The Examiner.com Interviews Shifu

September 21, 2015

Wesley Snipes has Swept the Floor Here!

Do you know what famous hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan, actor Bokeem Woodbine, musician Tricky, actor-director Kadeem Hardison, actress Michelle Forbes, actress and TV talk show hostess Rosie Perez, actor-songwriter John Leguizamo, songwriter-actress Bjork, actor-film producer Wesley Snipes have in common? Aside from being well-known entertainers, they all have learned Chinese martial arts and more importantly they all learn from the same Shifu (or martial art teacher) – internationally renowned Shaolin Kung Fu Master Shi Yan Ming of New York.

The Shaolin Temple was first established in Henan, China approximately 1,500 years ago. It is the origin of Chan (or Zen) Buddhism. To protect the temple from the wars and guard against robbery, Shaolin monks were trained as martial artists and called warrior monks. Shi Yan Ming is a 34th generation Shaolin warrior monk.

Writer Violet Li explores Shaolin Temple’s history of movement and meditation with Shifu Shi Yan Ming.