Matt Polly returned to Shaolin after a long absence and documented it in this web article . Check it out.
Who is Matt Polly? I did an article about Matt back in our May June 2001 issue titled Shaolin’s Hidden Tiger. Matt is a disciple of Yongxin and one of the real pioneers to open Shaolin. In fact, he was the one that took both me and my martial brother Dr. Rich Russell (founder of www.russbo.com) on our very first trip to Shaolin. Imagine what the Shaolin resource landscape for the west would be without us. And we all owe it to Matt.
Man, and all I get is “friends” credit. After I wrote that nice article about Matt and all.
The picture (half way down the page) is from 1996. I’m on the far right. Dieter Wagner (aka Xingda, aka kungfu****) is on the far left. That shot was taken right after our disciple ceremony. Matt acted as our traditional 'go-between" for the ceremony, which was held in the private chambers of that monk, Shi Yanpu, in the back of the temple.
I know this is kind of a silly question, but why is Matthew Polly’s name ringing a bell with me??? Was he the guy who did the movie with Pan Qing Fu? Iron and Silk?
Arrgh, I can’t remember where I’ve heard his name before!
Anyway, good go on the book.
Actually Mark Salzman wrote “Iron & Silk”. I have an interview with Matthew Polly from KF Magazine in which he describes his experiences at Shaolin (including fighting a bare knuckle challenge match & competing in tournaments). Sounds like quite a dude.
Like I mentioned above, I did an article about Matt for our magazine in2001. But Matt also interviewed Jet Li for Playboy a few years back, so that’s probably where you know him…
…one of the best Jet Li inteviews I’ve read, and I’ve read quite a few (Jet 2001, Jet 2000, Jet 1998). Plus the centerfold was a TKD practitioner. Her pose against the punching bag in that spread, well, if only it were one of these.
I’ve heard from my old friend Matt Polly - apparently he’s managed to sell his screenplay, based on his experiences at Shaolin Temple as one of the first Americans to spend a lot of time there. He’s scheduled to appear on the CBS Late, Late Show this Wednesday, April 13th. Check it out if you’re up late.
