Shaolin Kung Fu Training in China

[lisa bella]

I have fulfilled my biggest dream and one year Shaolin Kung Fu in
China, the origin of all martial arts training: Shaolin

6 - 10 hours a day, six days a week, 4 weeks a month, 11 months a
year, 3 years Shaolin Kung Fu. This is the training, the Chinese
students who get in Shaolin Kung Fu. Unfortunately, most foreigners -
including myself -do not have three years time, since there is also
some obligations at home: school, training, studies, job. Most foreign
students come between 1-12 months after the school or training to
China to learn Shaolin Kung Fu.

But one must be aware that you can complete in a month or less just a
taster of the Shaolin Kung Fu, because your body would be tortured
with strong muscles for at least 3-4 weeks. The unusual long daily
training, stretching and body building require the body from
everything. As a start, I would, therefore, recommend 2 -3 months,
upwards are no limits.
Why?
But how do you get the crazy idea, 1 year away from the friends, in an
unknown country whose language one does not speak, with an unknown
culture to undergo daily violent rigors, every day to feel sore, so
that every step hurts ...
WHY?
From early days I've been fascinated by kung fu movies. I've often
seen films with Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Andy Lau and many other famous
films such as "Shaolin Temple" and "The 36th Chamber of Shaolin".
Unfortunately, I lived in a town where no club Shaolin Kung Fu / Kung
Fu was taught. For this reason, I soon began to train Taekwondo. Later
I studied and had to put priorities on the study, so that there was
hardly time for sports. Nevertheless, there is a lingering love for
Kung Fu films and Kung Fu reports.
By chance I saw the report, "With 11 years in China alone," a
documentary about David Schneider lived in Cologne (his mother has
written a book about his stay), the 1 year in a Shaolin Kung Fu school
and the training. What can a 11-year-old do, I can too! I got in touch
with him and got some detours on the address of the martial arts
school in China. I contacted the school in English and shortly after
came an answer: You're welcome, when you want to come? It's that easy?
It took some time until I found a suitable date for my upcoming work
and study.

I got a three months tourist visa at the nearest Chinese Embassy and
bought a plane ticket to Beijing and a Chinese domestic flight from
Beijing to Zhengzhou. I was sitting in the plane to China!
At the airport in Zhengzhou, Henan (central China), I was picked up
from school by taxi. After the long flight I had done quite well and
we drove another 1 1 / 2 hour to school. Firstly the formalities were
completed. I paid the school fees (440 U.S. $ per month, including
training, accommodation in double rooms, meals (without drinks, these
inexpensive for 10 - 20 cents per bottle of water are purchased at
school)), before I've made no commitments! Then I was assigned a
double room, simply by European standards, but with everything you
need. Even a shower and toilet is available!
Even on nights tomorrow I could participate in the training. Firstly,
I bought a school uniform for a few EUR. This is not mandatory, but
the sense of belonging among students is enhanced, since each school
has its own uniform. The daily routine varriert depending on the
season, i.e. in spring and summer training starts earlier and the
breaks are longer in winter is the training a little more compact.


1. Training session 05:30 - 07:30 - Shaolin Kung Fu
In the summer the first training session begins at 05:30 and ends at
07:00. Depending on what is emphasized in this training session, the
training takes place in the mountains, rather than on the outer
grounds of the school or in the gym. In the morning it is usually
conditioning training. Each training begins with warm up, warm up the
muscles and some other preparations. It often follows a variety of
short sprints, if possible on a slight incline. Then each sprint
followed by push-ups or other abdominal exercises. Going in the duck
way, sprinting with a partner on his back, wheelbarrow, etc. are other
exercises.

Often, we have sought a staircase in the mountains. Here we were able
to sprint up and go down the stairs into pushup position. Hopping,
while only on the left leg, then on the right leg, then two, each over
the entire length of the stairs, and always down in push-up position
again, the staircase. Once a week we would climb sprinting in the
mountain in the first training session. I can tell you that your legs
are like lead after the morning practice, but you soon get used to the
hard training and your body condition is getting better every day!

After training, there is breakfast: pasta or Youtiao, from baked dough
elongated "bun". To the hot meal for breakfast one must get
accustomed, but it is healthy and provides the necessary nutrients and
vitamins, one that you need for daily Shaolin Kung Fu training.


2nd Workout 09:00 clock - 11:30 clock - Shaolin Kung Fu
After the breakfast is little time to relax and then the next training
session begins. First, with hot running, sprints and light
conditioning exercises the muscles warm up. Then much emphasis is put
on a good stretch (eg splits) because the strain is a prerequisite for
good kicks. If the exercises are not done correctly or according to
the coach little exerted pressure on the muscles, it helps to push you
with his body weight in the balancing act. There are also various
partner exercises, which raise the partner with the legs or knees, and
then stretch the appropriate muscles. As a further stretch one leg is
placed on one shoulder high branch on a window sill or on the shoulder
of the partner and the upper body with legs must reach the foot. In
general we can say that stretching is trained very intensively. It is
not up to the threshold of pain but often stretched beyond. So a good
preparation is strongly recommended!


