Clement Vaudagne, a young kung fu star from France, poses at a Shaolin temple during the 2024 Shaolin Games Finals in Dengfeng county, central China's Henan province, on July 13, 2024. Photo: Li Hao/GT
What is Kung Fu?
Shaolin Kung Fu involves agility, mental tenacity, graceful movements and powerful strikes. Regardless of age, race, gender or body type, Shaolin students all share a common belief:
This belief is not just a pursuit of martial arts skills, but a way of life and spiritual world.
Last weekend, a total of 144 martial arts masters from 47 countries and regions competed at the 2024 Shaolin Games Finals held at Shaolin Temple in central China's Henan Province, vying for the title of “2024 World Shaolin Kung Fu Star.” Alongside them, hundreds of kung fu enthusiasts gathered to show off their skills, share their personal journeys and interact with their peers.
After two days of intense competition, 10 contestants from China, the United States, Australia, Austria, the Czech Republic, Zambia, Peru and other countries were selected as the “2024 World Shaolin Kung Fu Stars.”
Shaolin Temple's abbot Shi Yongxin told the Global Times: “There are many people practising Shaolin kung fu all over the world. Different people have different tastes, different understandings of the culture and what they get out of it. Everyone has their own story.”
“Shaolin culture has been passed down uninterrupted for many years and has formed its own cultural system and way of life. This culture is suitable for people of different age groups. What we see now is that different countries, regions and cultures have different needs,” he said.
“People are dedicated and serious about Shaolin culture, and reverence and pilgrimage bring them together,” the abbot stressed.
One such practitioner is Luís Melo from Brazil: a stocky man with a bushy white beard, a monk's spade and Buddhist prayer beads around his neck.
He bears a striking resemblance to Lu Zhishen, the Huayan monk from the classic Chinese novel “Water Margin.”
Melo has been practicing martial arts for over 40 years, since he was a teenager. He has trained in many different martial arts styles throughout his life and founded the Rohan Institute in Brazil, where he has trained many disciples.
But his immersion in Chinese culture doesn't stop there: he also practices Qigong, plays traditional Chinese instruments, studies various philosophical ideas, and pursues traditional Chinese arts such as Go.
As the crowd cheered, France's Clement Vaudagne nearly fell to the ground, but suddenly got up and delivered a clear, powerful combination of punches.
This is the famous “Drunken Fist” routine, a martial art known for combining drunken moves and complex techniques.
The 18-year-old Vodanu chose to bring his “Drunken Boxing” to the Shaolin competition, drawing much applause and cheers.
“Winning a championship is a momentary event, but training martial arts is a lifelong pursuit,” he told the Global Times.
Vaudagne's master, Alexandre Cordaro, also known as Yang Yi in Shorinji Kempo, is a dedicated Shorinji Kempo practitioner from France whose journey began as a child when he was inspired by the discipline and philosophy embodied in Shorinji Kempo training.
Now 37, Cordaro owns and runs a small temple in France where he imparts Shaolin wisdom to students and reflects on the life-changing impact Shaolin had on him.
“I have built it with my own hands, stone by stone, block by block,” Cordaro told the Global Times, talking about the construction of the Shaolin Cultural Centre in France.
His understanding of Shaolin is not merely physical but deeply philosophical, emphasizing the importance of self-control, discipline and the spiritual aspects inherent in the practice.
Additionally, Mr. Cordaro's dedication to Shaolin culture is evident from his annual pilgrimages to the Shaolin Temple, which he considers an essential part of his life's work. His experiences in China have played a key role in shaping both his personal philosophy and his approach to teaching.
Six-year-old Fair Mbilenda stood out among the African contingent, always positioned at the centre throughout her performance.
Commonly known as Chu Sang, the boy was an orphan who was adopted by the Zambian Shaolin Temple. From an early age, Chu Sang showed extraordinary martial arts talent and a gentle demeanor, becoming a minor star at the Zambian Shaolin Temple and a “big brother” to the older martial artists.
Chu Sang's master, Max Yolande (better known by his French name Yang Ming), was originally a psychology student from the Ivory Coast who had been fascinated with Chinese culture and Shaolin kung fu since he was a child, due to the popularity of kung fu movies in Africa.
He visited Shaolin for a short training period in 2016 and returned in 2017, staying there for about six years. In addition, he also joined the Shaolin monastic order, showcasing Shaolin culture across China.
In 2022, Yang Ming was assigned to the Shaolin Temple in Zambia.
“At the Shaolin Cultural Centre in Zambia, we have taken in more than 30 orphans who have fled difficult living conditions and are teaching them Chinese language and kung fu. In the future, they may come to China to continue their studies, bring the best of China back to Africa and help build a better Zambia,” Yang Ming said.
A group of Shaolin kung fu enthusiasts perform after the 2024 Shaolin Games finals at Shaolin Temple in Dengfeng county, central China's Henan province, on July 13, 2024. Photo by Li Hao/GT.
An African kung fu star demonstrates his martial arts skills during the 2024 Shaolin Games finals in front of the Shaolin Temple in Dengfeng county, central China's Henan province, on July 13, 2024. Photo by Li Hao/GT.
Ivory Coast athlete and martial arts coach Serai Marius Kouassi demonstrates Shaolin Kung Fu at the Shaolin Temple in Dengfeng county, central China's Henan province, on July 13, 2024. Photo: Li Hao/GT.
Brazilian kung fu master Luis Melo poses in front of a statue of Guanyin deep within the Shaolin Temple in Dengfeng county, central China's Henan province, on July 13, 2024. Photo by Li Hao/GT.
Young kung fu stars from different countries warm up for the Shaolin Games finals at Shaolin Temple in Dengfeng county, central China's Henan province, on July 13, 2024. Photo: Li Hao/GT.
What is Kung Fu?
