Discover a carioca’s love for Chinese Kung Fu

Gabriel de Moraes, 46, from Rio de Janeiro, found inspiration in the legendary Bruce Lee during his youth. Fascinated by Chinese martial arts, he adopted the Chinese name “Mo Xiaolong” in homage to Bruce Lee, whose original name in Chinese is “Li Xiaolong”. His dream was to hone his skills so that they would be as impressive as those of his idol.

While his friends devoted themselves to football, Gabriel chose to follow the path of martial arts, learning from Chinese masters at a local school. In 1999, he began systematic training in Kung Fu.

Gabriel found a parallel between the concept of “conquering the inflexible with the flexible” in Chinese martial arts and the practices of Brazilian capoeira and jiu-jitsu, and also perceived a rich “oriental wisdom”. This motivated him to delve deeper into Chinese culture.

In 2008, with the help of an exchange program between China and Brazil, Gabriel entered the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. During his stay, he not only completed his studies in acupuncture, but also took the opportunity to exchange experiences with instructors and martial arts enthusiasts.

For Gabriel, both traditional medicine, which cures diseases, and martial arts, which strengthen the body, represent the true essence of Kung Fu. After completing his studies, he returned to Brazil and founded a martial arts school in his hometown, in addition to teaching acupuncture.

In 2011, Gabriel returned to China and met a young Chinese woman in Nanning, in the south of the country. They got married the following year in Brazil. During this time, he continued to train in Kung Fu, introducing the martial art to more and more Brazilians, especially young people. In 2016, the couple moved to Nanning, where Gabriel found new professional opportunities.

He began working as a foreign coach at a local martial arts club. In 2022, one of his students won first place in the female junior category at a traditional martial arts competition, cementing Gabriel’s reputation and making him a prominent figure in the local martial arts community.

Gabriel now enjoys an enriching life in China. In his spare time, he continues to study traditional Chinese medicine diagnostic and treatment techniques and uses the internet to teach Brazilian students. “My life has benefited greatly from the cultural exchange between China and Brazil,” says Gabriel. “I hope that this friendship that crosses oceans will continue to bring benefits to the people of both countries.”