Du Zhiyu and his disciple in training
By Keqiao Cheng
It is a common sense that the strength required for operating an eye surgery has to be very delicate. However, the strength used in boxing has to be explosive and powerful. But there is someone who has perfectly integrated the two features of strength in himself.
Du Zhiyu, born and raised in Chongqing, has been practicing the martial arts for over 40 years already. When he was a child, he was weak and thin. In order to keep fit and strong, he began to learn the martial arts with his uncle. In 1985, he founded the Association of Martial Arts of Chongqing Medical University. Then he began to lead the classmates to step into the Chinese kungfu world.
After graduating from the university, Du worked as an ophthalmologist, but he never stopped his passion for the martial arts.
Du still kept the two books from O'Connor.
In the bookcase in his office, there are still two English books of martial arts. Actually, they were gifts from Shannon O’Connor, his American “disciple”.
When Chinese kungfu master met his foreign disciple
In 2001, Du traveled to the US as a visiting scholar, during which he met O’Connor.
Du Zhiyu and Shannon O'Connor in 2001
It was in the Vanderbilt University where Du stayed for months for the academic activities. Every day when he went to work, he would pass by a sports field where a group of Americans always practiced karate, and O’Connor was the coach. When Du had time, he used to sit down there and watched them practicing.
After several times of observation, Du knew that this young man was good in martial arts and a black belt in karate. By a further conversation, Du learned that O’Connor had studied Chinese martial arts before and was very keen to learn the Chinese kungfu. Thus they made an appointment so that he could show this American young man some Chinese martial arts.
Obviously, at that moment O’Connor had no way to know this Asian man was a kungfu master.
However, on the day of the appointment, Du arrived one hour later because of his work. “I was wondering if Shannon had left or not. Just because of my curiosity, I still decided to go there.” Du said, “When I arrived at the meeting place in the park, Shannon was still there practicing the karate alone while waiting for me.”
Seeing this scene, Du was very impressed by this American young man. “So why not coming with me to my residence building?” Du recalled the words he said to O’Connor.
When they got to Du's place, they talked about martial arts and had a friendly exchange. Unexpectedly, in a few rounds, the strong and tall American man could not stand the leg attck by Du. At that moment, O’Connor realized that Du was actually a kungfu master.
Since then, Du taught O’Connor five hours per week, and each time he taught his American disciple five moves of the Chinese martial arts until he returned to China.
O'Connor was very grateful for what Du had taught him.
When Du was about to leave the US, O’Connor gave Du two books as a gift. “Shannon said I am more than the teacher or the coach for him,” Du said, “and in the message he wrote on the preface, he called me ‘Dear Master Du’.”
The master in ophthalmology
When speaking of what he has learned from practicing the martial arts, Du said in addition to the physical benefits, it also has brought him an inner peace. No matter in the training yard or in the surgery room, Du is always able to keep a calm and peaceful mind.
Undoubtedly, Du has made a series of achievements in the medical field.
Du Zhiyu at the ASCRS
Du is now a professor and doctoral supervisor of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University. He has been the chairman of the National Committee of CSORS (Chinese Society of Refractive Surgery) during over ten years in a row. Besides this, he was one of the six experts in China who drew up the Standards of the Ministry of Health of China for Excimer Laser Corneal Refractive Surgery. Also, he has been qualified as an evaluation expert for talents in the healthcare sector by the Ministry of Health of China. In 2018, on the invitation of the ASCRS (American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery), Du visited the US again, and he addressed a keynote speech at the conference.
Du Zhiyu had a cordial exchange with experts from the presidium of ASCRS.
Unfortunately, due to many reasons, Du and O’Connor lost the contact. “I hope to get in touch again with Shannon, my long-lost American friend.” Du said.
In terms of his success, no matter the 32-year medical career, or the 40-year history in the martial arts, Du contributed them to the long-time persistence and continuous self-challenge. “Because you have to know there is no shortcut, and only the diligence can lead you to the goal.”
If you have any clue about Shannon O'Connor, please contact Dr. Du.
Email: dr.duzhiyu@163.com