and what I never expected to discover
"I trained Kung Fu for six months in a Shaolin temple in China."
And no, this isn't the beginning of a movie. It's my story. A CEO trading her laptop for nunchakus, business dinners for bowls of rice, wine glasses for lukewarm tea and sore muscles. A journey through sweat, silence, wooden stick bruises and a rediscovered breath. Not a runaway escape, but a return to myself.
🧠 Why Kung Fu? What I was running from (and what I found instead)
I've always hated violence. Never hit anyone ( well, aside from my siblings, of course, but sushh... don't tell my parents! )
At school, I was the one breaking up fights, never starting them. And yet, I always wanted to know how to defend myself. Not to dominate. But to stop feeling afraid.
When I arrived at the temple, I thought Kung Fu would teach me discipline, structure, strength. That I would finally take back control of my life after a difficult time.
But the opposite happened.
I learned how to let go ! To be patient ! (and for those who know me, that is not my strong suit!).
To trust my body. Time. Life. The universe.
“Let go of the illusion of control. Trust the process.”
🥋 What is Kung Fu, really?
Yes, it's an ancient art. But more than that, it's a path.
As my master, Yanjun Shifu, puts it:
"Gong Fu (功夫), also romanized as Kung Fu or Gung Fu, literally means 'time,' 'artistry,' 'skill,' or 'effort.' In the context of Chinese martial arts, it refers to a practice or exercise used to develop specific skills or 'powers.' It includes both internal (Neigong) and external (Waigong) practices. Kung Fu is not about subjugating others. It is a disciplined path of self-discovery and self-mastery.”
In short: Kung Fu is not about learning how to strike. It's about learning how to see yourself. And transform.
🔥 A Military Routine, A Meditative Effect
One of the first things Shifu told us , every morning before training, was this:
"When you wake up, you choose to be happy. You choose to face life with a happy behavior, no matter what happens during the day."
It isn't about denying reality. It is about mastering your emotional posture the same way you master a stance: grounded, present, flexible. Just like a warrior chooses where to place their weight — we choose where to place our mind.
Wake up at 5:30 a.m. Meditate under a tree. Three training sessions a day. Stretching. Cardio. Qigong. Tai Chi. Strength. Weapons. Soreness. Silence. Smiles. And sweat.
We think we’re coming to sculpt our bodies.
We leave with a more flexible mind.
Because Kung Fu is also about:
- Reconnecting with your breath
- Learning to be fully present
- Observing your limits, and slowly expanding them
Reference: Neuroplasticity teaches us that repeated effort rewires the brain.
Kung Fu literally reprograms both body and mind!
🌄 Walking the Path Forward
Between mountain and lake, the Shaolin temple felt like another world , suspended in silence and discipline.
We lived surrounded by nature, practicing martial arts and Traditional Chinese Medicine; not only through movement, but also in what we ate: seasonal, simple, intentional. Fridays were for mountain walks. Stillness before strength. Connection before combat.
I witnessed the shift of seasons in real time: the frozen silence of winter at -14°C, where breath turned to mist and everything slowed down. Then slowly, the thaw. Buds returning to bare trees. Life whispering its comeback in the rustling grass and rising sun.
But there’s another layer I wasn’t prepared for: the pain.
Yes, Kung Fu hurts. Muscles burn, joints scream, legs shake. And then there’s Hard Qigong.
Hard Qigong is a practice where you literally get hit : on purpose. Wooden sticks on the stomach, bricks against the legs, iron bars on the arms. Not to harm. But to strengthen.
It’s hard to explain, this strange joy of pushing pain away. Of learning how to breathe through discomfort. Of discovering that your body can take more than you ever imagined.
We don’t do it alone. That’s the secret.
The group matters. We scream, laugh, cry together. One day you’re the one helping someone up. The next day, they’re holding your hand when your legs collapse.
There is something deeply transformative in facing hardship as a collective. You don't just train your body. You train your spirit. You build something sacred: inner strength that doesn’t show on your abs, but in your eyes.
As one of my Israeli friends said:
“It’s like dying a little every day , to come back stronger the next morning.”
🌍 What Others Gained From It
Reading through each person’s story, it became clear to me: Kung Fu transforms everyone differently but it always transforms.
Some found strength, others found softness. Some discovered peace, others discipline. Here’s what I learned from them:
🧠 Mind Over Body: Peace through Mastery
“Mastering your body is easy… but mastering your mind? That’s the challenge.” - Roger
“Kung Fu was the only training that made me feel truly good mentally and physically.” - Ryan
Kung Fu is not just about building muscle, it’s about building presence. An internal harmony that radiates far beyond the training mat. It teaches us to sit with discomfort, to master our thoughts, and to align our Qi (our life force) with our breath and purpose.
🔁 Repetition is the path to mastery
“Knowing how to do something is just the starting line. True skill comes from doing it over and over again.” - Jia
Through repetition, we don’t just learn Kung Fu. We meet ourselves.
🤝 We are stronger together
“Being aware of your teammates makes the group stronger. We rise together.” - Lee
Training with others means you’re never alone, even in your pain. Especially in your pain.
🌱 Discipline is love in action
“It brought me back a sense of discipline that helped me structure my life.” - Astrid
"Kung Fu taught me the art of showing up: tired, hungry, discouraged. Every repetition is progress.” - Riv
“The real master is inside yourself.” - Savio
Discipline isn’t punishment. It’s an act of care, of consistency, of courage. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to show up, again and again ! That’s where strength grows.
🌀 Kung Fu as a Mirror: Self-Awareness, Holistic Strength & Life Philosophy
“I’m more aware of what I think and feel every day. Movement helps me find myself.” - Juan
“Kung Fu taught me inner and outer strength. I gained motion, clarity, peace, and the feeling of becoming the hero I dreamed of as a child.” - Susan
“Everything Kung Fu teaches : patience, presence, awareness, is exactly what life demands from us.” - Bamba
Kung Fu isn’t about escaping life. It’s about learning how to live it, fully, consciously, with both softness and strength. It invites us to listen to our thoughts, honor our bodies, and navigate life with deeper presence and intention.
“I learned to care for myself, with a touch of selfishness, but never self-centeredness.” - Simone
Each person, each practice, each bruise has its own meaning. But they all point to the same truth: Kung Fu doesn’t change who you are.
It helps you remember.
💭 What I’ve Learned (and What I Keep With Me everyday)
Lesson #1: Your body always has something to say. Learn to listen.
Lesson #2: Real strength is knowing when not to strike.
Lesson #3: Letting go isn’t giving up. It’s trusting.
Lesson #4: Discipline is a gift you give yourself.
Lesson #5: Pain doesn’t always mean stop. Sometimes, it means grow.
Lesson #6: You don’t have to do it alone. Ever.
I didn’t become a “master.” I’m still walking the path. But I no longer need to go fast. Or control everything. Or be perfect.
I know how to breathe. I know how to listen. And more than anything… I know I’m not alone.
Kung Fu isn’t a sport. It’s alchemy.
And to quote the masterpiece which is Karate Kid:
"Kung Fu lives in everything we do, Xiao Dre! It lives in how we put on the jacket, how we take off the jacket. It lives in how we treat people! Everything is Kung Fu"