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Yao People

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Montage: people of the Yao tribe

Yao women are known for their phenomenal strength. Besides twirling parasols while the men blow reed instruments, and otherwise making merry around the fire as you see here, they play a game with a bamboo pole around three inches in diameter and 10 feet long (roughly 7 or 8cm x 3m). Two opponents each place an end of the pole just above the belt line, get a good stance and grip, and try to push the other over.

I just managed to hold my own against a 12-year-old girl, whom I outweighed by quite a margin, by trying to visualize a flow of chi energy through the pole and pushing as hard as possible. This was a source of some satisfaction, because to draw a match with them is unusual regardless of weight advantage.

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Copyright © Don Douglas