Gene Ching
Publisher www.KungFuMagazine.com
Author of Shaolin Trips
Support our forum by getting your gear at MartialArtSmart
My ideal kung fu allows me to dance around in my pajamas chi blasting the $hit out of everyone I do not like or agree with!
Richard A. Tolson
https://www.patreon.com/mantismastersacademy
There are two types of Chinese martial artists. Those who can fight and those who should be teaching dance or yoga!
53 years of training, 43 years of teaching and still aiming for perfection!
Recovering Forms Junkie! Even my twelve step program has four roads!
And in keeping with our cosplay theme...
Gene Ching
Publisher www.KungFuMagazine.com
Author of Shaolin Trips
Support our forum by getting your gear at MartialArtSmart
Sorry for the topic drift but...
Not sure how much is has to do with China's rise as with the dollar's fall. The Chinese yuan has been worth a lot more for a long time. It was only PRC govt. policy that kept the exchange rate artifically pegged at 8.3 to the dollar. Since they started letting it move naturally on the market, in just 4 or 5 years it's moved to about 6.1 to the dollar and Chinese monetary policy has still been artificially limiting the speed at which the exchange rate changes. Point being, the "real" exchange rate, unimpeded by specific policies was, according to a lot of articles I read back when the change from set exchange rate to free(er) market rates was being contemplated, the "natural" rate even back then was said to be somewhere between 4 and 6 to the dollar.
So just plain falling dollars and euros have caused an increase in Chinese product prices of about 25% even without China needing to ask more for it's products.
On the other hand, since I get payed in Chinese yuan over here, my effective student loan payments have dropped significantly.
aka: Bailewen - 白乐文
Me using Baji in a match
Me performing Dabaji and taking silver at a national comp in China (Got gold medals too but no video)
www.xiangwuhui.com
Am I doing it right?
It is better to have less thunder in the mouth and more lightning in the hand. - Apache Proverb
That's a good point. My comment is an oversimplification. The bottom line is that no one can import martial arts gear out of China at the prices we had a decade ago. It's also worthy of note that this affects the entire martial arts market. Beyond CMA gear, China also manufactures the bulk of MA gear for all styles, including MMA.
Gene Ching
Publisher www.KungFuMagazine.com
Author of Shaolin Trips
Support our forum by getting your gear at MartialArtSmart
Psalms 144:1
Praise be my Lord my Rock,
He trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle !