About 250 martial art students from the US solute the birthplace of kung fu at the Shaolin Temple in Henan on July 3. Photo: IC

 

Shaolin Temple Abbot Shi Yongxin gives an American student a Buddhist statue at the ceremony. Photo: IC 

 

A boy shows a certificate issued by Shaolin. Photo: IC

 

American students demonstrate what they have learnt from Shaolin martial art masters. Photo: IC

Shaolin Temple, believed to be the birthplace of kung fu, saw more than 250 students from the US pay homage to the Chinese martial art on Wednesday.

At about 9 am, the American students lined up outside the gate of the temple located in Central China's Henan Province. When Shaolin Abbot Shi Yongxin arrived in full ceremonial Buddhist garb, the students held up their hands in a traditional Chinese gesture of greeting, then prostrated themselves in salute to the temple as well as its abbot.

"Shaolin has become a big family to students from all over the world, I hope you can visit your home often," Shi told the crowd.

In an interview with local newspaper Dahe Daily, Shi said Shaolin's students also hailed from Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, Australia, Europe and Africa. "Twenty-seven students from Russia are now still training in the temple," he said.

Chinese and international practitioners alike have also opened classes in other countries and regions, promoting the benefits that kung fu can have on people's quality of life, Shi said.

He said kung fu is just one part of Shaolin culture and that the temple also teaches medicine, art and philosophy.

Among the American kung fu students paying homage to Shaolin on Wednesday, the youngest was only 5 years old while the oldest was in his 70s.

Yandeng (aka Charles Mattera), a US kung fu master who received his monastic name when he converted to Buddhism in 2002, told the media that the latest economic slowdown had placed great pressure on people, but that practicing Shaolin kung fu could bring inner peace and "a sense of security."

Bonnie Winter, a mom of two, said her sons Alex and Zack fell in love with Shaolin kung fu four years ago and now the two are more confident and have better self-control.

Since 1999, Yandeng has brought a group of kung fu students here every two years. In 2006, more than 500 students came to visit the famed temple and underwent three days of training. He said he is planning to open 12 more martial arts schools in cities including Los Angeles and Washington D.C.