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American Shaolin
Flying Kicks, Buddhist Monks, and the Legend of Iron Crotch: An Odyssey in the New China
- Author:
- By Matthew Polly
- Format:
- Paperback
- Availability:
- In print, usually dispatched within 5-7 days.
- Price:
- £9.99
- Tagged with:
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Further Details
- Published: 2nd Jan 2008
- ISBN: 1592403379
- Pages: 366
From the Publisher:
The raucously funny story of one young Americans quest to become the baddest dude on the planet (and possibly find inner peace along the way)
Growing up a ninety-eight-pound weakling tormented by bullies in the schoolyards of Kansas, Matthew Polly dreamed of one day journeying to the Shaolin Temple in China to become the toughest fighter in the world, like Caine in his favorite 1970s TV series "Kung Fu.
"American Shaolin" is the story of the two years Matthew spent in China living, studying, and performing with the Shaolin monks. The Chinese term for tough training is "chi ku" (eating bitter), and Matthew quickly learned to appreciate the phrase.
This is both the gripping story of Matthews journey and an intimate portrait of the real lives of the Shaolin monks, who struggle to overcome rampant corruption and the restrictions of an authoritarian government. Laced with humor and illuminated by cultural insight, "American Shaolin" is an unforgettable coming-of- age story of one mans journey into the ancient art of kungfuand a poignant portrait of a rapidly changing China.
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