The 14 Extreme trainings of Shaolin Warrior Monks | My Life at the Temple

Philip Hartshorn・2 minutes read

Phillip's experience as a warrior monk at the Shaolin Temple involves intense training, debunking the misconception that warrior monks can't fight, showcasing his experiences, and reflecting on the physical and mental challenges he faced. The training at the temple focuses on developing healthy habits, combat skills, internal strength, simplicity of temple life, and fighting techniques like Taiji and Chin Na.

Insights

  • Training at the Shaolin Temple involves a rigorous daily schedule of nine hours of intense physical training, strict rules during meals, and sleeping on a wooden plank, dispelling the misconception that warrior monks can't fight and showcasing the dedication required to excel in martial arts.
  • The experience at the Shaolin Temple emphasizes the fusion of physical and mental training, highlighting the importance of simplicity, mindfulness, and personal growth through practices like action meditation, temple duty, and power stretching, offering a transformative journey that goes beyond combat skills to cultivate a holistic approach to life and kung fu.

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Recent questions

  • What types of training are offered at the Shaolin Temple?

    Various types include Shaolin Kung Fu, Sanda, Wing Chun, Qigong, Mei Hua Quan, and Buddhist meditation.

  • How does training at the Shaolin Temple emphasize mental clarity?

    By focusing on harnessing the ability to not think and just exist.

  • What is the significance of forms at the Shaolin Temple?

    Movement patterns teaching foundational skills and reactions.

  • How does power stretching benefit students at the Shaolin Temple?

    Enhances flexibility and mobility significantly.

  • How does the Shaolin Temple challenge misconceptions about warrior monks?

    By showcasing the ability of warrior monks to fight.

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Summary

00:00

"Warrior Monk Training at Shaolin Temple"

  • The narrator, Phillip, studied and lived as a warrior monk at the Shaolin Temple in China.
  • He details the various types of training at the temple, breaking them down individually.
  • Daily life at the temple involves intense training, including filming fight scenes with masters and participating in martial arts tournaments.
  • The misconception that warrior monks can't fight is debunked, as Phillip showcases his experiences.
  • Training at the temple involves nine hours a day, sleeping on a wooden plank, and strict rules during meals.
  • Phillip was invited to document his experience at the sacred ground of the Shaolin Temple.
  • He introduces the master warrior monks who were his teachers at the Yunnan Shaolin Temple.
  • The types of training at the temple include Shaolin Kung Fu, Sanda, Wing Chun, Qigong, Mei Hua Quan, and Buddhist meditation.
  • Each type of training has specific focuses and benefits, such as developing healthy habits, combat skills, and internal strength.
  • Phillip shares personal experiences and reflections on the training, highlighting the physical and mental challenges he faced and the rewards he gained.

20:13

Shaolin Temple Training: Mindfulness, Strength, and Combat

  • Training at the Shaolin Temple involves focusing on harnessing the ability to not think and just exist, emphasizing the simplicity of temple life to remove mental clutter.
  • Action meditation, or dongchan, can be integrated into various activities like creating artwork, athletics, climbing, or even playing video games to achieve mindfulness and presence.
  • Power training at the Shaolin Temple is an intense workout involving continuous high-intensity exercises without intervals, designed to push individuals to their limits and rebuild them.
  • Chin Na is a self-defense system focusing on joint locks, aiming to control attackers without causing severe harm, utilizing techniques like holding and gripping to incapacitate opponents temporarily.
  • Taiji, originating from Taoism, traditional medicine, and physical exercise, emphasizes slow, elegant movements to improve strength, flexibility, and combat skills through the application of the yin and yang principle.
  • Qigong, a practice combining energy work and exercise, aims to enhance vitality by harmonizing the mind, body, and vital force through breathing techniques and movements to stimulate energy flow.
  • Temple duty at the Shaolin Temple involves various acts of service, such as sweeping, serving food, and practicing mindfulness in everyday tasks, emphasizing the importance of being present in all actions.
  • Forms at the Shaolin Temple are movement patterns teaching foundational skills and reactions, allowing individuals to express themselves uniquely through their movements, providing insights into their character.
  • Power stretching at the Shaolin Temple involves intense stretching sessions before workouts to enhance flexibility and mobility significantly, despite the discomfort experienced during the process.
  • Fight day at the Yunnan Shaolin Temple involves weekly sparring sessions to test skills, with masters actively participating, challenging misconceptions about Shaolin monks not engaging in sparring and showcasing the modern approach to training and testing abilities.

37:40

"Overcoming Challenges, Finding Healing and Growth"

  • The individual faced challenges in receiving an MRI due to being a cyborg with wires in their body, opting for X-rays and a CAT scan instead to diagnose a shoulder issue.
  • Seeking help from a Chinese traditional medicine doctor, the person experienced remarkable healing that left them in awe, enabling them to film despite physical limitations.
  • Despite personal frustrations and physical struggles, the person found growth and mental strength while filming in a sacred location with masters, creating something beautiful despite limitations.
  • Reflecting on their time at the Yunnan Shaolin Temple, the individual expressed profound personal growth, appreciation for simplicity, and a transformative experience in embracing a new perspective on life and kung fu.
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