A pocket park with a punch

Liao Jiao (liao means throw down and jiao means wrestling) is the northern colloquial term for Chinese-style wrestling, adhering to the philosophy that "raw strength can outmatch 10 skilled techniques, and ingenuity can break a thousand jin (jin is half a kilogram) of force".

A competitor wins as soon as they throw their opponent to the ground, with any part of the opponent's body other than their feet — such as the knees or back — making contact with the ground. In an open space between residential buildings in Jieyuan subdistrict, Hongqiao district, Tianjin, a pocket park centered on a wrestling arena carries on the down-to-earth, bustling legacy of Tianjin's old-time "wrestling hubs".

The Xiaoxiguan area of Hongqiao has long had a strong martial arts tradition.

As a historic northern inland and riverside wharf, the area attracted large numbers of laborers in its early days, helping folk martial arts like Liao Jiao, traditional wushu, and broadsword performances flourish.

In 2003, the Tianjin Jinyou Wrestling Club settled here. Local residents leveled a sandy plot under three big trees and built an open-air wrestling arena themselves. It became known as the "Three Trees Wrestling Arena" and soon developed into a renowned gathering spot for Tianjin's folk wrestling enthusiasts.

In 2025, as part of Tianjin's urban renewal initiative, the old sandy arena was upgraded with a synthetic rubber surface and tiered grandstands. It reopened to the public as a renewed pocket park. Every Sunday morning in summer and autumn, this compact arena comes alive. Open to all regardless of age, gender or where they come from, it draws local residents, wrestling fans from across the country, and tourists who travel here especially for the experience.

Many wrestling lovers from Beijing, Hebei and Shandong provinces, and other regions also make special trips to exchange skills. In the arena, participants spar and compete, with every movement and stance revealing the authentic traditional charm of Chinese-style wrestling. The matches bring a lively atmosphere of community fitness to the surrounding neighborhood.

Eighty-one-year-old wrestling enthusiast Wu Ruichang has witnessed the arena's transformation from its earliest days. He was introduced to Liao Jiao at 16, and trained under his master through all kinds of weather in his youth. Decades later, his passion for the sport remains undiminished.

Today, he sometimes steps into the arena to compete, sometimes watches from the sidelines, and often guides younger wrestlers on their techniques. In his own way, he is helping pass on the tradition to a younger generation.

The saying "Hands serve as two gates, victory is won entirely through the legs" captures the essence of the sport: coordinated hand and foot movements, combined with the ingenuity needed to overcome an opponent.

Beyond the intense matches, the Tianjin-style wushu xiangsheng (martial arts-themed comic crosstalk) adds a unique, folksy charm to this national fitness gala. The "wrestling commentator" explains techniques, shares sports knowledge, and weaves in local folk anecdotes, all delivered in authentic Tianjin dialect. The banter creates a lively exchange between sporting action and local humor. The combination of wrestling and earthy commentary gives Tianjin's wrestling culture a place in everyday urban life. Rooted in tradition yet open to everyone, the arena allows an old sport to remain part of the city's streets, neighborhoods and community life.