Shaolin weapons come in various shapes and forms. In ancient China, there were 18 major weapons. Besides blades, spears, swords, and cudgels there is also a variety of dual-wielding weapons, like double hammers.
Shaolin Double Hammers. /CGTN
Everyone knows that Shaolin kung fu is not easy, and is even more difficult with dual-wielding weapons. The practitioner has to control body strength and master physical coordination. A solid foundation in Shaolin martial art takes years of practice.
Shi Yanji started practicing at six years old and was sent to the Shaolin Temple when he was nine. The 26-year-old man has been practicing martial arts for nearly 20 years. The double hammers routine is comprised of basic moves like the starting posture, cloud hand, stabbing, and lifting. It's smooth and powerful. One lifts the hammers like a cannonball soaring into the sky, smash it down like a mountain and moves fast like fire.
Shi Yanji is one of the warrior monks of the Shaolin Temple. /CGTN
Since young, Shi has looked for this kind of natural and unforced movements. Being bulkier and stronger than his fellow apprentices, he believes the heavy hammers were made for him.
Even though he is strong and passionate about Shaolin martial arts, he had a lot of trouble during practices. In the first few years, due to him being overweight, he couldn't control complex techniques, and his competitiveness made him think too much and always strove for perfection. The more he practiced, the more his state of mind was unstable, and his performance declined.
Shaolin martial art is a practice of the whole body. /CGTN
Through long-term practicing, he has broken the bottlenecks and made constant improvements. He believes that Zen meditation made him achieve the power of concentration.
Martial art means practicing the body and soul. Shaolin kung fu demands a combination of Zen and martial arts. Zen meditation can be complicated and simple. It lies in everything in our daily life.
Shaolin kung fu demands a combination of Zen and martial arts. It lies in every step of our daily life. /CGTN
Shi thinks that the most important thing is our inner world. When you give up your obsession for certain things, you're able to keep calm, leading you to think in different ways.
Shi Yanji is one of the warrior monks of the Shaolin Temple. /CGTN
"Don't be impetuous in anything, but know clearly what you really want. You have to let it go sometimes, don't obsess with it," says Shi.