Kung Fu In China
There are some things you can choose to do in life that are too cool to pass up. Learning Kung Fu in China with grandmasters and becoming a Kung Fu legend in the home of this ancient martial art has to be number one.
Our Kung Fu Academy linked to the Shaolin temple, has trained students in China that recently performed some Kung Fu moves on stage with Jackie Chan at the world martial arts games. The Xtreme Gap Chinese Martial Arts Academy has been founded on the simple principle of having the very best world class Kung Fu Masters available to teach you Kung Fu in China, in a stunning setting (a UNESCO global heritage site) is the ideal place for learning Kung Fu.
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Kung Fu Training in China
You will learn at least 2 fist forms and also basic hard Qigong (optional) and Basic Mandarin (optional). Training Monday to Friday six hours a day needless to say it’s pretty hard-core.
Each Master will have a maximum of ten students in their group. This allows there to be a higher level of personal instruction offered than in other martial arts courses. Kung Fu requires a student to understand all of its elements, including the historical, physical and mental aspects, which are all taught on this personal level.
The masters conduct all lessons in Mandarin. However, there will be translators present to ensure you fully understand the movements and forms you are learning, and the students consist of 90% westerners.
1 to 3 months is enough to get a grip on the basics of Chinese Kung Fu, no matter which ever style you choose to learn. If you are a Kung Fu practitioner back home you can expect to progress quicker than at home.
Shaolin Kung Fu Vs Xtreme Gap Kung Fu!
There are many Kung Fu academies in China. Some of them excellent some of them not so nice to train at.
The most famous academy of all is the Shaolin Kung Fu Academy, centuries old where the Shaolin Monks Train. The Shaolin Monastery or Shaolin Temple is a Chán Buddhist temple at Song Shan near Zhengzhou City Henan Province in Dengfeng, China.
Westerners can train there although you can expect to be one of thousands of pupils mostly Chinese monks adhering to a strict monastic principals and schedules. Life is pretty dam hard when you enroll and drop out rates amongst westerners are extremely high as they can´t hack the basic living conditions and extremely tough training which is delivered in Mandarin.
The Xtreme Gap School is western run by a UK national, who has settled in China to perfect his Kung Fu. After many years of training, he decided to set up his own school aimed at delivering proper Chinese Kung Fu instruction, with top Chinese Grand masters, to students from the west. The school has now been establish for several years, and continues to thrive.
Within a beautiful authentic Chinese setting, great teachers and a supportive environment, more and more people are returning each year to train in some Kung Fu.
Shaolin Temple Connections
Our Kung Fu School is Western run, but affiliated to the Shaolin Temple though connections with Shi Yan Lu 2nd in charge of the Shaolin Temple. This ensures that many of the best Shaolin monks come to teach at the academy along with the impressive roster of Kung Fu masters that act as resident mentors.
Scott who runs the school, is from the UK and has lived in China for years, recently he had the honour of training with and performing on stage with Jackie Chan (along with some of the students from the academy) at the first World Martial arts games in China!
2 weeks to a year!
The level of Kung Fu you learn really depends upon your learning ability and how long you train for, but one thing is for certain, a couple of weeks spent on your gap year learning Kung Fu in China will be enough to turn you in to a serious bad ass.
If you haver a lot of time on your hands, and interest, you can train for a whole year and gain an instructor rating. Asall meals are included, accommodation and training it’s a great way to spend an entire year really developing yourself physically in a completely different environment.
Kung Fu Instructor
If you choose to train in Sun Style for one year you can do a teachers course and come away a certified Sun Style teacher recognized by the Chinese Martial Arts Association and the International Sun Lu Tang Martial Arts Association. Sun Style consists of the 3 internal styles of Tai Chi, XingYi and Bagua.
The Training
Kung Fu Styles:
What can you learn?
What you can expect to learn and achieve by attending the Xtreme Gap Martial Arts school in China: Increased health & fitness. Basics in which ever style you choose:
- Shaolin Quan
- Modern Wushu
- Sanda,
- Qinna,
- Baji
- Quan,
- Pigua Zhang,
- Qigong,
- Taiji Quan,
- XingYi
- Bagua and /or White Crane (a rare local form).
Read more about the training
Concentration and a 100 percent effort is expected! The lessons are in Mandarin which is cool, you really get in the culture, and lets face it, true Chinese Kung Fu masters are not great linguists, they are however excellent at martial arts. It will not stand in your way to learn – we will make sure there is someone present to ensure you understand all the moves.
