In 2025, travel blogger Joe HaTTab undertook a 24-hour immersive experience at the martial arts training schools within Shaolin Temple, a Buddhist temple located on the slopes of Mount Song in Henan province, Trung Quoc.
Thousands of martial arts students, including children, reside there. They maintain a strict daily routine with training sessions beginning at 6h. Masters adhere to a predominantly vegetarian diet of rice and tofu, preparing them physically for high-intensity training sessions.
During his journey, Joe HaTTab participated in basic physical and technical exercises under the guidance of Master Yanhao. Challenges included mountain running, practicing martial arts stances, performing supplementary movements to stretch muscles and joints, and learning weapon usage through staff training.
Despite training kungfu for only one day, the blogger admired the spirit of the masters and highly valued the experience.
Joe HaTTab experiences a day of Shaolin martial arts training. Video: Joe HaTTab.
The model of traditional martial arts training for international visitors in Trung Quoc is currently quite popular. It is structured as a closed-campus boarding system, combining high-intensity physical training with local cultural immersion.
This system is differentiated by geographical regions with long-standing martial arts traditions. Henan province, with the Dengfeng area and Shaolin Temple, specializes in Thieu Lam Quyen (Shaolin Kungfu) and Tan Da (Sanda combat). Meanwhile, Hebei province, with the Handan area, is renowned for its traditional martial arts villages and Thai Cuc Quyen (Tai Chi Chuan). Separately, the Wudang Mountains region in Hubei province focuses on duong sinh (health preservation), thien dinh (meditation), and khi cong (Qigong) based on Taoist philosophy.
A basic course typically lasts from one week to several months, differing from Joe HaTTab's one-day experience. Foreign guests reside in isolated dormitory systems in rural or mountainous areas to ensure focus, away from urban pressures. The diet at these facilities primarily consists of simple Chinese home-style dishes or vegetarian meals, providing abundant green vegetables and plant-based protein for energy recovery.
Alongside martial arts training, this model also integrates supplementary activities including: basic Chinese language lessons, calligraphy, tea ceremony, and visits to nearby spiritual sites. These help students gain a comprehensive understanding of Eastern martial arts philosophy.
By Hoai Anh (Sources: Joe HaTTab, Shaolin Temple China)
