Ancient Traditions Clash With The 21st Century In National Geographic Channel's SECRETS OF THE KUNG FU TEMPLE

Rural China's Famous Kung Fu Temple Must Decide if It Can Honor the Past and Embrace the Future

Secrets of the Kung Fu Temple Premieres Thursday, December 18, 2008, at 10 PM ET/PT

Shaolin Temple in rural China is the birthplace of kung fu and home to Zen Buddhism.  Over centuries of turbulent history, the temple has been destroyed and reconstructed, with varying degrees of success.  While it has survived challenges ranging from the Cultural Revolution to battling warlords, the temple has never lost sight of its true essence: mastering martial arts and honoring deep-rooted traditions.  However, the hardest battle of all still remains: maintaining tradition in the chaotic rage of a 21st century world.  

Premiering Thursday, December 18, 2008, at 10 p.m. ET/PT, National Geographic Channel's (NGC) Secrets of the Kung Fu Temple takes viewers inside the 1,500-year-old monastery known for training the best warrior monks in the world.  We meet novice monks, hand-picked from kung fu schools across China, and see what it takes for these boys to become master fighters.  We also see how Shaolin is adapting to the 21st century and transitioning into a tourist attraction complete with entrance fees, monk-blessed souvenirs and commercialized excursions.  The generation gap between the older, traditional monks and their younger, Hollywood-dreaming students is wider than ever - or is it?

Head Abbot Shi Yong Xin may wear a saffron robe instead of a business suit, but with cell phone in hand, he is constantly working to take Shaolin Temple to the next commercial level.  Xin functions as a brand manager for the temple's multimillion-dollar business ventures and is shrewdly expanding its reach with schools in the United States and Europe, while building global portfolios in property, media, tourism and health care investments.  "I believe if our first teacher, master Bodhidharma, were alive today, he would have done the same to adapt to today's society," comments Xin.
 
Despite the modern commercialism, Shaolin kung fu masters work hard to maintain the ancient integrity and techniques of their art, which include more than 700 movements and a disciplined connection between mind, body and spirituality.

Kung fu literally means "hard work."  Over five hours a day, 365 days a year, the monks train with a very strict regimen.  For these novice monks, Shaolin could be their chance to get out of the poverty and isolation of rural China.  By traveling the world displaying their kung fu mastery, the best at Shaolin may very well strike stardom.

Meet Yan Xiu, the instructor and expert warrior who uses drill sergeant techniques to work his students, while his 60-year-old colleague Shi Yong Qian offers the students his deep knowledge of meditation and Zen.  You'll also meet Zhou Jinbo and Luo Zhenzhong, two student monks competing to be among the top kung fu fighters in the world.  We get an inside look as these students tackle extraordinary acts of strength, grace and flexibility not commonly seen in the West, such as breaking metal bars with their skulls by standing on their heads for 30 minutes each day.

And we see how one man, a Belgian choreographer, attempts to mix traditional kung fu at Shaolin Temple with modern dance movements.  Watch as he tries to transform these traditional kung fu warriors into world-class performers for the London stage.  Will the head monk approve of this modernization of traditional kung fu?  

Secrets of the Kung Fu Temple takes a glimpse at the incredible art of kung fu as it intersects with the disorienting tides of the 21st century.
 
Secrets of the Kung Fu Temple is produced for the National Geographic Channel by Natural History New Zealand Limited (NHNZ).  For NHNZ, the executive in charge of production is Michael Stedman, executive producer is Andrew Waterworth, supervising producer is Steven R. Talley, producer is Kyle Murdoch, director and camera is Mike Single and editor is Christopher Tegg. For the National Geographic Channel, executive Producer is Noah Morowitz, senior vice president of special programming is Michael Cascio, and executive vice president of content is Steve Burns.