Now the basic exercises of Shaolin Kung Fu start. Different positions
(Mabu, Gongbu, Pubu) are practiced. Good students are characterized by
very deep positions. Here are leg swings (just from the outside to
inside, from inside to outside). Both legs should be stretched, the
leg must not cave. Then several kicks follows, advanced students
practice some variants of jump kicks. Then follows simple combinations
of kicks. In the first course acrobatics are involved in the training,
such as cracked Cartwheel without hands, Flic Flac. These "basic
techniques" of Shaolin Kung Fu are practiced over and over again since
they constitute the basis for subsequent forms and good Shaolin Kung
Fu.

Lunch 12:00 clock
At 12:00 is lunch. The meal consists of much rice, noodles and
vegetables (peas, beans, bamboo, mushrooms, tomatoes, eggs) but little
meat. The cooks prepare different dishes, so that you can choose
something you like. Of course, one always discovers its highlights,
but you have to try the possibility of each meal and perhaps you will
discover something new.

After lunch you have the chance to have a rest, the body needs to
reflax after the previous 4 1 / 2 hours of training. Now there is the
opportunity to learn Chinese vocabulary, and the first attempts to
contact company with Chinese Shaolin Kung Fu students in Chinese
language. Chinese are very open to foreigners. After the first words
there will be soon a whole bunch of Chinese students around you to
participate in the conversation. The conversation is a funny mix of
Chinese, English and hands + feet.



2nd Workout 14:30 clock - 17:00 clock - Shaolin Kung Fu
Also, this workout starts with warming up, stretching the muscles and
basic exercises such as kicks, punches, stands. The main focus of the
afternoon training is learning of shapes. Beginners usually start with
the Wu Bu Quan, mainly in the various states and their transitions
taught. Following are the Xiao Hong Quan (Small Rotfaust), Tong In
Quan, Shaolin Quan Da Hong Quan or (Grand Rotfaust). The advanced
students can also learn animal style, eg Tiger (Lao Hu), Dragon
(Long), Monkey (Hou), Snake (She), Mantis (Tang Lang), etc.

Kettenpeitsche (Jiu Jie Bian), Tai Chi Schwert (Jian) oder Shaolin
Meteorhammer erlernen.
Students who masterd the most important basics are also taught weapon
forms. The first weapon that a student in Shaolin Kung Fu school
learned, is the dreaded Shaolin Kung Fu floor (Gun), followed by the
sword (Dao). The advanced students can continue the halberd (Pu Dao),
the three-level (San Jie Gun), Nunchakku (Liang Jie Gun), chain whip
(Jiu Jie Bian), Tai Chi Sword (Jian), or learn Shaolin Meteor Hammer.


Even more difficult is the learning of two weapons each in the right
and left hand, eg the double-handed sword or the 9-section whip. The
Shaolin Kung Fu students can express their wishes to learn what form
of the weapon. The trainer then checks his Kung Fu level, whether the
student is ready for the mold. It makes no sense to learn a monkey
form, included in the somersaults and other acrobatic elements, when
the student has not mastered these techniques.


18:00 clock Dinner
Like the lunch there is also rice, noodles, vegetables and some meat
at the dinner. The cooks always come up with something new that can be
conjured up out of these ingredients! In any case, the Chinese food
does not have so much calories as the European / American food. There
is now talk too loosely about the day that many impressions and the
newly learned with his new friends to share.

Free training session 20:00 clock - 21:30 clock - Shaolin Kung Fu
In the evening there is the possibility of a free training session to
be prepared for what they have learned themselves, internalize the
process of new forms or simply see the training of other advanced
students and try it yourself.


22:00 sleep
Pretty exhausted one looks forward to his bed and quickly found his
inner peace ;-) The next day they will have to fight for at least the
first 4 weeks with vigorous muscle soreness in the morning and getting
up is difficult. To overcome yourself you must have the will and to
persevere. You can really learn a lot!
Sanda+Tai Chi
At school, three different focal points are offered: Shaolin Kung Fu,
Sanda (combat training) and Tai Chi. One need not previously set for a
priority, but may also change during his stay between the proposed
priorities.


School
The school is located in central China about 1 1 / 2 hours from
Zhengzhou, capital of Henan province away, on the edge of the crowned
a UNESCO World Heritage Site Yuntai Mountains. The school is located
in a small village, the nearest town is about 15 minutes and minutes
to the big city of Jiaozuo about 30 minutes. With a taxi you can to go
cheaper.



