Kings of Kung Fu - Preview

It's not often that we can be amazed anymore, but hang on to your hat because you're about to be. For after 13 years travelling the world with their sell-out show, the renowned Shaolin Monks are finally making their way to our shores; their dazzling spectacular comes to the Mediterranean Conference Centre next weekend.

Steeped in mystery, the tale of these mystifying monks goes back centuries. Their monastery, set in the heart of China, celebrated its 1,500th anniversary 13 years ago, at which point the government of the Chinese province commissioned the monks to demonstrate their incredible skills to the world.

"The government wanted to create a show that could be understood by the western world yet still demonstrate how these monks have mastered their body and craft to perfection," explained Herbert Fechter, the show's executive producer. "It's hard to create something that effectively summarises the immense history of this religion, and the connection between their religion and physical exercise. But through a simple story that's exactly what we've been able to accomplish and so far there have been over 2,000 performances to over three million viewers on four continents."

For the Shaolin Monks, their martial art is not a hobby but a complete way of life, and a hard one at that.

"Indian monk body Dalma founded the Chan Sect of Buddhism - he sat in a cave in meditation for nine consecutive years creating a routine of breathing exercising and other techniques to help the monks endure the strenuous long hours and days of meditative immobility. While he was sitting, waiting for enlightenment, he observed the animals around him - as he was not moving they presumed that he was part of their surroundings. He watched how they moved, fought and defended themselves, and these movements inspired him to create Shaolin Kung Fu.

"This was the very beginning of this type of martial arts, and by controlling their body through their spirit the monks are able to live in perfect, physical and spiritual harmony, withstanding the pains of daily exercise.

"Theirs is an incredible history. Over the years the emperors of China always asked the monks to help them during revolutions and there are several stories of them defeating huge armies empty handed.

"So what's their secret? Put simply it's that they can master their qi (pronounced 'chi') - the energy that flows through us along a network of meridians (which are similar to the nerve system). They are able to move their qi through concentration, making the body invulnerable for a few seconds. For this short time they do not feel pain in whatever part of their body that they have directed the qi, allowing them to use their head to break a metal bar for instance, or to spear a part of their body without bleeding. By blocking their energy for a few moments they don't get hurt.

"This ability doesn't come easy of course. To this day the monks within Shaolin live under extremely strict rules: they wake two hours before sunrise, they only eat twice a day - their latest meal is just before noon, they are celibate, they consume no alcohol or nicotine and they do nothing except train constantly through meditation and physical exercise.

"Stress is not a factor in their lives; they are not bothered by the things that we take so seriously in the west. They dedicate their lives to their cause completely so there is nothing to distract them from their qi - no mobiles, cars, radios, computers or media. Nothing external makes any difference to anything that they do, and it's quite remarkable to witness this. When one watches what they do it's hard to imagine that they are mere mortals like us, but of course we waste so much of our energy that we could never hope to accomplish what they do. Theirs is an extremely simple and spiritual life free from distraction."

The renowned and revered show takes these exercises and techniques and translates them to the stage.

"While developing the show we were aware that we couldn't just change 1,500-year-old exercises, but at the same time we needed them to work well for our audiences. For that reason we set them to a story, the tale of a young boy - a fan of Kung Fu - who goes to the monastery to learn from the monks. Through the show he becomes a master.

"The result is incredible, a performance that will amaze the whole family from grandson to grandpa. Audiences witness live, on stage and on big screens, what these monks are capable of and there's always an aura of disbelief as the spectacle and magnitude of what they do unfolds.

"There's a message too. The show leaves you with an understanding that everything is possible when you put your mind to it. Ultimately, we too could manage what these monks do because we are all made of the same stuff. They're living proof that inner peace can reap amazing results."

• The show is on Friday at 8.30 p.m., Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 6.30 p.m. Tickets may be obtained from the MCC booking office by phone on 2559 5750/1, by e-mail: bookings@mcc.com.mt or online: www.mcc.com.mt .

For more information visit www.shaolinmonksinmalta.com.