Guest author Luke Rolls interviews Master Shi Yan Jia and Master Shi Yan Chen of the Qufu Shaolin Kung Fu School in mainland China. The interview was translated from Chinese by Joy Kong.
We're sitting in the greeting room with two of the Shaolin masters at Qufu Shaolin Kung Fu School China . Master Shi Yan Chen carries out the old Chinese custom of the tea ceremony and mindfully pours us each a cup. After a while we begin to discuss some questions about the tradition of Shaolin Kung Fu, the process for students to train in China and the future for the temple. He tells us the tea ceremony is something his master did for him in the Shaolin Temple for the many years he has lived and studied there (since he was 8). Joining us is Master Shi Yan Jia, also a 34th Generation Shaolin Warrior Monk of the Songshan Temple, Head Abbot Shi Yongxin and the founding master of the school in Qufu. The following is their answers together translated from Chinese.
Luke Rolls: What benefits would you say can be gained from studying Kung Fu?
As learning Kung Fu is very tough, the first benefit is the physical aspect of gaining strength and fitness in the body and being able to defend oneself. Shaolin Kung Fu is however essentially the combination of this training with a study and grounding in Chan Buddhism. Combined together, learning Shaolin Kung Fu can be taken as a path to understanding the nature of life and the universe.
When you first learn Kung Fu in the Shaolin tradition, the lessons are given not only in Kung Fu but also in the spiritual and moral aspect of how you can respect yourself, your masters and each other.
Luke Rolls: What advice would you give to a new student wishing to come to China to study Kung Fu?
The most important preparation for a new student is to get prepared mentally for the hard training. Often people who came to study had been practicing a martial art at home once or twice a week but after arriving found the full-time training to be very hard. To prepare physically, it is beneficial to do stretching, strength training as well as general stamina exercise. 'Interest is the best teacher' for motivation. In the process of the training, it is important to remain steadfast in the realising of the dream and feeling you had to learn Kung Fu. When training gets difficult, students may feel a temptation to give up despite it having been their dream to train. The training is a test in one's level of determination and so develops and can bring about a great quality of perseverance in students.
Luke Rolls: Do you think anyone can learn Shaolin Kung Fu or is it best-suited to certain people or characters?
Whether you are old, young, fat, thin, male or female, Kung Fu can be studied by all. This has always been the case in the many types of people who have studied at the Shaolin Temple over the years. Some students can sometimes ask 'why can't I do this as good my master can?' To become masters, the monks has practiced the techniques that make up Shaolin Kung Fu many many times. If a student studies in this way and practices, say a kick ten thousand or a million times, then they will similarly experience the improvement that is sought. Students could feel disappointed not being able to master that kick straight away. For this reason, it is very helpful for students to practice the philosophical aspect of Zen to gain a peaceful mind and the determination necessary to succeed. Students coming to study in China rarely practice for more than 1 or 2 years. No matter how good or smart you are, 5 years of training will take you to a high or higher standard of gong fu. Even then, the learning in Kung Fu is endless so you can still improve and always be better.
Luke Rolls: What does being a Shaolin Warrior Monk mean to you?
To answer this, we turn to the history of the Shaolin Temple and how the tradition developed. Shaolin monks were elected originally to protect the temple. Over time, this lead to a balance of the two aspects of spiritual and physical strength and wisdom - 'wushu chan'. As a Shaolin Warrior monk, we can identify with wanting to embody and pass down these skills and teachings. Nowadays, the Shaolin Temple is most famous for it's Kung Fu, so the Shaolin Monks there have a role to show these martial arts to the world, but they wish to do so in the context of the Chan Buddhist teachings from which they are based on. Through being a Shaolin Monk, there is the wish of being able to promote internationally a better understanding of the meaning of Shaolin.
Loke Rolls: Nowadays, people are searching on the internet for things like 'learn kung fu online'(!). How important is it to have a real one-to-one master and learn face-to-face from them?
Studying in the presence of a master leads to the development of a unique kind of relationship where an understanding can be gained between the student and master. If a master and student are together for a long period of time, the master's influence will be of greater effect on the student personally. Communicating is an important part of learning Kung Fu. There is also a cultural aspect to learning Shaolin Martial Arts. Native Chinese people feel an almost natural and automatic sense of obedience and respect towards their master. This, an Eastern tradition and culture, has been passed down many generations. It may be an adjustment for some western students to follow this instinctively as they may see themselves as autonomous or be culturally set in a different frame of mind. After longer periods of study however masters will discuss and teach in greater depth with students the teachings and customs surrounding Shaolin Kung Fu and culture.
