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Seems to be a lot of Shaolin live shows on tour right now.
High-octane Kung Fu mastery direct from China
With sold out shows around Australia, Sunshine Coast Council is proud to present a one off performance of China’s most accomplished and spirited Shaolin Kung Fu monks at Lake Kawana Community Centre at 7pm on Friday 23 March 2012.
The electrifying show is set to captivate audiences and involves a dynamic mix of kung fu styles, breathtaking pain enduring acts, weapon displays, rock smashing and jaw dropping acrobatics.
Set to an exhilarating soundtrack that mixes traditional Chinese songs with the modern beat of drums and rhythm, Shaolin Kung Fu will have audiences transfixed from the very first beat.
Made famous by the movie Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, the Shaolin style kung fu dates back 1,500 years and brings with it the traditions, power and magnificence of 32 dynasties of kung fu fighting.
The mastermind behind Shaolin Kung Fu is Master Shen, heir to the 32 dynasty Shaolin tradition who was trained as a monk in the Shaolin Temple from the age of 10. Master Shen spent 16 years learning the ancient ways of Buddhism, Taoism and kung fu fighting.
Shaolin Kung Fu producer, Hao Zhou brings these performers to Australia to share the energy and mastery of this ancient art form.
Ninety minutes spent in the company of these remarkable athletes will leave people breathless and desperate for more. To watch their power being drawn from their mental resolve and inner strength is awe-inspiring and is a show not to be missed.
Cost to attend Shaolin Kung Fu is $35 for adults, concessions $30 and student/child $25. Tickets can be purchased online, in advance at the Lake Kawana Community Centre Box Office located at 114 Sportsmans Parade, Bokarina or by calling 5413 1400.
Residents are urged to book early to avoid disappointment.
March 15, 2012 02:21am
Event review: Shaolin Kung Fu at Cairns Civic Theatre
Jesse Kuch
Monday, March 12, 2012
China’s Shaolin Kung Fu monks chopped, kicked and flipped their way through Cairns last Thursday to Saturday, to sell-out crowds at Cairns Civic Theatre.
Make no mistake, Shaolin Kung Fu isnt a blockbuster show with massive dollars spent on production values.
It instead relies on the pure skill, dedication and endurance of its talented kung fu monks to carry the show through from start to finish something that made the whole production a lot more authentic and in keeping the monks evidently spiritual ways.
From graceful solo displays of various styles of Shaolin kung fu, through to mock one-on-one fights, weapons, displays of great pain endurance and the traditional lion dance, Shaolin Kung Fu gives a unique and very much traditional snapshot of one of the worlds oldest martial arts.
Its hard to pick the best part when the whole two-hour show is so captivating, but Master Junes rock smashing was definitely an early highlight, as was the opening to the second act, which featured two traditional Chinese lions playing with a kung fu fighter with a ball.
Show producer Hao was also comical when he took to the stage between displays to explain to the crowd what was coming next.
However, the pick had to come in the last two sequences, as the troops leader Master Shen finally took to the stage with a slow and stylistic display that resembled as much graceful ballet as it did martial arts.
The show then finished with no less than 10 people from the crowd coming to stand on a board held up by only the chest of the Shaolin Kung Fus toughest monk.
Most of the time the crowd didnt know whether to hold their breath or applaud, but if the thunderous applause was anything to go by at the end, the packed house clearly enjoyed the show.
I, for one, was rapt.
Growing up on a healthy diet of Chinese kung fu movies as a child, its great to see all those moves you see in classics like Shaolin and The Wu-Tang and the 36 Chambers Of Shaolin arent just tricks of the camera.
This was the real deal!
>> Review by Jesse Kuch. Shaolin Kung Fu was at Cairns Civic Theatre from Thursday-Saturday last week. Shaolin Kung Fu is visiting Australia with the support and leadership of Grandmaster Yan, chairman of the Chinese Kung Fu Association and Grandmaster for the Oriental Institute of Martial Arts in China.