Accommodation
Accommodation is in a former hotel in Chinese standards a comfortable
double rooms with private toilet and shower. An air conditioner can be
provided in the rooms so that they cool in summer and heating in
winter. However, the power grid in China is not very stable, so that
it fails often.

Internet
At school, a dedicated PC with Internet connection is available, which
can be used freely. In addition, the school has a WiFi network to use
their own laptops built. The internet speeds are low, however, in
China, so that no large amounts of data. In the next town, there are
Internet cafes, which usually offer a faster Internet connection.

Sightseeing
1 day in the week there is no Shaolin Kung Fu training session, so
that one can find time to relax. Many foreign students go on their day
off in the nearest large city (approx. 30 min), eg to eat at Mc
Donald, bowling or shopping. The beautiful mountains Yuntai offers
several days an interesting variety.



Approx. 1x a month, the school offers excursions. The Kung Fu students
can vote where they want to go like, eg Visit to the Shaolin Temple
Kaifeng, Luoyang, Longmen caves. If interest is there, can also be
made larger excursions over several days, eg to Xi'an for the
Terracotta Army. For the sightseeing excursions are subject to
additional fees, such as Shaolin Temple for about 20 - 30 Eur.


Clothing
Clothing is very cheap in China, so you should bring as little as
possible (to keep free space for souvenirs on the way home ;-)). T-
shirts you get for example for 2 EUR. In the Kung Fu school students
can be purchased for around 10 EUR to the Shaolin workout clothes,
shoes as well, which is about 3 - cost 5 EUR.

Souvenirs
In China you can get a variety of souvenirs, but for Shaolin Kung Fu
Martial Arts students such Kongfustuff are of course interesting. So
you can buy various weapons such as stick, sword, chain whip, halberd.
Shall ensure that the cases are not hopelessly overloaded (20 kg per
flight). I bought for the long swords and a bag of sand there, packed
the weapons transport. ATTENTION: PARTICULAR weapons are banned in
Germany and other countries and may not be introduced as Nunchakku.
But there are countless Buddha souvenirs, lucky charms, dragons,
ancient coins, books, paintings, umbrellas, clothes and much more ...
Have fun in your browsing.

Visa
The stay in the People's China is prohibited without a visa and will
be punished with high fines! To obtain a visa, you must personally
fill in his native country at the Chinese Embassy or Consulate for a
visa. A Touristenviusm is 1 - valid for 3 months and is usually issued
without any problems. Sometimes an invitation from the school is
required. After a brief email to the school's invitation "letter of
invitation" is sent via email. The tourist visa can be picked up after
about 1 week. For those who want more training in China, Shaolin Kung
Fu, there are several possibilities.

The school now offers the possibility to obtain a student visa, but
you need to travel to China remains a tourist visa. In China itself
have various formalities, doctor check, presentation to be made by
authorities, until you always get a student visa. There are additional
costs.

In Hong Kong we obtain easily a longer-term visa. Whoever enters
through Hong Kong and wants to wait two bis three days to connect on a
visa with a city tour in Hong Kong can get a 6 month visa, which can
be extended up to three months in China.
Understanding
The trainers speak more or less good English, but a communication with
you is easy. Outside the school, it looks very different. In the taxi
from the merchants on the street ... hardly anyone speaks English, so
that one should master some basic knowledge of Chinese language.
Therefore, the school offers free 2x a week in a Chinese course in
which they participate in their own interest. Shaolin Kung Fu foreign
students should deepen the knowledge and skills learned in
conversations with Chinese people. Who wants to lern Shaolin Kung Fu
und travel through the country, should be able to master some
knowledge about China.

Conclusion
After my year of Shaolin Kung Fu training, I have learned a lot from a
sporting perspective. The condition is improved dramatically through
the daily hard training, as well as the elongation. I have learned
various forms and weapons. For that I would have needed several years
in Germany. But the sports development is only a small part of what I
took home with them.

China is a fascinating country and I have the option of providing a
completely different culture and mindset to know. All the hustle and
bustle in Germany, stressed out business people with laptops, printing
of the employer ... I've lost everything during this time. The
tranquility of the many Chinese temples, the smell of incense, the
sounds of Buddhist ... all the impressions I've internalized this and
put knowledge into Germany. I am much calmer and keep stress at work
in the largest one calm, clear head.

I met the helpfulness of many people who were initially unfamiliar to
me, who had himself much much less than I, but were willing to share
everything.

I think that we live in abundance Europeans and Americans can learn
quite a lot of things. Only if you see what is going on in your own
body and figur out that we have actually nothing, we can then grasp
the real important things in life.

For more information on Shaolin Kung Fu training, Shaolin, over 2000
photos, videos, numerous travel reports and much much more can be
found at

http://www.shaolin-wushu.de
http://www.trip-to-china.com

[Bei Lisa]