Buffalo Grove High School world history and Mandarin students got to see a tenant of Chinese culture in action Thursday morning when they saw martial arts experts perform dances and Kung Fu.

The masters at Bei Dou are from top martial arts universities in China and have performed, competed and coached in international competitions.

They kicked off the performance with a little Chinese history and terminology.

Yang Liu, a martial arts expert with Bei Dou Kung Fu, performs with a sword for Buffalo Grove High School sophomores Feb. 2. (Michelle Stofel/Tribune)

For example, Wei Luo, who narrated the performance, warned the students not to call the performers ninjas — those are Japanese and of “dubious moral character” — unlike the Kung Fu experts that performed.

Kung Fu was originally a practical skill used in warfare, but modern weaponry has rendered the practice redundant and obsolete, Luo said.

Instead Kung Fu experts around the world practice the art for their well-being, camaraderie and self-actualization, he said.

“It’s not a Chinese art, or an Asian art for that matter, but a human art,” he said.

The Chinese Lion Dance celebrates the Chinese New Year. The martial artists hide inside lion costumes and rely on their martial arts skills to pull off the dance moves.

Bei Dou will also perform at John Hersey High School in Arlington Heights Feb. 6.