Shifu Shi Yan Ming Talks Bringing Shaolin Kung Fu To North America, And Being Known As The Hip-Hop Monk

Shifu Shi Yan Ming is widely credited as the man who brought Shaolin Kung Fu to North America – as well as the Hip-Hop Monk, famous for rubbing shoulders with the Wu-Tang Clan.

However, his journey to mastering the discipline didn’t start off quite as glamorous.

In fact, it was his humble background and a brush with poor health that motivated him to bring Shaolin Kung Fu to more people, in the first place.

We sat down with the revered monk to hear more about his journey.

Plus, he opens up about working with the A-list.

Shifu Shi Yan Ming Faced Illness As A Child

There’s no denying that Shifu Shi Yan Ming has achieved incredible feats, during his career – but where did it all begin?

“Shaolin martial arts saved my life,” he smiles.

“When I was a child, I was very sick, so my parents took me to the temple, because they were Buddhists. Since that day, through training and understanding of Ch’an philosophy, I’ve never been seriously sick again.”

The Shaolin warrior monk adds that it’s precisely because of the impact martial arts had on his life that he’s so passionate about helping others use it in theirs.

“I’m very grateful, and I want to share it to help as many people as possible. That’s why I chose to stay in New York City. Everyone from all walks of life comes here, or passes by here. If I can use my precious lifetime to help as many people as I can in New York, then I’m spreading the knowledge to help as many people as I can on earth.”

Mission accomplished, there!

But Today, He’s Known As The Hip-Hop Monk

Among the number of people he’s helped over the years, Shifu Shi Yan Ming counts some pretty well-known disciples in his midst.

There’s a reason he’s called the hip-hop monk, after all!

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Asked about the celebrities he’s worked with, in the past, he breaks into a smile.

“Well, of course, you must be referring to the Wu-Tang Clan, and my friend, brother and disciple, the RZA!”

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Theirs is a bond that went beyond language – especially early on.

“When I first came to the USA, I spoke no English, but somehow we understood each other. It was like Ch’an philosophy: heart to heart, mind to mind. Without speaking, we are speaking. I am so fortunate to have such beautiful people in my life, and to have created such amazing memories.”

Pressed for some of those memories, he laughs that they’ve been just as A-list as one might imagine.

“[Bobby Diggs] used to send me a huge limousine every morning to pick me up from my place for a private lesson at his house. I told him, ‘Bobby! I don’t need such a big car, I’m like an egg just rolling around the huge space!”

That’s not to say he didn’t appreciate the gesture, though.

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Far from it, he smiles, “I know it’s out of respect and love.”

“Bobby is such a wonderful person, and deserves all the success he has in his life.”

And, if the mutual respect wasn’t enough to keep them bonded for life, Shifu laughs that he owes something important to the musician.

“I learned a lot of English from him, you know what I mean? Represent, yo! Wu Tang for the children!”

As for his other celebrity friends and partnerships, the monk smiles that he can’t disclose who he’s working with just yet.

But, he beams, “I’m always training with my longtime disciple and friend, Bokeem Woodbine.”

He Never Anticipated Being Part Of Pop Culture

Despite his connections today, Shifu Shi Yan Ming shares that as a kid, he never imagined he’d become a pop culture figure.

In fact, he reiterates that his goal was always to help others.

“When I was a child, I saw there was a lot of hurt in the world, and I wanted to be a hero. I read the fairytale stories of heroes training hard, then being able to save as many people as possible. That was my goal.”

“I never thought about playing a role in Western pop culture when I was younger. When I was growing up, that didn’t even seem like a possibility. We were just training hard, trying to survive, and we didn’t have much. Then, in 1992, the opportunity came along when I was invited to the first ever Congress-approved Shaolin Monks tour of the USA. I’m very grateful to be here, and I thank Buddha for my life, every day.”