“Be Water, My Friend” | A Learning Journey: Season 4

At fifteen, a Bruce Lee film opened a window onto Chinese martial arts for Brazilian martial artist Gabriel de Moraes, known in China as Mo Xiaolong. Years later, he made Nanning his home, training under local masters, joining the Chin Woo community, teaching students, and continuing a journey that began with a teenage fascination with Kung Fu. Through years of practice, Mo’s understanding of martial arts has grown far beyond techniques and physical strength. From the discipline of training to the bonds between master and student, he has come to value focus, restraint, respect and openness. “Be water, my friend”—the words that once inspired him from afar have gradually become a philosophy he lives by: adapting to different cultures and experiences while continuing to find his own way forward.