Latest news with #ShaolinTemple
The Star
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Action star Jet Li attends youngest daughter's graduation ceremony in the US
Chinese born-superstar Jet Li recently attended his youngest daughter Jada's graduation ceremony in New York, the United States. Photos: Jet Li/Weibo Action star Jet Li recently travelled to New York, the United States, for his youngest daughter Jada's graduation ceremony. In a Weibo post, Li, who has kept a low profile in recent years, shared his joy at seeing all four of his daughters successfully complete their college education. 'Dad is at the bottom of the list, with not even a diploma,' the 62-year-old joked in the caption, before adding, 'This is the highlight of my life, so please allow me to show off!' Accompanying his post were five photos – including two with Jada, 22, and one of him at the graduation hall. While in New York, Li also spent time with his 25-year-old daughter Jane, exploring the city together by taking the train, strolling through Central Park and enjoying hot dogs. The actor, who was born in mainland China, also expressed his gratitude to the ethusiastic fans who gathered outside his hotel in the US just to meet him. 'It was a rare half-day of leisure. I thought to myself how nice it is to enjoy such a simple and ordinary day. 'The moment I returned to the hotel, my world changed. I was blocked at the entrance. Thank you all for still liking me after all these years,' he wrote. Li has two younger daughters – Jada (middle) and Jane – from his second marriage to actress Nina Li Ching. For the record, Li has two older daughters – Si Li, 37, and Taimi, 35 – from his first marriage to former actress Huang Qiuyan, which ended in divorce in 1990. In 1999, Li went on to marry fellow actress Nina Li Ching, with whom he shares Jane and Jada. Although rumours have circulated about a strained relationship between Li and his two older daughters following his divorce from Huang, the actor personally denied these claims in 2023. Li debuted with the 1982 film Shaolin Temple and has starred in projects such as Once Upon A Time In China (1991 to 1997), Romeo Must Die (2000), The Mummy: Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor (2008) and more. His last acting project was Disney's 2020 live-action remake of Mulan .
Borneo Post
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Borneo Post
With flying kicks into future, Tanzanian girls find strength in Chinese kung fu
Saidi Mfaume (L, Front), a martial arts instructor who once trained at China's Shaolin Temple, teaches his daughter Mariam Saidi Mfaume (R, Front) to learn Chinese kung fu in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on May 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Emmanuel Herman) DAR ES SALAAM (May 27): Mariam Saidi Mfaume tightened her tiny fists, took a deep breath, and launched into a flying kick that sliced through the misty air. Raindrops tapped gently on the leaves above, but nothing could stop the six-year-old from pursuing her kung fu dreams. On a damp evening in the outskirts of Tanzania's coastal city of Dar es Salaam, while most children were indoors avoiding the elements, Mariam was practicing kung fu with a group of girls, some older and some even younger than her, under the trees. They were being coached by Master Saidi Mfaume, Mariam's father, a martial arts instructor who once trained at China's legendary Shaolin Temple. For as long as Mariam could remember, kung fu has been a part of her world. 'I started training when I was three,' Mariam told Xinhua with a proud grin, her feet slightly apart, hands ready to block or strike on command. 'Kung fu is in my blood.' Watching her move, small but precise, focused and confident, it is easy to forget her age. Saidi Mfaume (in yellow), a martial arts instructor who once trained at China's Shaolin Temple, teaches his students to learn Chinese kung fu in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on May 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Emmanuel Herman) 'My favorite move is the flying kick,' Mariam said. 'When I jump and kick at the same time, I feel like I'm flying. It makes me feel fast and powerful, just like the kung fu masters I see in movies.' Mariam wants to become a kung fu teacher just like her father. 'I want to teach other children, maybe even have my own school one day,' she said, pausing briefly to call over her three-year-old sister Zarha, who recently joined the training sessions. Their dynamic is tender and determined — two girls, tiny but fierce, kicking through the rain as if dancing with the wind. Just a few meters from the children, Makrina Projest wiped the sweat from her brow after a rigorous two-hour training session. At 21, Projest is the oldest student in the Shaolin Temple Tanzania Kung Fu Club and one of its most committed. Clad in black training pants and a red headband, she adjusted her breathing and smiled. 'I always wanted to learn kung fu, ever since I was a little girl watching Chinese martial arts movies on TV.' 'But no one supported me,' Projest said. 'My parents said it was for men. My relatives promised to enroll me, but never did.' 'So when I got my first salary last year, I used it to join this club. It was the best decision I've ever made,' she said. For Makrina, another trainee, kung fu is more than physical movement; it is personal empowerment. 'I used to be shy, even afraid. Now I feel strong. I walk differently. I carry myself differently,' she said. 'It's not about aggression. It's about control.' When asked what she dreams of becoming, Makrina did not hesitate. 'An instructor. A master. And maybe someday, I'll visit China myself.' Master Mfaume, 38, now trains 10 female students ranging in age from three to 21. 'When girls come to train, I take it very seriously,' he said. 'Many families still think kung fu is not for women. But I've seen how it changes lives, especially for girls.' The trainees each have a story, he said, and each story begins with courage. 'Some come without uniforms or food. So I provide what I can, sometimes shoes, sometimes a meal. I talk to their parents and convince them that kung fu will not make their daughters violent. It will make them stronger.' Tanzanian children practice Chinese kung fu in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on May 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Emmanuel Herman) A Dar es Salaam native, Mfaume started his kung fu journey in 2009, and in 2013, he received a three-month training scholarship at Shaolin Temple, which transformed his understanding of martial arts. In 2014, he returned to China for further training in Chinese culture. These experiences enabled him to integrate kung fu into local education and community events. Beyond its cultural appeal, Mfaume said kung fu holds untapped economic potential. 