HONG KONG — Celebrities like National Basketball Association (NBA) stars Victor Wembanyama and Jaylen Brown, and multimillionaire streamer IShowSpeed, have one thing in common - they all underwent professional training in one of China's Shaolin centres. With the "Chinamaxxing" trend on the rise, many are drawn to martial arts such as kung fu, chasing physical and mental strength by living and training with monks in temples tucked away in high mountains.
But how does one join the programme, and what should one expect from life in Shaolin? Here is what you need to know.
For international students looking to experience authentic Chinese monk life and martial arts training, there are Shaolin Zhong Wu, Shaolin Youngzhi and Shaolin Tagou, with the last one situated right at the foot of Mount Song, close to the original temple.
While European schools offer programmes as short as three days, the institutions in China usually start at one week and can last up to one year. During your time in the camp, you eat, sleep and train inside the temple, following a strict schedule - because it takes discipline to live like a monk and be in tune with your body and mind.
Be sure to plan your experience in advance, as places get booked up quickly, especially in the summer, according to TikTok influencer Rivata Dutta, who talked about her Shaolin school journey online. Shaolin Yunnan, the temple Dutta trained at, was open to foreigners, she says, adding that while the training difficulty was tailored to one's level, the monks would "challenge" her.
At Shaolin Tagou, students can expect to learn Shaolin acrobatics, Sanda (Chinese kickboxing) takedowns, punches and kicks, and power stretching. On some days, students end their days with calligraphy classes after dinner, which is often strictly vegetarian or vegan.
In terms of living conditions, some bloggers who visited these Shaolin schools say the facilities were "extremely basic" with no electricity. "Rooms are typically shared and are extremely basic: dusty, no light, with nothing more than two 'beds' (i.e. two pieces of wood with a tiny mattress on top)," Ivan D'Avanzo, who visited Wu Wei Si in Dali, wrote on Medium in 2017.
The humble surroundings, however, allow visitors to regain mind space and focus, the blogger added: "Although it may seem rough on the surface, be sure that anyone would adjust to the lifestyle and end up going with the flow. For me, it was very helpful to find a peaceful balance, reconnect with my body and enjoy every single moment of the day."
In the comments, the author answered one of the most frequently asked questions: can you leave the temple during your stay? "You can leave the monastery once a week," his reply read.