A quick note about the training: we cannot stress enough how physically demanding learning Kung Fu can be, especially in China this is not the people who just want to give it a go without much thought. China is a long way to go to train in martial arts, and if you are not 100% committed it’s probably best you do not book this program.
Not that we wish to put you off, as we believe this is one of the most exciting and self developing trips we offer, however we do not want to give you a false impression that the training is easy and that this is something anyone can just do.
There is approximately an even split between men and women at the school, so gender definitely does not preclude you from hard physical training, and if you are reasonably sporty, with a reasonable level of base fitness you will be fine, but you need to be committed to training.
It is definitely advisable you start getting your self into shape before you travel, press ups and a bit of running will do wonders for when you do arrive, but just remember nothing worthwhile comes easy, and this is definitely true this trip. If you really want to benefit from learning Kung Fu from living legends in the home of the martial art, then the more you put in the more you will get out of it.
Getting there
You will need to fly into Shanghai and then catch a train to Zhenjiang which will cost you under 100 Yuan (approximately £10) once you are at the train station you will be picked up by an Xtreme Gap representative then taken to the ancient temple.
The training schedule
The Martial Arts school in China is adjusted to western standards. Communication (in English) will be no problem. A typical day of training:
- 6:30: In the early morning, before breakfast, there is a running class and Quigong meditation
- 07:30 – Breakfast 08:30-11:30 – Morning training session
- 12:00 – Lunch 14:00-17:00 – Afternoon training session
- 18:00 – Dinner 19:00 – Mandarin lessons are optional and can be followed on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
The schedule may differ a little, but every student will always have 5 training hours a day.
Accommodation
The monasteries were built in the Sui and Tang Dynasty’s, you will have to choose which one you plan to stay in, which is dictated by the choice of choosing either the standard luxury option.
Standard option
The standard option is fairly basic, with communal showers shared toilets and dorm style accommodation from 2 to 4 students. If available during our quiet periods students will get their own room at no extra cost but this is really dependent on numbers.
Please note we have very limited standard accommodation available but luxury option accommodates up to 160 people. So if you wish to choose the cheaper standard option please do get your booking form in as soon as possible.
The luxury option
The luxury accommodation option is significantly more expensive but you do get an ensuite bathroom, air conditioning, TV and extra furniture. The luxury option is still shared but you share with one other person.
If you’d like your own room, you need to select the luxury option and pay a single person supplement of £300 per month
Meals
All meals are taken at the academy and are prepared by the academy chefs. Meals are made in local styles and with local produce; however, some Western dishes are served occasionally. You will find lots of fresh ingredients including rice, vegetables and chicken. Please note that the food served is basic and will probably be very different to the Western style ‘Chinese’ food that you will be used to. However, the food will be nutritious and provide a good diet to support the level of training you will be doing. Various different diets can be catered for with prior notice.
Location
Kung fu Academy is split across two Daoist temples approximately 3 km apart from each other in the district of Runzhou. The district is about a 20 min drive away from Zhenjiang City town centre which has a great mix of Western comforts when you need them.
The city is located less than an hour away from Shanghai via high-speed train which is super convenient to get there.
Is plenty to do during your free time with many cultural and historic spots to visit and you also located on the southern bank of the Yangtze River, handy to take a relaxing cruise during free time.
Trip Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need Kung Fu Experience?
What are the benefits of training in China?
Can I also train Sanda at the camp?
How long can I stay for?
How much cash should I take?
How Do I get there?
Are you able to assist with visas?
What is the minimum physical fitness required?
How many other westerners are training there? In particular women?
With who will I share the accommodation?
Can you adjust the meals according to my diet?
What type of clothing/training gear should I wear?
Price
Standard Option
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Luxury Option
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Please note if you wish to add on single person supplement to have your own room please add £300 per month to the luxury option.
Included
- Comprehensive pre departure pack
- 5 days a week training
- All Instruction from masters
- Use of all training equipment
- All meals
- Accommodation at a 2000 year old temple
- 24 hr local support
- Pickup from the train station
Excluded
- Flights
- Visas
- Travel Insurance
- Nun Chukkas
- Toilet paper
- Towels
- Bottled Water
Dates
You can join any time from November 2013, just let us know your preferred start dates.
“The training was tough but awesome. I would love to go back.”Charlie Whitehead
“What a wake up call I had when I arrived, China is so different from back in the UK… but I loved it…I loved the training and the whole experience in general. “Samantha Bendien