Seven Days of Shaolin Training with International Students
What does a week at Shaolin Zhongwu look like for international students? In April 2026, martial arts enthusiasts from Italy, Poland and Belgium came to China and spent seven full days at Shaolin Zhongwu Research and Learning Base — training authentic Shaolin Kung Fu, visiting sacred sites, and experiencing the warmth of the traditional master-disciple system. A video and photos below capture the week.
Stay: Simple and Peaceful
The students stayed in the base's standard dormitories — clean rooms with air conditioning, hot water and daily necessities. Every morning, they woke up to green mountains, trees and birdsong: a perfect setting for training.
Food: Balanced and East-Meets-West
The canteen served balanced Chinese buffets — eggs, milk, congee and buns for breakfast; two or four dishes with soup for lunch and dinner, with fruit every day. The kitchen adjusted oil and salt for international tastes while keeping authentic flavors like stir-fried greens and tomato with egg, which quickly became favorites.
Training: Seven Days of Systematic Progress
Following a training plan customized for international groups, the week was structured step by step: every morning started with qigong — Baduanjin, Yi Jin Jing, Tai Chi and standing meditation to regulate breath and loosen the body; mornings continued with kicks, ground techniques, jumps, flexibility and bow-stance drills; afternoons covered power methods, Qinna, strength and fist forms. Friday afternoon was reserved for quieter practices: sitting meditation and tea ceremony.
Exploring: Sacred Sites and Culture
Beyond training, the base arranged two cultural trips. The students hiked up to the Damo Cave, where Bodhidharma faced the wall for nine years, and visited the First Founder's Hall along the way. Later, they made a pilgrimage to the Shaolin Temple — touring the permanent residence, the Pagoda Forest and the Sutra Pavilion, and listening to monks explain Shaolin history and Chan-wu culture.
Graduation: Kung Fu Has No Borders
The week closed with a graduation ceremony. The students demonstrated the fist forms they had learned — after only seven days, already sharp and confident. The base director presented each of them with a certificate and a commemorative badge, and everyone gathered for a final group photo. Kung fu has no borders, and the friendship stays.
Shaolin Zhongwu welcomes martial arts lovers from all over the world — from airport pickup to graduation, your kung fu home in China. Start your application today.