Luke Rolls: Is there any danger in teaching Kung Fu to students or perhaps with children, that they will use it to fight or for harmful purposes?
When you first learn Kung Fu in the Shaolin tradition, the lessons are given not only in Kung Fu but also in the spiritual and moral aspect of how you can respect yourself, your masters and each other. The direct teaching of the master is very important for students learning. It does depends though, if someone's character is aggressive, then whether they start to learn martial arts or not, that will be the temperament they have. As Shaolin monks learn Buddhism together with their Kung Fu study, they should be disposed to acting always from kindness and having mercy and forgiveness to others. Even if masters are very strict, if they do not think a student can be cultivated, they will give up and not teach them. This has been the case in the Shaolin Temple, where some students in the past been dismissed by masters there.
Loke Rolls: How can the spiritual aspect be developed studying Shaolin Kung Fu?
To undertake the traditional training in Shaolin Kung Fu, there is hardship and the process of repeating the practice of certain trainings and developing the skills may feel a dull act with a certain frame of mind. This very practice however can be extremely beneficial in the actual cultivating of invaluable qualities in one's spirit and personality. Masters will often nurture their students through telling them stories of past monks and crucially in setting the example of themselves. Masters will sometimes encourage students efforts through praise, sometimes try to drive them by more forcefully telling them to do a practice a certain way, but they will always talk to them. Everyone is different and has different characteristics so masters will choose the best way to teach students and inspire their real selves.
Luke Rolls: The Shaolin Temple Abbot Shi Yongxin has expressed worry about the use of the Shaolin Temple name by other schools and brands for their own purposes. Do you think the Shaolin tradition can last well into the future?
Shi Yongxin was worried about this and so applied for a right of cultural heritage for the Shaolin Temple. Everyone who wants to use the name must then get permission to do so from the Temple. Many people have come to the Abbot to ask him if they use the Shaolin name. Shi Yongxin has however been very cautious about letting others use it as the temple wishes to spread the real Shaolin culture and teachings in the right way. Authentic Shaolin monks that are teaching overseas are now represents of the lineage there and the Shaolin Temple. From their training they have a basis in not only Kung Fu but also in Chan Buddhism. The spirit of Kung Fu never changes. We firmly believe that. However society changes, the tradition of Shaolin Kung Fu will not change. The underlying principles of Buddhism are central to this and will enable it endure.
Master Shi Yan Jia (Wei Shifu) is a 34th generation Shaolin Disciple of the current Shaolin Temple Abbot Shi Yongxin. He came to the Shaolin Temple to study Shaolin Kungfu from the age of 8 years old and stayed there for a further ten years. He is currently ranked at level 7* and has over 8 years of experience in teaching Kung Fu to international students from all over the world. In the 1st national Shaolin Kung Fu competition he was awarded first place in traditional Shaolin Fist form and Shaolin Spear form. At the 9th Sports Meeting in Henan province, he also won first place for his Shaolin Staff routine, and in the championships of Zhengzhou, he came first in the Traditional Sword form category.
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Master Shi Yan Chen
Master Shi Yan Chen is a 34th generation Shaolin Disciple and general master of the Shaolin Warrior Monks. He joined the Shaolin Temple in 1995 and followed the Shaolin Temple Abbot Shi Yong Xin to learn Buddhism and Shaolin Kung Fu. He has mastered the Shaolin 18 kinds of weapons and the 72 secret skills. He has travelled with the Overseas Shaolin Temple Performance Team to the U.S., Canada, Germany, India, Australia, UK, Netherlands, Russia, and France to give performances and teachings on Shaolin Kung Fu. He specializes in Shaolin fist forms like Hong Quan, Chaoyang Quan; Shaolin Weapon Forms like Shaolin Staff (Gun), Shaolin Spear (Qiang), Double Swords (Shuang Dao) and Double Whips (Shuang Bian); animal forms like Tiger, Eagle and Snake Forms.
Interviews 
Guest author Luke Rolls interviews Master Shi Yan Jia and Master Shi Yan Chen of the Qufu Shaolin Kung Fu School in mainland China. The interview was translated from 
t teachings from which they are based on. Through being a Shaolin Monk, there is the wish of being able to promote internationally a better understanding of the meaning of Shaolin. 
name by other schools and brands for their own purposes. Do you think the Shaolin tradition can last well into the future? 
