The Provincial School of Wushu named “Rufino Alay Chang” is a reference center for the eastern part of the country, is now 20 years old. Two decades have gone by since April 8, 2000, when on the initiative of Master Roberto Vargas Lee, Carlos Rodríguez Cordoví and Yaima Justo Velázquez, a couple in life and sport, took on the challenge of creating an institution for the practice of martial arts and Chinese culture in Puerto Padre.

Puerto Padre, Las Tunas - On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the school, we interviewed the master Carlos Rodríguez Cordoví, leader of this project that transcends our borders.

Carlos, how did you manage to materialize in Puerto Padre the idea of Master Vargas Lee?

At that time, the first courses for instructors began in Havana's Chinatown, courses that were taught through the Cuban Wushu School. I came from the practice of Karate-Do, with Professor Emilio López Vidaña, and I was interested in martial arts. When the possibility of studying Wushu arose, it caught my attention and together with Master Yaima, I fell in love with the idea. After passing the exams, the teacher Roberto, gave us the idea of founding a school in Puerto Padre to promote Chinese culture and we did so. 

You arrive in Puerto Padre, when does the idea begin to take shape?

Immediately. We arrived from Havana and the first thing we looked for was the spreading of the idea, and in that the Libertad radio station had a fundamental role, which at that time was in front of the Paco Cabrera park, on the avenue, and in that the announcer Roger Cala Falcón, who is also the founder of the school, helped us a lot. We started the call, people began to get interested in the project and on April 8, 2000, we founded the school.

Where did you teach the first lessons?

We began in the boxing area, located next to the Hermanos Ameijeiras stadium. We stayed there for about six months, then for a year in the courtyard of the municipal library, and then we went to the sports area of the José Maceo High School. From there, when we couldn't find any space, the teacher Roberto suggested that we raid the parks of Puerto Padre as it was done in China, and we moved to Marti Park. Here the enrollment was growing, we had 3 groups, one of the children, one of youth and one of the elderly, and the park was not enough. From there, the idea was born to rescue the old volleyball area, which was abandoned, and this became the official headquarters of the school, where we have been for about 16 years.

Master, what are the most important achievements of the school in these 20 years?

Twenty years is easy to say, but it takes sacrifice, passion, dedication. In twenty years many are the achievements and challenges that the school has had to face. We started with a small group of people, today we are 200. The school, in addition to the usual headquarters, has had groups in Vazquez, Delicias, in Maniabón, in La Micro, in the Paco Cabrera Park. We have projects with the Ministry of the Interior, with the Revolutionary Armed Forces, with the Camilo Cienfuegos Pioneers Palace, with the Brisas Covarrubias Hotel, with the Culinary Federation. In these 20 years we have promoted the development of the Chiqún of health, we rescued the Chinese traditions in Puerto Padre with the celebration of the Lunar New Year, the dance of the dragon and the dance of the lion. From the martial arts we teach the full mastery of the spear, the saber, the stick, the fan, the chain and others. The school, as a center of reference for the eastern zone, has taken its teachings to other provinces such as Camagüey, Holguín, Granma and Santiago de Cuba. In addition, it has served as a bridge of friendship between Cuba and China, hence the fraternal relations between both nations.

In these two decades, different personalities of culture and sport have visited the school. Mention some of them.

Here in Puerto Padre, through the school, have been the monks of the Shaolin Temple, Roberto Vargas Lee, President of the Cuban School of Wushu, master and friend in the personal area. The name of my youngest daughter, Mei Jua, was given by him which is evidence of this. Also with us have been Master Ronaldo Veitía, renowned trainer of Cuban women's judo, Hero of Work of the Republic of Cuba, Master Raúl Rizo, founder of the Cuban School of Karate-Do, Salvador Pérez Quevedo, representative of Shotokan in Cuba, the first Cuban television actor Rogelio Blaín, who has already passed away, and the also first Cuban actor Emilio del Valle, visited us.

20th Anniversary of the Cuban Wushu School in Puerto Padre. An anniversary that you will not be able to celebrate in a big way due to the new coronavirus. How do you face this period?

We had several activities to celebrate, among them the 20th Anniversary Gala, but there will be time to commemorate. When this bad moment that the world is going through is a sad memory for humanity, then we will carry out all the activities that we had planned for this April 8th, activities that began with the celebrations of the Lunar New Year. However, the work in the school does not stop, and when I say school, I do not mean the headquarters, that physical space, I mean the students, children, young people and adults. Under these circumstances, everyone has guidance on how to exercise at home, and you have already seen on Facebook, part of what we do. So here we go, giving health and life to our people.

Carlos, what is the mark of the school in Puerto Padre?
The school educates with values in the Puerto Padre society. The school cultivates culture and sports. The school offers quality of life to the elderly. The school contributes to the preparation of MININT and FAR officers. The school is present at every parade, gala, political activity, and carnival. The school promotes Chinese culture and martial arts. The school, through the practice of Wushu, brings health and life. The School, constitutes, in an irreversible way, a weapon of the Revolution.