'Many people think it's just a hobby, but kung fu can open doors, for performance, for tourism, for education,' he said. His club regularly gets invited to perform at festivals, conferences, and Chinese corporate events. The Chinese Embassy in Tanzania has also invited them to take part in cultural celebrations. 'There's demand,' he said. 'What we need is support.' Mfaume hopes that kung fu is recognized not just as entertainment, but as an investment in youth empowerment, gender equality, and cultural exchange. As the rain began to ease, the girls lined up for their final routine. Barefoot and determined, they moved in unison, punching, blocking, and kicking in rhythm. Mariam leapt into a flying kick, her face lit with joy. Her father clapped softly, his voice calm and clear. There is something deeply symbolic about a child soaring through the air with such confidence. In a world where opportunities for girls often come with strings attached or doors closed, here in a modest neighborhood in Dar es Salaam, Chinese kung fu has offered not just strength but wings. And as long as there are girls like Mariam, and mentors like Master Mfaume, those wings will only grow stronger. – Xinhua children China Kung Fu Shaolin Tanzania
The Star
22-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Feature: With flying kicks into future, Tanzanian girls find strength in Chinese kung fu
by Xinhua writers Hua Hongli, Lucas Liganga DAR ES SALAAM, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Mariam Saidi Mfaume tightened her tiny fists, took a deep breath, and launched into a flying kick that sliced through the misty air. Raindrops tapped gently on the leaves above, but nothing could stop the six-year-old from pursuing her kung fu dreams. On a damp evening in the outskirts of Tanzania's coastal city of Dar es Salaam, while most children were indoors avoiding the elements, Mariam was practicing kung fu with a group of girls, some older and some even younger than her, under the trees. They were being coached by Master Saidi Mfaume, Mariam's father, a martial arts instructor who once trained at China's legendary Shaolin Temple. For as long as Mariam could remember, kung fu has been a part of her world. "I started training when I was three," Mariam told Xinhua with a proud grin, her feet slightly apart, hands ready to block or strike on command. "Kung fu is in my blood." Watching her move, small but precise, focused and confident, it is easy to forget her age. "My favorite move is the flying kick," Mariam said. "When I jump and kick at the same time, I feel like I'm flying. It makes me feel fast and powerful, just like the kung fu masters I see in movies." Mariam wants to become a kung fu teacher just like her father. "I want to teach other children, maybe even have my own school one day," she said, pausing briefly to call over her three-year-old sister Zarha, who recently joined the training sessions. Their dynamic is tender and determined -- two girls, tiny but fierce, kicking through the rain as if dancing with the wind. Just a few meters from the children, Makrina Projest wiped the sweat from her brow after a rigorous two-hour training session. At 21, Projest is the oldest student in the Shaolin Temple Tanzania Kung Fu Club and one of its most committed. Clad in black training pants and a red headband, she adjusted her breathing and smiled. "I always wanted to learn kung fu, ever since I was a little girl watching Chinese martial arts movies on TV." "But no one supported me," Projest said. "My parents said it was for men. My relatives promised to enroll me, but never did." "So when I got my first salary last year, I used it to join this club. It was the best decision I've ever made," she said. For Makrina, another trainee, kung fu is more than physical movement; it is personal empowerment. "I used to be shy, even afraid. Now I feel strong. I walk differently. I carry myself differently," she said. "It's not about aggression. It's about control." When asked what she dreams of becoming, Makrina did not hesitate. "An instructor. A master. And maybe someday, I'll visit China myself." Master Mfaume, 38, now trains 10 female students ranging in age from three to 21. "When girls come to train, I take it very seriously," he said. "Many families still think kung fu is not for women. But I've seen how it changes lives, especially for girls." The trainees each have a story, he said, and each story begins with courage. "Some come without uniforms or food. So I provide what I can, sometimes shoes, sometimes a meal. I talk to their parents and convince them that kung fu will not make their daughters violent. It will make them stronger." A Dar es Salaam native, Mfaume started his kung fu journey in 2009, and in 2013, he received a three-month training scholarship at Shaolin Temple, which transformed his understanding of martial arts. In 2014, he returned to China for further training in Chinese culture. These experiences enabled him to integrate kung fu into local education and community events. Beyond its cultural appeal, Mfaume said kung fu holds untapped economic potential. "Many people think it's just a hobby, but kung fu can open doors, for performance, for tourism, for education," he said. His club regularly gets invited to perform at festivals, conferences, and Chinese corporate events. The Chinese Embassy in Tanzania has also invited them to take part in cultural celebrations. "There's demand," he said. "What we need is support." Mfaume hopes that kung fu is recognized not just as entertainment, but as an investment in youth empowerment, gender equality, and cultural exchange. As the rain began to ease, the girls lined up for their final routine. Barefoot and determined, they moved in unison, punching, blocking, and kicking in rhythm. Mariam leapt into a flying kick, her face lit with joy. Her father clapped softly, his voice calm and clear. There is something deeply symbolic about a child soaring through the air with such confidence. In a world where opportunities for girls often come with strings attached or doors closed, here in a modest neighborhood in Dar es Salaam, Chinese kung fu has offered not just strength but wings. And as long as there are girls like Mariam, and mentors like Master Mfaume, those wings will only grow stronger.
