” or “authentic masters” and to stop faking documents about their “alleged prowess”[18]. This directive, interpreted by many as a direct response to Xu’s exposures, acknowledged that self-proclaimed masters had “damaged the overall image of traditional martial arts”[18:1].

In November 2017, China’s General Administration of Sport had already issued a directive apparently in response to Xu’s fights, demanding practitioners “build correct values about martial arts” while simultaneously banning unauthorized fights to prevent further exposure[1:3].

Support from Unexpected Places

Remarkably, even some traditional martial arts leaders supported Xu’s mission. Shaolin Temple abbot Shi Yongxin publicly backed Xu, saying he was “doing the right thing” and that exposing frauds was “good for the traditional art form”[19]. This endorsement from within the traditional martial arts community proved that even insiders recognized the problem of fraudulent masters.

The Underground Resistance

Despite overwhelming government oppression, Xu has refused to surrender. He runs a YouTube channel called “Brother Dong’s Hot Takes,” recording shows in Beijing and sending them to friends in America for upload since he’s banned from Chinese social media[3:1]. He sees continued broadcasting as a moral imperative, stating: “What this show tells is priceless”[13:2].

The physical toll has been severe—in 2018, during training with younger MMA fighters, Xu received a knee to the face that left him with a fractured skull and 26 stitches[3:2]. Yet he assured reporters he didn’t care about injuries, stating: “If traditional martial artists could beat me the way these MMA fighters did then I’d be so happy”[3:3].

The Modern Machinery of Control

Xu’s case demonstrates how contemporary authoritarianism operates through sophisticated systems of social control rather than dramatic public punishments. The social credit system allows governments to make normal life impossible without the appearance of overt oppression[20].

This punishment reveals the true sophistication of modern authoritarian control: no dramatic arrests or public executions, just the quiet strangulation of everyday life through algorithmic restrictions and digital erasure. It’s psychological warfare designed to break spirits while serving as warnings to others.

The Global Context of Truth-Telling

Xu’s story transcends martial arts—it illustrates what happens when individuals challenge systems of organized mythology that serve political and economic interests. In an era where governments increasingly declare war on inconvenient realities, his case provides a stark example of the price paid by those who choose truth over comfort.

The millions who watch “master destruction” videos aren’t just seeking entertainment—they’re witnessing rare moments when mythology collides with reality, when cultural nationalism meets objective truth. In systems built on manufactured narratives, such collisions become inherently political acts.

The Enduring Question

Xu’s willingness to continue despite comprehensive life destruction poses a fundamental question about the value of truth in authoritarian systems. His case demonstrates that some individuals will choose reality over mythology, honesty over harmony, even when the personal cost is devastating.

The terrifying lesson isn’t whether traditional martial arts work in real fights—it’s whether societies can tolerate truth-tellers when governments decide that objective reality threatens profitable illusions.

Reflections on Power and Truth

What makes Xu Xiaodong’s story so compelling isn’t his fighting ability—it’s his unwillingness to abandon truth despite facing a punishment system designed to make resistance impossible. His case reveals how modern authoritarian control operates through comprehensive life restriction rather than traditional oppression.

The question that haunts his story isn’t whether kung fu masters can fight—it’s whether societies can survive when governments systematically punish anyone who exposes comfortable lies. In an age where truth itself becomes a political statement, Xu’s persistence offers both hope and warning about the costs of refusing to submit to organized mythology.

His story forces us to confront an uncomfortable reality: in systems where profitable illusions are protected by state power, simply telling the truth becomes an act of extraordinary courage—and extraordinary danger.

  1. Time Magazine. (2018, November 8). Meet the Chinese MMA Fighter Taking on the Grandmasters of Kung Fu. ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

  2. South China Morning Post. (2019, June 19). Xu Xiaodong, the Chinese MMA fighter who pummels martial arts masters, vows to expose kung fu ‘fakery’. ↩

  3. Wikipedia. (2025). Xu Xiaodong. Retrieved June 2025. ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

  4. Time Magazine. (2018, November 8). Meet the Chinese MMA Fighter Taking on the Grandmasters of Kung Fu. ↩

  5. South China Morning Post. (2019, July 10). China orders Xu Xiaodong to publicly apologise and pay damages for insulting tai chi ‘grandmaster’ Chen Xiaowang. ↩

  6. The Greater China Journal. (2019, May 27). Chinese MMA Fighter Xu Xiaodong has social credit score lowered to “D”, is barred from buying plane tickets and real estate. ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

  7. South China Morning Post. (2020, December 5). Chinese MMA fighter Xu Xiaodong follows 10-second win vs tai chi master by calling out online impostor. ↩

  8. MMA Underground. (2022, March 1). 120-pound Wing Chun master vs. 220-pound MMA fighter. ↩

  9. Hong Kong Free Press. (2017, May 8). MMA fighter uses his 10-second defeat of Tai Chi master to challenge Chinese kung fu bureaucrats. ↩

  10. DayDayNews. (2020, June 17). Chen Shixing satirized Xu Xiaodong: He used the name of counterfeiting to make money. ↩ ↩

  11. China Wudang Kungfu Academy. Master Chen Shixing’s class - Wudang Kungfu Classes. ↩

  12. The Tai Chi Notebook. (2020, December 4). Another one bites the dust (the latest Xu Xiaodong vs Tai Chi master). ↩

  13. Deadspin. He Never Intended To Become A Political Dissident, But Then He Started Beating Up Tai Chi Masters. ↩ ↩ ↩

  14. South China Morning Post. (2019, August 27). Chinese authorities question MMA fighter Xu Xiaodong over Hong Kong protest comments. ↩

  15. PRNewswire. (2023, November 20). Wudang tai chi continues to wow the world. ↩

  16. Bastillepost. (2025, March 2). Wudang Mountain’s martial arts heritage draws global visitors. ↩ ↩

  17. The Meliorist. (2023, January 17). Why Do Chinese Kung Fu Masters Keep Getting Beat Up? ↩

  18. South China Morning Post. (2020, July 16). Chinese kung fu ‘masters’ told to clean up act and stop bringing shame to traditional martial arts. ↩ ↩

  19. South China Morning Post. (2019, June 19). Xu Xiaodong, the Chinese MMA fighter challenging fake kung fu, gets backing from Shaolin Temple monk. ↩

  20. South China Morning Post. (2019, June 20). China’s censorship of Xu Xiaodong for exposing fake martial arts masters is alarming. ↩

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Why do people continue going to traditional martail art schools, if they are that incompetent in actual combat? Obviously there are fakes all over the world, and they should be exposedj, but would it matter if the traditional practitioners were to have a real fight, without the gloves, rules, limits, etc.?

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Good question, Ron. Speaking as someone who trained both in the Wudang mountains and with Vietcong military methods, I’d say traditional martial arts can absolutely be effective — when practiced seriously. The issue today is that many well-known masters, like Chen Shixing, reached their peak in youth and now focus more on status and income than continued development. It’s less about the art itself, and more about how it’s being lived and taught.

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