VOA标准英语2014--印尼武术在犹他州找到发展机会

 

Indonesian Martial¹ Arts Find Home in Utah 印尼武术在犹他州找到发展机会

OGDEN, UTAH — Martial arts imported from East Asia have long been part of the U.S. sports landscape. For decades, it has been common to see American students take self-defense classes in Taekwondo from Korea and Judo² from Japan. One school in the western U.S. state of Utah is teaching³ something a bit different from Indonesia - Merpati Putih.

The founders⁴ are brothers, Nate and Mike Zeleznick. The movements and instructions are in native Indonesian. Unique to this class, the students use Javanese words as they learn Merpati Putih.

Located in Ogden, Utah and established in 1999, it is the only such school in the U.S.

Mike Zeleznick said they try to teach the students more than just self-defense.

"So we teach all the movements, all the techniques for fighting, for everything, in Bahasa Indonesia," he said. "I really want to share the culture of Indonesia, the beauty, the people, and the aspect, you know, comes from a very long lineage of royalty⁵ in Indonesia. So we would like to share that with everybody and really get them to think outside the box and willing to step up and travel and explore and have fun in the world, because you know, it is a big playground out there, and Indonesia is an amazing treasure."

They have more than 150 students and none of them are from Indonesia.

Nate Zeleznick said breathing techniques are at the core⁶ of the training for adult students. Strength gained is tested by breaking stones, iron and more based on the level of the student.

Advanced student Scotty Newton says the class is always challenging.

"I feel good, I feel calm," he said. "I have been doing Merpati Putih for 11 years now, so I have broken a lot of things, and I have had many struggles and many fails, failed attempts, and many successes, too."

But breaking things is not the main appeal for students like Tammy Anderson.

"I am a physical therapist⁷ and I do a lot of healing⁸, it worked. So I actually got into this more for the healing side," she said. "I spent a lot of time fighting when I was growing up, and I really do not like to hit things. I spent ten years trying not to hit things, so I really did not really want to break that."

Teachers and students say Merpati Putih, which means "white dove," is not so much about fighting as it is about reaching one’s true potential.

1 martial   

adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的

参考例句：

• The sound of martial music is always inspiring.军乐声总是鼓舞人心的。
• The officer was convicted of desertion at a court martial.这名军官在军事法庭上被判犯了擅离职守罪。

2 judo   

n.柔道

参考例句：

• The judo is a kind of fighting sport.柔道是一种对抗性体育活动。
• Which is more important in judo, strength or techniques?柔道运动中，力量和技术哪个更重要？

3 teaching   

n.教学，执教，任教，讲授；(复数)教诲

参考例句：

• We all agree in adopting the new teaching method. 我们一致同意采取新的教学方法。
• He created a new system of teaching foreign languages.他创造了一种新的外语教学体系。

4 founders   

n.创始人( founder的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He was one of the founders of the university's medical faculty. 他是该大学医学院的创建人之一。 来自辞典例句
• The founders of our religion made this a cornerstone of morality. 我们宗教的创始人把这看作是道德的基石。 来自辞典例句

5 royalty   

n.皇家，皇族

参考例句：

• She claims to be descended from royalty.她声称她是皇室后裔。
• I waited on tables，and even catered to royalty at the Royal Albert Hall.我做过服务生， 甚至在皇家阿伯特大厅侍奉过皇室的人。

6 core   

n.中心；核心；(苹果、梨等果实的)果心

参考例句：

• We didn't get to the core of the subject.我们没触及问题的核心。
• The pear is rotten to the core.这梨全烂了。

7 therapist   

n.治疗专家

参考例句：

• My therapist helped me feel my anger.我的治疗专家帮助我感受自己的怒气。
• Family therapists.家庭治疗师。

8 healing   

n.康复，复原adj.有治疗功用的v.（使）愈合( heal的现在分词 )；治愈；（使）结束；较容易忍受

参考例句：

• miraculous powers of healing 神奇的治病能力
• She seems to have a vocation for healing. 看来她具备治病救人的才能。 来自《简明英汉词典》