COMMUNITY SPORTS: Monks from Shaolin Temple show off martial arts skills
By John Raifsnider - For The North County Times | Sunday, February 1, 2009 5:07 PM PST ∞
ENCINITAS ---- Among the 1.3 billion residents of China are 30 men revered as the true disciples of the Shaolin Temple, Buddhist monks who are royal masters of the ancient martial art of kung fu. Fewer than half of those masters have attained the title of "warrior of the temple," guardians of the abbot where the monks reside.
Four of those warriors arrived Friday afternoon in Southern California to begin a month-long tour of the state. The monks plan to conduct more than 50 performances of their craft for audiences that have already included wide-eyed students at a martial arts studios and curious gamblers at a nearby casino.
According to Giuseppe Alliota, operator of an Encinitas-based martial arts studio where the monks performed Friday evening, the Shaolin Temple is held in the highest regard by its followers, and the warriors are its elite defenders.
"The Shaolin Temple in China is to ... martial arts (what) the Vatican is to the Catholic Church," Alliota said.
"The (Shaolin) Temple has a 1,500-year history and is (considered) the birthplace of martial arts and Zen meditation. The Shaolin warrior monks are well-known for their physical and spiritual mastery of the martial arts."
Alliota said kung fu was first developed in northern China more than 1,500 years ago, and that the region is still home to hundreds of martial arts schools.
"In the northern area of China, martial arts is similar to what surfing is to Encinitas," said Alliota, who has visited China four times.
"In this city everybody surfs. Over there everyone is into martial arts. Only for them, it's not a pastime or a hobby, it's their lifestyle."
Shi Yan Hui, the monks' spokesman, says the group embarked on the trip to "spread to America our art and culture."
"We want to bring to this country our ways of life and to support marital arts all over the world," said Hui, after two performances by the group at Harrah's casino on Saturday night.
"We are happy to be here and glad to see the high level of interest by the young people in America in our art," he said.
The monks visited Disneyland on Sunday and will hold a final North County performance today at Alliota's 4S Ranch studio.
At Friday's performance, more than 200 people were "crammed like sardines" into Alliota's small strip-mall studio. Today the monks will have room to move about freely at his 4,000-square-foot facility in 4S Ranch.
"It's a lot bigger place and we won't be near as jammed together," Alliota said.
"Friday night there were a lot more people there than I thought there was going to be. Monday night, it won't be so hectic and people won't be sitting on top of each other. It will be a much more enjoyable experience for everyone."
Today's performance by the Shaolin Temple monks begins at 4 p.m. at 10890-B Thornmint Road in 4S Ranch. For more information call (858) 451-5425.