In less than a month I will travel back to China. This time I will travel to Wudang Mountain, Zhongshan, and Hong Kong. I am very excited about this trip and September 19th can not arrive soon enough. My first trip was a very personal journey. I wanted to make the sojourn alone to visit the birthplace of the style of Kung Fu that I study. Though I traveled with a group, I was the only one from my school that went that year and the only person I knew on the trip was Grand Master Eric Lee. That trip was a chance for me to make a pilgrimage to the Shaolin Temple to take some time for myself and to experience Chinese Kung Fu in China.
This trip has a very different feel. On this trip I am proud to be sharing the journey with several of my good friends and students. None of them have had the pleasure to travel to China and will be experiencing it for the first time. I cannot wait to share this trip with them as we explore new areas of China together. I am excited to visit some different parts of China than on my previous trip, especially the opportunity to train with the Daoist Priests on Wudang Shan.
In China it is often said that, “All martial arts under heaven are born of Shaolin.” The Shaolin temple is one of the largest centers for martial arts in China and all over the world. Equally as famous are the practitioners of the Wudang Mountain. The Daoist priests of Wudang follow the Dao or the ‘Way’. They seek to live in harmony with all things. The Shaolin and Wudang martial artists both seek the same goal through martial arts, but take opposite approaches to reach that goal. The Shaolin believe that you must first build a strong body and then you can cultivate strong internal energy. The Daoists believe that you must first cultivate strong internal energy so that you can use that energy to develop a strong healthy body. Studying on Wudang Mountain, I will have had the honor of studying at both of these historic places.
My current itinerary is as follows:
Sept. 19 – Leave for Beijing
Sept. 20 – Arrive in Beijing, transfer to railway station for the train ride to Wudang Mountain
Sept. 21 – Arrive at Wudang Mountain
Sept. 22 – Morning sightseeing on the Wudang Mountain. Afternoon introduction to Grand Master of Wudang and training
Sept. 23 – Morning training and Sightseeing at the Purple Cloud Temple. Afternoon training in Wudang temple square
Sept. 24 – Morning Training and Sightseeing. Afternoon Training and Kung Fu Show at the Temple. Presentation Ceremony at the Temple with training certificate and picture with Grand Masters. Evening train ride to Guangzhou.
Sept. 25 – Arrival in Guangzhou in the morning, transfer to the City of Zhongshan, the hometown of Grand Master Eric Lee.
Sept. 26 – Tour the City of Zhongshan
Sept. 27 – Train ride to Hong Kong.
Sept. 28 – Free day in Hong Kong
Sept. 29 – Return Home
I intend to chronicle this trip just as I did last year’s trip. I will keep a journal and update Kung Fu Destiny when I return. I will also take lots of photographs that I will put up hear so that everyone can share in my journey. This will be an amazing trip full of beauty, kung fu and good friends, I wish we were already there.
Nicholas Skupnik - August 25, 2009 12:39 am
Have a great time! I was just there in May. Hit me up if you need any food suggestions for the towns you'll be in (or otherwise for Hong Kong)
Matt Talbert - August 25, 2009 2:40 am
I was in China last year as well training at the Shaolin Temple. I really enjoy travelling in China, the people are very friendly and the history, culture and food are fantastic!