South China Morning Post
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
3 Andy Lau action roles that show his talent beyond dramas, as a cop, monk and hit man
Hong Kong superstar Andy Lau Tak-wah's matinee idol looks were a good fit for romances and dramas early in his career, although his frequent roles playing 'sensitive' triad gangsters were complemented by action scenes. Advertisement In the early 2000s, Lau tried his hand at bona fide action and proved exceptionally good at it in spite of his slight figure. We recall the actor-singer's portrayal of three very different action heroes on screen. 1. Shaolin (2011) Lau's stature in the Chinese film industry was put to good use in Benny Chan Muk-sing 's Shaolin Temple drama, which was inspired by Jet Li 's 1982 Shaolin Temple – the Chinese title translates as New Shaolin Temple. The actor brings some much-needed gravitas to the role of a ruthless warlord who takes shelter in the fabled Shaolin Temple after he is deposed by one of his juniors in a murderous coup. His character sees the error of his violent ways and converts to Buddhism, although this does not stop him using his new-found Shaolin kung fu techniques to fight his enemies. Advertisement Lau plays the role with the intensity of a Method actor – which he is not – and is especially convincing as a villainous general who will even kill his best friend to safeguard his power.
The Star
13-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Chinese Shaolin Kung Fu shines in Cambodia
Students practice Shaolin Kung Fu at the Shaolin Temple of Cambodia in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on May 10, 2025. - Photo: Xinhua PHNOM PENH: Yue Hanjun practices Chinese Shaolin Kung Fu martial arts here at the Cambodia Shaolin Temple Cultural Center four days a week, believing that the age-old martial arts will improve his physical fitness, mental discipline, and self-confidence. The 15-year-old high school student spends two hours in each evening session to practice the martial arts with Chinese Shaolin Kung Fu monks at the temple located in the capital's Sen Sok district. "I have come to practice Shaolin Kung Fu here for two months," he told Xinhua. "I think Kung Fu is good for my body because I practice every day, and I have a strong body." Yue said his Shaolin Kung Fu masters are very competent and studying with them, he can experience the original styles of the martial arts. He said the whole-body martial arts have helped build strength, energy, and mobility while supporting self-defense and spiritual practice. He said Shaolin Kung Fu classes in Cambodia have played a crucial role in helping promote cultural relations and people-to-people exchanges between Cambodia and China. With a history of more than 1,500 years, Shaolin Kung Fu is one of China's most treasured cultural heritage items, and has been practiced by Shaolin disciples as well as Kung Fu lovers around the world. It offers practitioners a wide array of activities, ranging from hand-to-hand combat to weapons practice. Abhyuday, a 10-year-old primary school student in Phnom Penh, said he has practiced Shaolin Kung Fu at the temple for a few months. He added that the martial arts have built his strength, flexibility, agility, mental discipline, and self-control, as well as provided valuable self-defense techniques. "Well, when I first started, it was actually my parents who gave me the idea, and I was a bit scared of Shaolin Kung Fu at first, but then, I started to like it more. I want to go and I want to become stronger," he told Xinhua. "That's why I enjoy this." "I feel a bit faster, flexible, and strong," he said. Abhyuday said he would use it to defend himself, to improve his physical fitness, or to show to his friends. He said martial arts would surely help promote cultural ties and bonds of friendship between Cambodia and China. "If more people came here, they would understand how helpful Kung Fu is for the human body," he said. Shi Yanshu, a Shaolin Kung Fu monk at the Cambodia Shaolin Temple Cultural Center, hoped that Shaolin Kung Fu classes would contribute further to deepening cultural relations and people-to-people contact between China and Cambodia. He said Shaolin Temple wants to make a contribution to cultural exchanges and sharing, so it came to Cambodia to set up the Shaolin Temple Cultural Center. "I hope that more people in the capital Phnom Penh can understand Shaolin culture, traditional Chinese culture, and Shaolin Kung Fu," he told Xinhua. Thong Mengdavid, a lecturer at the Institute for International Studies and Public Policy of the Royal University of Phnom Penh, said the Shaolin Temple of Cambodia represented a powerful symbol of cultural collaboration and mutual respect between Cambodia and China. "By offering Shaolin Kung Fu training to people in Cambodia, the temple not only promotes physical fitness and discipline, but also fosters spiritual growth and cultural awareness rooted in centuries of tradition," he told Xinhua on Sunday (May 11). - Xinhua
