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American Shaolin: Flying Kicks, Buddhist Monks, and the Legend of Iron Crotch: An Odyssey in the New China

door Matthew Polly

LedenBesprekingenPopulariteitGemiddelde beoordelingAanhalingen
5462343,810 (3.95)22
Growing up a ninety-pound weakling tormented by bullies, Matthew Polly dreamed of one day journeying to the Shaolin Temple in China to become a fighter like in his favorite 1970s TV series, Kung Fu. Later, Matthew decided to pursue this quixotic dream: he dropped out of Princeton to spend two years training with the legendary sect of monks who invented kung fu and Zen Buddhism. Expecting to find an isolated citadel of supernatural ascetics, he instead discovered a tacky tourist trap run by Communist party hacks--but the dedicated monks still trained in the rigorous age-old fighting forms. As Matthew grew in his knowledge of China and kung fu skill, he would come to represent the Temple in challenge matches and international competitions, and ultimately the monks would accept their new American initiate as close to one of their own as any Westerner had ever become.--From publisher description.… (meer)
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1-5 van 22 worden getoond (volgende | toon alle)
This alternates between 4 and 2 stars.

The 4 stars are when we see 1990s Chinese culture through his eyes especially the martial arts aspects. Martial arts movies tend to take the stereotypical parts of the culture and magnify it especially when shown through the lens of an American. This book pulls that back a bit.

The 2 stars are anything to do with women in the book. This is a coming-of-age book but the way he writes about his experiences with women are mainly about him and not as much about the women we writes about. Yes, he writes about male-female relationships and some about how they are different in China than elsewhere. But it's the way he writes about what happens that is juvenile.
( )
  alan_chem | Feb 28, 2023 |
This had the potential to become a traditional coming of age story, but Matt Polly's engaging style allowed the story to stretch beyond those confines, and gives the reader a unique view into the culture within the Shaloin community. His well honed sense of humor, along with a healthy sense of self criticism makes this an enjoyable read. ( )
  mcquigg55 | Dec 5, 2022 |
'It takes a special kind of person to leave the comforts of Princteton University and move to rural China to smash his forearms against tree trunks. Meet Matthew Polly.'-New York Post

Growing up a ninety-eight-pound weakling tormented by bullies in the schoolyards of Kansas, young Matthew Polly dreamed of one day becoming the toughest fighter in the world. In college, he decided the time had come to pursue this dream. So he dropped out of Princeton, hopped on a plane to China, and set out in search of spiritual enlightenment and ass-kicking power with the legendary sect of monks who invented Zen buddhism and kungfu.

American Shaolin is the story of the two years Matthew spent in China living, studying , and performing with the Shaolin monks. In time he learned the ancient art of Shaolin kungfu, the ferocious sport of Chinese kickboxing, and the mysterious practice of 'iron kungfu,' in which a part of the body (such as the head, neck, stomach, or, most fightiening of all, the crotch) is made impervious to harm. Matthew would need to rely on all this inherited wisdom and skill when he was forced to defend the Temple's honor in a no-rules challenge match, rescue a friend who had crossed an underworld gangster, and fight in one of China's national tournaments.

Alongside the Shaolin monks, Matthew discovered the salubrious effects of Buddhist meditation, the deleterious national dirnking game, and the allure of forbidden love in Red China. Laced with humor and illuminated by cultural insight, American Shaolin is an unforgettable coming-of-age story of one man's journey into the ancient art of kungfu-and a poignant protrait of a rapidly changing China.

'I picked up American Shaolin and read it straight through. Itis first rate. Polly's book tells more about what's going on in China and has more insights into the real China than anything in recent years. It is a wonderful true-life story with profound, behing-the-headlines observations about Chinese life. A tip of the Stetson to Matthew Polly.'-Dan Rather

'Delightfully wry....Poplly writes with admirable verve and humor that comes at his own expense.'--National Geographic Adventure

