American Shaolin: Matthew Polly

Clips from my time at the Shaolin Temple. For more go to www.mattpolly.com

• Category

  Travel & Events

[Rhonald Del Mar]

I thought Chael Sonnen's book "The Voice of Reason" was good, but your "Tapped Out" book was such a better read, that I just ordered your "American Shaolin" book. I can't wait to read about your antics in China since I to have been there. Since most things we get now have labled "Made in China", I ended up marrying a woman - made in China.

[Matthew Polly]

Thank you. So glad you enjoyed it. I hope you find American Shaolin fun. Given that you married a Chinese tai tai, I'm betting you'll find it interesting.

[skippyfo0l]

Im curious. Where did you learn to speak chinese as well as you did before you went to china. Im very interested in foreign languages and customs and ive always want to visit the country part of china.

[Matthew Polly]

I studied for two years at Princeton and did two intensive summers at Middlebury. So I crammed 4 years of courses into two years. It's a difficult language.

[hotrod5010]

Im in high school and I found your book in our library and I love reading it and can not put it down. I am also interested in Asian culture mostly Japanese. Thank you.

[Matthew Polly]

Thanks so much for your note. I'm very happy to hear that you are enjoying it.

[Matthew Polly]

Ha! Yes, my face was much skinner back then :)

[Matthew Polly]

I was surprised, too, at first. But then I realized that the school was not run by the monks. It was run by government officials. And they love money!

A number of Shaolin monks moved to American and opened schools in SF, Houston, NYC, LA. You could train with one of them.

[Denis Dutka]

Hello Matt! I'm very interested in doing what you did, but I have a question. Why did they want you to pay so much per month? I thought monks lived in the temple and had no need more currency or possessions. Is this true, or is it only portrayed as such in the movies?

I have much respect for what you've done and wish to do it myself. Do you suggest there to be any other form to do this than how you went about it?

Please answer quickly, thanks!

[Matthew Polly]

Thank you. I'm very happy to hear from a traditional Shaolin stylist that you enjoyed my book and found it credible. It is too bad that the modern representation of Shaolin is mostly the flashy wushu forms. I've always thought the traditional forms when practiced properly were the most beautiful.