I came to Qufu Shaolin Kung Fu School so that I could have a break from the tedium of regular life. I came with the idea that tai chi was rather boring and Shaolin kung fu was
going to be the most amazing part of this detour from my life. As it happens, while I do enjoy Shaolin, I have developed a love for tai chi that will very likely last me for the rest of my life.
If you choose to do Shaolin, you'll have the opportunity to learn a variety of forms from the Masters (Master Wei will focus on traditional Shaolin techniques and Master Nie will focus more on modern day wushu techniques), whether that be fist forms or weapons forms, you'll have plenty of options (but remember to keep practicing your forms so you don't forget!). Wing chun is slow and powerful, and focuses on building strong foundations for the practical use of its techniques. The Master is well loved and you will receive both the physical and philosophical training related to this martial art. If I'm being honest, I'm far too lazy to do Sanda (although 1 did do it in the beginning) however, it's a great workout and you're guaranteed to be exhausted by the end of it. Finally, tai chi is a great way to start and end the day. As a moving meditation, you can use it to ground yourself in the morning and wind down in the evening. You'll start off with the standard Yang style 24-step national form, and following that, you're free to ask the Master to teach you any of the forms from the main 5 family styles of tai chi afterwards.
I didn't come here with the expectation that I would make very many friends, much less friends that would feel, sometimes, closer than family. The goal was to train and become stronger, more flexible, and more agile. It turns out, this isn't something that applies to just the body. It is very much intertwined with the mind and the spirit. The school brings a rather diverse group of people together in a way that allows us to cultivate meaningful
relationships. The women who makes the meals and keep the school clean are lovely and you can always look forward to a你好 from them (and if you're lucky, maybe an extra sweet potato!!l). Shushu is, of course, grumpy always, but he will always help you. The translators will assist you with making online orders, teaching you Chinese, and generally navigating the area if you need the help. I think it's important to understand that there are cultural differences that exist between Chinese people and us foreigners who are visiting their
world for the first time. If you have questions or need additional help, it's far easier to bring the question up to someone who can help and make a change then stew about the unfairness of life.
Overall, this school is a great place to go if you want to hit the reset button on your life, gain some perspective, learn kung fu, make new friends, and gain a new sort of found family. I wish everyone who comes the best, stay strong!