Contents

Prologue
Book One Wanderer
1 the first step
2 Lost in transplantation
3 Sleeping beauty
4 Kungfu world
5 Lights, camera, action
6 A coke and a smile
7 Defection
Book Two Novice
1 Eating bitter
2 The show must go on
3 Chinese medicine
4 Roommates
5 Shaolin's champion
6 The sacred and the profane
Book Three: Initiate
1 Kickboxing
2 Media matters
3 Iron forearm boy
4 Taiwan tunes
5 Playing hands
6 Crazy negotiatioins
7 Taking a beating
Book Four Apprentice
1 Happy endings
2 Iron crotch kungfu
3 Getting schooled
4 The sixth race
5 Dirty jokes and beer
6 Pride and penance
7 Another American
Book Five Disciple
1 Challenge match
2 Misress maagement
3 Tournament
4 No porblems
5 The Wetern spear
6 Endings
Epilogue Shaolin reunion
Author's note
Acknowledgments
  AikiBib | May 31, 2022 |
nonfiction (memoir: American learning Shaolin kung fu / 1990s inland China). I really enjoyed learning about the subtleties of Chinese culture (Where? Where? Where?) as well as the experiences of the author, entertainingly told. There were a couple points where the author might appear slightly dismissive towards women and other groups (so I might not recommend to those who might be easily offended) but in general was respectful and thoughtful--and it's probably a good idea to keep in mind that this was written by a young guy who still had a little bit of growing up to do. This is an Alex Award-winner, so would appeal to teens as well (though keep in mind there is some strong language and a dirty joke towards the end, if you think any parents might object). ( )
  reader1009 | Jul 3, 2021 |
Matthew Polly was always a tall, gangly, wimpy kid, picked on by the playground bullies. By the time he got to college, he had left the playground, but the insecurities continued to nag him. What is a boy to do? Well, if he's into martial arts and Chinese language and culture, he takes a sabbatical during his junior year at Princeton and searches for the Shaolin Temple, of course! In 1992, China was on the cusp of beginning an international force, teetering between its Communist past and capitalistic future, and in these days before the Internet, Polly had to scout out just exactly where this iconic hub was located. So begins a hilarious tale of culture shock, kung fu, and memorable characters as Polly spends the next two years studying with the Shaolin monks.

I discovered this book while perusing past Alex Award winners and nominees, the American Library Association's award for books written for adults that also have a crossover appeal to young adult audiences. I was not disappointed. It's full of action-packed fight scenes, a sneak peek into the mysterious world of iron kung fu (especially the spectacle of iron crotch kung fu, in all its horror and fascination), mastering Chinese drinking games, and loads of sometimes gallant, sometimes quirky, sometimes downright insane, but always vibrant characters. I really felt connected to Polly's experience and appreciated his honesty. He's certainly a lot more sensitive to Chinese culture than other laowai (Chinese for "foreigner" or, more specifically, "caucasian"), but he still had a long way to go. He chose this locale due to his deep respect for its tradition, but he still grapples with his own feelings of inadequacy while further complicating things because he sticks out like a sore thumb. He is an imperfect person, but his imperfections were totally human. Only rarely did they get to me--on occasion I resented that this was all possible due to his disapproving but still overindulgent parents (it costed him/them $1400 each month to live in the village, which he later bargained down to around $600) and his questionable conduct with women (he tries to adhere to all other aspects of Chinese culture besides the stigma of Chinese women having relations with laowai). In spite of this, however, the memoir holds up and will stick in my memory for some time to come. It stands as an entertaining look into a country and people that is so often only portrayed for its stoicism and tragedy. ( )
  LibroLindsay | Jun 18, 2021 |
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Growing up a ninety-pound weakling tormented by bullies, Matthew Polly dreamed of one day journeying to the Shaolin Temple in China to become a fighter like in his favorite 1970s TV series, Kung Fu. Later, Matthew decided to pursue this quixotic dream: he dropped out of Princeton to spend two years training with the legendary sect of monks who invented kung fu and Zen Buddhism. Expecting to find an isolated citadel of supernatural ascetics, he instead discovered a tacky tourist trap run by Communist party hacks--but the dedicated monks still trained in the rigorous age-old fighting forms. As Matthew grew in his knowledge of China and kung fu skill, he would come to represent the Temple in challenge matches and international competitions, and ultimately the monks would accept their new American initiate as close to one of their own as any Westerner had ever become.--From publisher description.

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