Shaolin Soccer for real

[GeneChing]

20 stories on the newsfeed today. I cherrypicked a few for y'all here.

Can Shaolin Temple save Chinese football?
(AFP) – 11 hours ago


BEIJING — China's celebrated Shaolin Temple is training young kungfu disciples to play football in the far-off hope of reversing the flagging fortunes of the national team, state media reported.

In a case of life imitates art the initiative will likely draw comparisons with hit 2001 Hong Kong comedy "Shaolin Soccer" about a group of washed-up monks from the temple who apply their superhuman moves on the soccer pitch.

The temple, in central China's Henan province, which is famed for the acrobatic exploits of its warrior monks, opened a soccer training centre in October that has more than 40 martial arts students learning the "beautiful game," the official Xinhua news agency said late Thursday.

Shi Yanlu, head coach at the training base, said the discipline and ethos of kungfu can translate into effective football.

"Chinese football is in the doldrums, and when some elements of Shaolin kungfu, particularly its spirit, are integrated into soccer, we hope it will help improve the training level of football," he said in the report.

The legwork and physical coordination of kungfu could also help future Chinese footballers, he added.

China's national football team is a laughing-stock at home and a source of anguish for fans frustrated by the inability of the world's most populous country to succeed in the world's most popular sport.

China failed to qualify for last year's World Cup, has performed poorly in the Olympic Games and recently failed to reach the Asian Cup's knockout stages.

China's pro league also is reeling from a match-fixing, gambling and graft scandal that has resulted in the arrests of two former national football association heads and a number of lower-level officials.

The young recruits at the temple's training centre -- all around 10 years old -- are being coached by Alphonse Tchami, a retired Cameroonian national footballer, the report said.

The temple plans to attract more recruits among the 2,000 disciples who train at Shaolin, it added.

Shaolin Temple opens soccer school
16:56, March 25, 2011

The brilliant Brazilian and Argentine national soccer teams are often referred to as the "samba kings" and "tango group" on the world soccer stage. A "kung Fu" group will possibly emerge on China's soccer stage in the future.

The Shaolin Temple Buddhist Warrior Training Base recently opened a Shaolin Temple Youth Soccer School, hoping to integrate Shaolin kung fu with soccer.

When reporters visited the Shaolin Temple Buddhist Warrior Training Base, a plaque reading "Shaolin Temple Youth Soccer School" was already put up on the front gate. Scores of primary school students around the age of 10 were training on the playground under the instruction of a coach from Cameroon.

Although these boys appeared not to be professional, the coach, a former player on the Cameroon national soccer team, spoke highly of them, "They have excellent physical quality and good playing skills and have learnt quickly."

"There are similarities in many aspects between Chinese martial arts and soccer. Despite the current downturn in China's soccer sector, we seek to integrate some elements of Shaolin martial arts into soccer in hopes of enhancing the level of soccer training in China," said Shi Yanlu, head coach of the Shaolin Temple Buddhist Warrior Training Base.

The Shaolin Temple Buddhist Warrior Training Base established the youth soccer school from in 2010 with support from the Chinese Football Association (CFA). The CFA donated 1,000 soccer balls to the school half a month ago.

[GeneChing]

Funny to watch how this gets passed on virally, yes?

Kung fu football school to improve China's soccer performance
Last Updated: Monday, 28 March 2011, 5:30 GMT Previous Page



Shaolin monks are hoping to improve China's poor football performance with a new training school which combines football with kung fu.

Shi Yanlu, head of the venture at the world famous Shaolin Temple, says he believes the disciplines of kung fu will benefit young footballers.

He has selected 40 young monks to train at the school under the supervision of martial arts experts and former international footballers.

Yanlu said: "Right now, China's football performance is really disappointing. We hope by combining kung fu elements and spirit, Chinese football can perform better."

As well as regular football training, the monks focus on aspects of the martial art, such as balance and leg strength, which will make them better footballers.

"They have superb physical qualities, and they are learning things very quickly. We will try to meld the kung fu into the football training, hopefully improving the level of Chinese football," added Yanlu.

"The kids here all have a spirit of hard-work. We will invite some outstanding coaches to teach them. Hopefully we can have several international football stars of the future here."

The Shaolin Monk Football Training Base is being backed by the China Football Association which has provided equipment, including 1,000 footballs.

It now plans to build more pitches for students to play on.

[TaichiMantis]

I still like the Adidas commercial that has the chinese women's team throwing down a tai chi inspired soccer ball challenge in a park

[GeneChing]

But I'd argue that it was in the wake of Shaolin Soccer, which was 2001. That FIFA ad was 2003.

It all starts at Shaolin.

Here's another news story. It's great to watch the slow viral spread of this. What amazes me is that they keep getting new pix. There's some savvy marketing with this particular Shaolin school for sure.

Martial arts monks trained at football
By ALEX WEST
Published: Today

IT'S Kung Futball! A monk from the famous Shaolin Temple martial arts centre performs a stunning overhead kick during a soccer match.

The Chinese hope to turn their national team into world beaters by training the acrobatic monks to play.

Maybe some will end up playing for Inter the Dragon Milan...

Great ball of China ... monk takes a shot, left, and goalie clears it off the line

Pass master ... controlling ball with chest

Kung fu football
29 March 2011

A school in China is combining football with kung fu.

Shaolin monks are opening the new training quarters to train youngsters under the supervision of martial arts experts and former international footballers to try and enhance the nation's poor performance in the sport.

It is thought the martial arts training will improve their skills on the pitch.

The kids here all have a spirit of hard-work. We will invite some outstanding coaches to teach them. Hopefully we can have several international football stars of the future here.

Organiser Shi Yanlu said: "Right now, China's football performance is really disappointing. We hope by combining kung fu elements and spirit, Chinese football can perform better.

"The kids here all have a spirit of hard-work. We will invite some outstanding coaches to teach them. Hopefully we can have several international football stars of the future here."