Master Chao
Biography (English Translation)
Master Chao Hai (Buddhist name Yen Shen) was born in Kaifong, Henan and is a secular disciple of Henan's Songshan Shaolin temple.
Since his early years, Master Chao learned traditional Shaolin kung fu from his grandfather. As he grew older, his enthusiasm and passion for kung fu began to intensify. Through the referral and introduction by his grandfather and older brother, who had already taken vows as a Shaolin monk, Master Chao enrolled in the Shaolin temple to further his study of kung fu. Under the venerable master and Abbott Shi Yong Xin, he was named Yen Shen and became a 34th generation secular Shaolin disciple.
During his time at the Shaolin temple, Master Chao learned under several master monks to complete his extremely difficult training, specializing in Tie Tou Gong (iron head), Tie Bi Gong (iron arm), and Qi Gong (internal forms). With these skills, he represented Shaolin in a number of martial arts performances throughout China. He also went on to become a coach in several martial arts schools for many years.
In 2004, Master Chao came to the United States to further pursue his career as a martial arts instructor and to spread Shaolin kung fu. Some of his notable performances in the United States include a demonstration on June 29, 2005 at the Lincoln Center in celebration of the United Nations' 60th anniversary, which was one of the first Chinese martial arts performances in an international arena, and a demonstration in 2006 at Harvard University, where he invited skeptical students on stage to test his iron-like Qi Gong by attacking him at will.
Master Chao currently teaches at the Manhattan Shaolin Kung Fu Chan Center and hopes to continue spreading Shaolin Chan kung fu throughout America. He wants the Shaolin spirit to grow in this land so that more people can benefit from this thousand year old art.
Biography (Chinese)
