Spotlight

Fight club

By Suwitcha Chaiyong

Kung fu master teaches Thais

Shaolin kung fu is renowned throughout the world as a mar-tial art with power and artistic style. At Shaolin Wushu Thailand in Bangkok, Chinese masters from the Shaolin Temple in China are teaching this famous fighting art to Thais.

Sun Jiu Long, 22, is one of the school’s three Shaolin instructors. Sun Jiu Long enjoys living and working in the Land of Smiles.

“I saw documentaries about Thailand when I was in China — the country and the cuisine looked beautiful,” he said. “I was very pleased to have the opportunity to teach in Thailand.”

TOUGH TRAINING

Sun’s interest in kung fu developed from the age of 9, eventually leading to his decision to study martial arts at Shaolin Temple.

“Shaolin kung fu is more than 1,500 years old,” he said. “And anybody can study with the monks at Shaolin temple.”

• Did you know •

The first abbot of Shaolin Temple was an Indian named Batuo, who came to China in the year 464 to spread Buddhist teachings.

The young Sun initially found training at the temple so tough that he seriously thought about quitting.

“The first three months were hard,” he said. “I felt discouraged and wanted to leave because I was in so much physical pain.”

Fortunately, Sun stuck with it. After the first few months, the pain in his muscles started to disappear.

“The more I practised, the stronger I felt,” he said. “I also became more enthusiastic when I started learning some intriguing fighting skills.”

BALANCED EDUCATION

As well as learning kung fu, Sun undertook academic studies at Shaolin temple. Once he graduated from high school, he was able to work towards becoming a martial arts master.

According to Sun, veteran masters pick out the students to be trained as future kung fu masters. Becoming a master carries a lot of responsibility, so students usually need to be at least 18 years old before taking on the role.

“A master has to teach students to not harm people with their skills, and he mustn’t have any bias toward the students,” Sun Jiu Long said. “Masters usually need to be over 18 before they’re mature enough to commit to these duties.”

YOUNG MASTER

Sun Jiu Long eventually attained the level of master. He is now able to pass on his knowledge and skills to students in Thailand.

“A qualified master has to be a role model for students,” he said. “I teach the students to have good manners and discipline, and to maintain harmony.”

Of all the martial arts skills that Sun teaches, weapons fighting with sticks and swords are among the more difficult. Sun Jiu Long said that many students are initially afraid of using weapons.

“You’re more likely to get hurt of you’re afraid,” he said. “You have to practise hard to get used to using a weapon.”

BODY LANGUAGE

During his three years in Thailand, Sun has taught students of all ages, ranging from 4 to 80.

“Young students learn fast, but some of them don’t pay enough attention to their studies,” he said. “Older students tend to take the course seriously, but it takes them longer to learn.”

Working in Thailand, the language barrier is sometimes an obstacle for Sun.

“I don’t speak Thai, so I have to demonstrate each move slowly, step-by-step,” he said.

STUDY BENEFITS

Sun Jiu Long said that his course is suitable for anybody who is interested in learning Shaolin kung fu.

“The course develops physical skills, as well as teaching patience and discipline,” he said. “Kung fu is also great for self-defense.”

	cuisine (n): a style of cooking quit (v): to stop doing something stick with (phrasal v): to continue doing something muscle (n): a piece of body tissue that you tighten and relax in order to move a particular part of the body intriguing (adj): very interesting because of being unusual or not having an obvious answer academic (adj): connected with education, especially studying in schools and universities veteran (n): a person who has a lot of experience in a particular area or activity bias (n): a strong feeling in favour of or against one group of people, or one side in an argument, often not based on fair judgement attain (v): to reach a particular level role model (n): a person that you admire and try to copy discipline (n): the method of training your mind or body or of controlling your behaviour harmony (n): a state of peaceful existence and agreement obstacle (n): a situation, an event, etc. that makes it difficult for you to do or achieve something self-defense (n): the skill of being able to protect yourself from physical attack without using weapons