 A Kungfu practitioner
from Italy perform martial art in Shaolin Temple after a nine-day
seclusion, September 9, 2006. A total of 36 practitioners, who were
outstanding members of the Global Chinese Kungfu Star Competition starting March
this year, took part in the nine-day seclusion in Shaolin Temple in central
China's Henan Province. [Xinhua]
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Finishing a set of fisting, 19-year-old American young man
Philip Sahagun was pleased that the seclusion life in a Chinese temple made him
understand Kungfu better.
Philip Sahagun was one of 36 Kungfu practitioners from a dozen countries to
have a nine-day seclusion in the Shaolin Temple in central China's Henan
Province. The seclusion ended on Saturday.
The practitioners were outstanding members of the Global Chinese Kungfu Star
Competition starting March this year, which was jointly organized by the Shaolin
Temple and Shenzhen Satellite TV Station in south China.
Seclusion is a training method of Zen Buddhism which focuses on concentration
and meditation. Shaolin Temple, built 1,500 years ago, is the birthplace of Zen
Buddhism.
During the seclusion, they not only learned Kungfu skills from Shaolin's 18
Kungfu monks, but had lectures on Buddhism and Kungfu history. They wore Kasaya,
a kind of costumes of Buddhist monks, and ate vegetarian meals.
To mark the completion of their seclusion, the practitioners performed
martial arts, or Kungfu. But what they learned was more. "Martial arts are about
self-control," said Philip. "We should fight for self-defence, not for
violence."
Dyra Sao, another practitioner from the United States, was impressed by
meditation. "Kungfu is not only about fists. Mental power is also important."
"Chinese martial arts are part of Chinese traditional culture, "said Shi
Yongxin, abbot of the temple. "By holding the competition, we hope to promote
Shaolin culture and Chinese martial arts to the world and enhance exchanges with
foreign countries, so as to make people cherish peace and health more."
The practitioners' performances were scored during the seclusion and the top
nine - four Chinese, two Americans, one Russian, one French and one Australian -
would go into the final contest later this September.