In China, This Instructor Is Under Fire For ‘Brutal’ Military-style Swimming Sessions

A video showing a camp instructor forcibly dunking an 11-year-old boy’s head underwater during a swimming session has gone viral. The 11-year-old boy was forced to attempt swimming with his wrists tied behind his back by a camp counsellor, according to leaked footage from the training camp obtained by the South China Morning Post (SCMP). The instructor urged, “Faster, faster” as the boy faltered and could not get any momentum.

The ruthless hardships these young campers endure at this Chinese “training camp” with a military theme have angered people on social media. Meanwhile, Chuang Shi Mo Xun, also known as “Genesis Devil Training” in English, is a military-style training camp that includes it in its curriculum.

In response to the viral video, the training camp director reportedly stated that many children were hesitant to submerge their bodies in the water, and the child in the video was “somewhat timid”. According to SCMP, the instruction was designed to assist people overcome “psychological barriers” and practise swimming.

The camp also offers daily morning runs, laundry instruction, and lectures on how to express gratitude to mothers, as per SCMP. Many children were reportedly videotaped crying during these lectures, which were then shared on the Chinese social networking app Douyin.

“Parents send their children to this camp to foster strong character, willpower, and good life habits,” as per the director. He also confirmed that the children’s safety was secured.

“There is no chance of drowning or choking because the pool’s water is only up to our waists when we stand—90 cm (3 feet) deep,” said the director of the camp. He further stated, “Our pool is cleaned and stocked with fresh, quality water.” He added that some parents sent their kids to his training camp expressly because the kids were afraid of the water.

Social media users had conflicting opinions. As per SCMP, some argued that “this is pure torture of a child,” while others praised the training, stating, “How can children grow up properly without hardship?”

The camp’s widely shared video was shot in the summer of 2023. Every year, 500–600 children are drawn to the camp to take part in its training activities.