How Shaolin Monks Deal With Pain

Summary

In this intriguing journey, Jesse Enkamp trains with the Headmaster of the Shaolin Temple Europe, diving deep into the ancient art of Kung Fu and the disciplined lifestyle of Shaolin monks. The video explores techniques like Iron Palm Kung Fu, the essence of commitment, and the mental and physical resilience needed to overcome pain. Jesse learns about the importance of body awareness, and how mastering it leads to a better mind-body connection. Through his experience, he discovers the significance of dedication and the timeless wisdom embedded in the traditions of the Shaolin Temple. The breathwork and martial arts practiced by monks not only strengthen the body but also provide valuable insights into maintaining inner peace and resilience in modern life.

Highlights

• Training with the Headmaster of Shaolin Temple Europe is intense and enlightening. 🔥
• Pain is a part of growth; facing it builds incredible resilience. 💪
• Body awareness leads to a profound mind-body connection, a core teaching at the Shaolin Temple. 🧘‍♂️
• Breathing techniques are crucial for managing pain and achieving tranquility. 🌬️
• The philosophy of commitment—find your path and stick to it through life's challenges. 🛤️

Key Takeaways

• Embrace pain to grow stronger; it's the Shaolin way. 👊
• Commitment means sticking through tough times. 🌟
• Awareness is key in martial arts for mind-body connection. 🧠
• Shaolin monks use breathwork for pain management and resilience. 🌀
• Harmony and strength go hand in hand in martial arts. ☯️

Overview

Training in Shaolin Temple Europe under the guidance of its Headmaster is not for the faint of heart. Jesse Enkamp's journey is full of sweat, enlightenment, and a fair share of pain as he delves into the rigorous methods that have shaped Kung Fu master practitioners for centuries. With every Iron Palm strike, Jesse learns not just technique but a life principle: embrace the pain, for it is a stepping stone to resilience.

The philosophy instilled by the Shaolin monks is one of unwavering commitment and self-discovery. Through failures and triumphs, Jesse is taught that the real battle is within—it's about constructing a strong character that perseveres regardless of the path's difficulties. This commitment is akin to the Jedi's way in Star Wars, blending power with moral guidance and illustrating that the journey itself is just as important as the destination.

At the heart of Shaolin training is the pursuit of body awareness and the symbiotic relationship between mind and physique. The monks impart wisdom on how this awareness can not only improve martial prowess but also foster a deep understanding of oneself and one's surroundings. Integrating breathwork into his daily routine, Jesse unlocks a meditative technique that promises long-lasting effects beyond the realm of martial arts. Embracing this holistic approach, he realizes the enduring relevance of the Shaolin tradition in cultivating inner peace and mental fortitude in today's fast-paced world.

