‘No film has truly captured Shaolin kung fu’: Martial arts veteran Shi Yanneng on his quest to change that

KUALA LUMPUR, July 9 — For most audiences, Shaolin kung fu is synonymous with flying kicks, lightning-fast punches and gravity-defying stunts. 

Despite the many kung fu classics that have graced the silver screen, action star and martial artist Shi Yanneng believes none has truly captured the essence of authentic Shaolin martial arts.

To Shi, a 32nd-generation disciple of Shaolin Temple, Shaolin kung fu has always represented far more than spectacular fight scenes and dazzling choreography.

”To this day, I do not think there has been a single action film that has fully and authentically presented the real Shaolin martial arts system on screen.

”You do see glimpses of it here and there with certain techniques, movements or elements but they are very limited,” he told Malay Mail in an interview recently.

Even films such as Shaolin Temple, which starred Jet Li in his debut role, did not fully capture the authentic Shaolin fighting system, as they were based more on modern competitive wushu rather than the traditional martial arts practised at Shaolin Temple, Shi explained.

Contrary to popular belief, Shi said the Shaolin martial arts system was far more profound and mysterious.

“If it’s portrayed properly in film, it would definitely have a very unique identity,” he said.

“So what audiences often see in movies today is an exaggerated version of Shaolin martial arts which is understandable because filmmaking naturally requires exaggeration. 

“Real-life combat doesn’t always look dramatic on camera, so filmmakers rely on editing, camera angles, choreography and cinematography to make action sequences feel more exciting and visually impactful,” he added.

To chase a dream

Long before he became a movie star and martial artist, Shi said his journey to Shaolin Temple began with a simple childhood dream — to learn kung fu, make action films and become an action star.

“When I was still in primary school, before I had even finished my studies, I watched Shaolin Temple, along with classic Hong Kong martial arts films about characters like Huo Yuanjia and Chen Zhen which later inspired me to dream of becoming an action star.

In popular culture, Huo — a real historical figure — is often portrayed as a heroic martial artist who fought to uphold Chinese dignity by defeating foreign fighters during an era when China’s sovereignty was being undermined by imperialist powers.

Chen, meanwhile, is a fictional character depicted as Huo’s apprentice.

Both characters have been portrayed on screen by martial arts icons Jet Li and Bruce Lee, respectively, in film adaptations.

“After that, I completely lost interest in studying as I was always playing with sticks and pretending to practise martial arts at school,” he said.

Having made up his mind to pursue that path, Shi said he knew of no other way to achieve his dream except for a place in China called Shaolin Temple, where he had heard people could learn extraordinary martial arts.

“With that very simple and innocent dream, I went there (as a 13-year-old).

“I ended up spending more than a decade there, where besides learning martial arts, I also received daily teachings in Zen philosophy.

“That experience had a profound impact on my way of thinking and helped shape me mentally and spiritually,” the 47-year-old said.

Since then, Shi said he has always wanted to showcase the Shaolin martial arts system through filmmaking, while using the platform to bridge different cultures and ultimately help bring Pan-Asian action cinema to audiences around the world.

“Looking back, my reason for going to Shaolin Temple was very straightforward — I simply wanted to become an action star.

“But after so many years of experience and personal growth, my ambition has become much bigger than that. I no longer want to be just an action star.

“I want to use that platform to promote Shaolin culture, the philosophy of Zen and martial arts, Chinese culture and even Malaysian culture,” he said.

Difficult to truly portray

Shi said one reason no film has successfully portrayed authentic Shaolin kung fu is that few people have both undergone extensive training in the traditional martial arts system and become movie actors.

“Yet beyond its mystery and greatness, authentic Shaolin kung fu is actually very simple and unpretentious.

“The real challenge is finding a way to use cinema to faithfully capture that simplicity while still making it visually compelling,” he said.

He further stressed that Shaolin kung fu should not be reduced to visually impressive fight sequences, as every movement carries a deeper combat system and philosophy rooted in discipline and spiritual cultivation.

“I don’t want audiences to see only punches, kicks, swords and flashy fight scenes because behind every movement in Shaolin martial arts is a sophisticated system of attack and defence.

“For example, there is a saying, ‘strike like a fierce tiger, withdraw like a coiled rooster.’

“Why should you contract your body so tightly when withdrawing, yet unleash your power like a tiger descending the mountain when attacking?

Having stepped into filmmaking, Shi therefore hopes to bring audiences a new experience by combining the authenticity of Shaolin martial arts with cinema’s storytelling power.

“It’s difficult to explain all of that in just a few words and I think it can only truly be conveyed through a long-running series of films that gradually reveals the depth of the Shaolin martial arts system,” he said.