Clément Vaudagne, a young kung fu star from France, poses in the Shaolin Temple during the 2024 Shaolin Games Finals in Dengfeng county, Central China's Henan Province on July 13, 2024. Photo: Li Hao/GT

What is kung fu like?

Shaolin kung fu can involve agile movements, resilient spirit, elegant motions or powerful strikes. Regardless of age, race, gender, or body type, every Shaolin disciple shares a common belief. 

This belief is not only a pursuit of martial arts skills, but also a way of life and a spiritual realm.

Over the last weekend, a total of 144 martial art masters from 47 countries and regions competed in the finals of the 2024 Shaolin Games hosted at the Shaolin Temple in Central China's Henan Province, contending for the title of "2024 World Shaolin Kung Fu Star." Along with them were hundreds of kung fu lovers who gathered to show their skills, share their personal journeys and meet their peers.

After two days of fierce competition, 10 contestants from China, the US, Australia, Austria, the Czech Republic, Zambia, Peru and other countries were crowned as the "2024 World Shaolin Kung Fu Stars."

Shaolin Temple abbot Shi Yongxin told the Global Times that "there are many people practicing Shaolin kung fu around the world. Different people have different affinities, and their understanding and gains from the culture vary. Everyone has their own story."

Shaolin culture has been passed down for many years without interruption, forming its own cultural system and way of life. This culture is suitable for people of different age groups. From what we see now, the needs of different countries, regions, and cultures are different, he said. 

"People are dedicated and serious about Shaolin culture, with a sense of reverence and pilgrimages bringing them together," the abbot stressed. 

Luis Mello from Brazil is one such practitioner. Burly and strong with a bushy white curly beard, he wields a monk's spade and wears Buddhist beads around his neck. 

He looks just like Lu Zhishen, the Flowery Monk from the classic Chinese novel Water Margin.

Mello has been practicing martial arts since he was a teenager, spanning over 40 years. Throughout his life, he has trained in various martial arts styles and even founded the Instituto Lohan in Brazil, where he has many disciples. 

His immersion in Chinese culture doesn't stop there. He also practices qigong, plays traditional Chinese musical instruments, studies various philosophical schools of thought and pursues Chinese traditional arts such as Go.

Amid the cheers of the crowd, Clément Vaudagne from France almost stumbled to the ground. Then, suddenly, he got up and performed a clear and powerful set of combination punches. 

This was the famous "Drunken Fist" routine in martial arts, known for its blend of drunken movements and intricate techniques.

Vaudagne, 18, chose to bring his "Drunken Fist" to the Shaolin Temple competition, earning him much applause and cheers. 

"Winning the championship is but a fleeting moment, whereas practicing martial arts is a lifelong pursuit," he told the Global Times.

Vaudagne's master, Alexandre Cordaro, also known as Yan Yi in the Shaolin system, is a dedicated Shaolin kung fu practitioner from France. His journey began as a child, inspired by the discipline and philosophy the practice embodies. 

Today, at 37 years old, Cordaro owns and operates a small temple in France where he imparts the wisdom of Shaolin to his students and reflects on the life-changing impact it has had on him. 

"I built it stone by stone, block by block with my hands," Cordaro told the Global Times, recounting the establishment of his temple: the Centre culturel du temple Shaolin de France.

His understanding of Shaolin is not merely physical, but deeply philosophical, emphasizing the importance of self-control, discipline, and the spiritual aspects inherent in the practice. 

Moreover, Cordaro's commitment to Shaolin culture is evident in his annual pilgrimages to the Shaolin Temple, which he considers a vital part of his life's work. His experiences in China have been instrumental in shaping both his personal philosophy and his approach to teaching.

Among the representatives from Africa, 6-year-old Fair Nvirenda stood out and was always positioned in the center during performances. 

This boy, more commonly known as Chu San, is an orphan adopted by the Shaolin Temple in Zambia. From a young age, Chu San has shown exceptional martial arts talent and a calm demeanor, making him a little star at the Shaolin Temple in Zambia and a "big brother" to other older martial arts practitioners.

Chu San's master, Max Yollando, better known by his Buddhist name Yan Ming, was originally a psychology student from Cote d'Ivoire. He became fascinated with Chinese culture and Shaolin kung fu when he was a kid, since kung fu movies are popular in Africa.

In 2016, he came to the Shaolin Temple for short-term training and returned in 2017, staying for nearly six years. He even joined the Shaolin Monk Corps, showcasing Shaolin culture across China. 

In 2022, Yan Ming was assigned to the Shaolin Temple in Zambia. 

"At the Shaolin Cultural Center in Zambia, we have adopted more than 30 orphans from difficult living conditions, teaching them Chinese and kung fu. In the future, they may come to China to continue their studies and bring the best of China back to Africa, helping to build a better Zambia," Yan Ming said.

A group of Shaolin kung fu lovers perform after the 2024 Shaolin Games Finals on July 14, 2024 in the Shaolin Temple in Dengfeng county, Central China's Henan Province on July 13, 2024. Photo: Li Hao/GT.

A kung fu star from Africa performs martial arts during the 2024 Shaolin Games Finals in front of the Shaolin Temple on July 14, 2024 in Dengfeng county, Central China's Henan Province on July 13, 2024. Photo: Li Hao/GT.

Selay Marius Kouassi, a participant from Cote d'Ivoire and also a martial arts coach, showcases his Shaolin kung fu inside the Shaolin Temple in Dengfeng county, Central China's Henan Province on July 13, 2024. Photo: Li Hao/GT.

Luis Mello, a kung fu master from Brazil, poses in front of some Guanyin statues deep inside the Shaolin Temple in Dengfeng county, Central China's Henan Province on July 13, 2024. Photo: Li Hao/GT.

Young kung fu stars from different countries warm up before the Shaolin Games Finals on July 13, 2024 in the Shaolin Temple, Dengfeng county, Central China's Henan Province on July 13, 2024. Photo: Li Hao/GT.

What is kung fu like?