How Shaolin Monks Deal With Pain Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 I'm training with the Headmaster of shaoling Temple Europe leaving blood already and in the previous episode he gave me a lesson I will never forget this is beginner level it's time for training now I'm going to learn Iron Palm Kung Fu we have some BS there are different ingredients inside for example rice first of all what you should not forget is you need to breathe luckily I'm learning the ultimate breathing exercise later this
• 00:30 - 01:00 evening now you start here you don't want to hit like this yeah but it's this one the master has incredible power despite his size and I can only hope to achieve the same but apparently I'm doing something wrong we don't want to squeeze the meat really hit with that part here the one
• 01:00 - 01:30 which like would break the color bone it's not this angle this is so different from my usual carate training again continue but I'm willing to give it a try eight now things are going much better n after hundreds of repetitions I finally understand the technique until I fail again yeah leaving blood already Yes for right now that it's your first time it's still really good yeah okay feel it's
• 01:30 - 02:00 tingling yes yes now the master wants to drink some tea there is no hardening without pain but in the first moment where you hit the pain and you run away from it okay then you're never going to get hard look deeply into the mirror and see who you are I think many people can't do it because then everything comes up this pH
• 02:00 - 02:30 These Eyes they show everything nothing is forgotten you lie to yourself you won't progress no matter which martial art it is I really think it's also very much building up a proper and healthy character because there are I always sometimes I also watch movies in the past yeah and I like Star Wars you know they both have the power the Jedi have the power and Darth Vader also has the power but they use it in a different way
• 02:30 - 03:00 because their moral and ethical guidelines are different and if you really want to learn something sometimes it's necessary to dedicate and say a one-time commitment because this is what commitment means committing to something doesn't mean I commit to it as long as it feels good to me no you make this commitment because you normally should know that this way is going to be filled with everything
• 03:00 - 03:30 with ups and downs and left and right and things you like and things you don't like but because these moments are going to come that's why you make this commitment because if you break the commitment in the moment where something is getting difficult that's not a commitment it doesn't matter what you do it doesn't matter which way you are walking but stay with one way and keep walking if I from here just going to start walking straight what going to
• 03:30 - 04:00 happen in the worst case is that I will walk along this Earth one time you have seen the whole world at least one time if you keep walking straight but if I walk 10 K 10 kilom to the front then no not in the mood anymore then I walk 10 km North change again 10 km South yeah so you get the point what what happens eventually is you walk in the Square and continuously
• 04:00 - 04:30 think of why am I not proceeding yeah why can't I get out of yeah because you keep on changing too much that's why there is no best way there is a way now it's time for the last training session but unfortunately this class is only for sholing Mon and I have no intention of being celibate anytime soon so I will just have to watch
• 04:30 - 05:00 but I don't mind because seeing the master move is like watching poetry in motion in Chinese they call this woo way or effortless action and I want to know how it's done you turn in left you open small and left open and right small and down open and right open and up it's always both it's never the
• 05:00 - 05:30 question which one is more important left or right which one is more important inhale or exhale which one is more important relaxation or tensioning which is more important soft or hard is the wrong question the question is how good are you able to express it with the way of how you can access your body action makes life not reading about life not reading about the martial art not watching the martial art it's about
• 05:30 - 06:00 practicing the martial art because the practice is what then eventually is going to give you answers and especially the skill my time at the temple is almost over but there's one thing I still don't understand so as the sun sets I decide to head inside and sit down with the master for one final interview why do you practice Kung Fu in a temple
• 06:00 - 06:30 good question one of the mission goals of the shaan temple has always been collecting and translating all the Buddhist knowledge that was available that time into Chinese language just like the western church needed Templar knights to protect its wealth the shaoling temple needed Warrior monks to protect its knowledge but how is this relevant today even so that the intention Changed For What the fu is used it still is serving
• 06:30 - 07:00 as very very useful instrument somebody comes as a small child as a new student into the classes so what is it that I'm doing with him do I teach him directly how to punch how to kick uh how to make the flips so what is it the first thing that actually my real aim is my aim is body awareness it means you are aware that my finger is like doing this and my small toe is doing something else at the same same time yeah so that means the ability
• 07:00 - 07:30 I can be here I can be here at the same time I can talk with you at the same time I can watch in the angle of the eye I can see other people other person so the greater your awareness the more you start to realize where are you actually because you can only fix a problem if you know where the problem is located so the more you are aware of yourself the deeper you can actually
• 07:30 - 08:00 start to readjust something that you realize this is not how it's supposed to be and this is why in the martial art it is body awareness building this up body awareness and Mind Body Connection your body is supposed to deliver what the mind tells your body to do so if your mind says left you can't make this mhm yeah right so there must be really this direct connection I think left it's left I think right it's right I want to be front I am front this is why I think
• 08:00 - 08:30 movement is key yeah especially for nowaday Society where anyway everybody is spending too much with mind activity yeah and this is not why you have been created with arms and legs and all of these things it's no surprise that exercise is beneficial for mind and body but how does martial art fit into this sometimes I even hear critics about it Buddhism it's about peace and it's about
• 08:30 - 09:00 Harmony and it's about compassion and it's about all of these things yes that's absolutely correct but in this world I think it has never been a downside to be compassionate and strong to be peaceful and strong and this is why we think the martial art fits good because after all we are nowadays very lucky to have this Heritage of the Shaolin tradition yeah
• 09:00 - 09:30 which is thanks to the warrior monks and the warrior monks did not only sit around and meditate no they used their body yeah more than an average person they knew exactly what pain and suffering is and now I'm going to learn the best medicine for pain and suffering this is the dling breath we take the left palm
• 09:30 - 10:00 and place it onto the chest inhale and fill up as much as I can first the belly area and afterwards the chest 1 2 3 4 5 6 and exhale 1 2 3 4 5 six just practice this on a regular basis and there are forms and beautiful movements that go
• 10:00 - 10:30 hand inand with this type of breathing technique yeah the proper way would be like this and just like that my Shing experience is over but it feels like I'm only getting started maybe that's why the Shing tradition has survived for500 years because knowledge is fleeting but wisdom is forever and the day I stop learning is the day I stop living
• 10:30 - 11:00 so I needed a break and all they have is this couch made of stones no wonder the sholing monks are rock hard I mean just look at this even when they're relaxing they're training crazy