Shaolin Ulyssis

[Ken Meeks]

I watched a documentary last night called Shaolin Ulyssis. It was about several Shaolin monks who emigrated to the U.S. in the late 1990's to start schools that taught Kung Fu and Buddism.  Their martial arts were stunning. Their words of wisdom reiterated what Sifu Bronson teaches.  The following are some of the things that struck home:

1)  At their Shaolin temples in China they practiced 8 hours a day. They said how difficult it was to  teach their students in the U.S. with only one hour per day.

 

2)  One monk was very good in the physical martial arts, but his Shaolin mentor told him he would never advance and his Kung Fu would never be excellent unless he learned mental peace. He then spent the next five years (which he said was not very long) working on his spiritual and mental conditioning.

a.  Another monk remarked that americans are very good at creating extraordinary and large homes within which to live, but he hoped that americans remember to create peace within themselves.

 

3)  Being a practioner of  Iron Throat and Iron Bell looks painful.

 

4)  Food: A monk stated that when they first arrived in the states they were not able to eat american food.  Their diet in China had been exclusively vegetarian.  I concluded that vegetables can be power fuel for superior athletes, but american food can't.  In sum...America is the wealthiest country in the world, but our food is some of the worst.....lots to choose from, though!

 

5) Their free flow was amazing.

 

Its worth a look, if you haven't already seen it.