Xie Shuiping, who makes a living by offering himself as a punching bag, displays Qigong, a system of deep breathing exercises, on a street in Wuhan ci
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Contributor:
Imaginechina Limited / Alamy Stock PhotoImage ID:
W9076PFile size:
34.5 MB (431.7 KB Compressed download)Releases:
Model - no | Property - noDo I need a release?Dimensions:
2832 x 4256 px | 24 x 36 cm | 9.4 x 14.2 inches | 300dpiDate taken:
11 May 2014Photographer:
ImaginechinaMore information:
Xie Shuiping, who makes a living by offering himself as a punching bag, displays Qigong, a system of deep breathing exercises, on a street in Wuhan city, central Chinas Hubei province, 11 May 2014. A 48-year-old man has been making a living by offering himself as a punching bag to people in bars and night clubs for 10 year. Xie Shuiping was waiting for his agent to generate business for him. A number of showings were booked, Xie said, and he expected to charge each showing about 3, 000 yuan ($500). Xie started his career in 2004 at a promotional show at a supermarket. He volunteered to perform, asking audience members to hit his head with wine bottles. From then on, Xie earned money by offering himself as a punching bag. Each performance generally lasted 20 minutes, Xie said, and when performing in bars, customers were allowed to punch his stomach three times. Those who beat me down or shake me can receive free drinks from the bar. At first, I did it just for fun and did not think about making a living by it, Xie said. But later I realized that without money, I could not live. His appearance fee ranges from several hundred yuan to 2, 000 yuan, according to Xie, who said he can make about 20, 000 yuan a month. Even when his wife and two daughters tried to talk him out of getting beat up as a career, Xie was immovable. I do not think the career is low, and I get paid through my work. Xie does not plan much for his future, but he wants to perform in the US next year. If possible, I want to drop in at Seattle, to visit the late kungfu legend Bruce Lee. He is my idol, he said.