9 Months Train Shaolin Kung Fu, Baji in Shandong, China

"First of all I would like to say that I enjoyed my stay in Tianmeng Kung fu Academy a lot. Although I have stayed only a month, I have managed to get a good insight into this "

"Amazing martial art. Teachers were really good and carrying. Food was over my expectation (please set your mind and stomach for Chinese menu ;)"

"If you arrive in summer it's more crowded, in the winter is quiter but you get more attention. If you'll go for winter, be advice, academy is in the mountains, it's cold. Prepare."

"Loved the surrounding area. Hope to come back again. Good luck Tianmeng. Thanks for having me."

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"I stayed at the academy for 4 months in total from January 2016 to May 2016. My four months there were some of the most fun months I have ever spent doing anything. The manager of the academy was also very helpful in making sure I was able to come to China by helping extend my visa on very short notice and right before Chinese New Year which is an extremely busy time for China. The people at the academy, the chef, Shifus, translators and students alike all were very welcoming, great and funny people in general. The atmosphere at the academy is very fun and cheerful thanks to the people. I was also able to greatly improve my fitness which was one of the main reasons I attended. At first the idea of training in China for such a long time was a worrisome prospect and I was very nervous but after the first few days I was so glad to have booked for four months. Aside from the academy the surrounding areas are interesting and fun to explore with new found friends or by yourself. The locals are friendly and problems hardly ever arose during my stay. As my time there got closer to ending I truly regretted not being able to book my stay for longer and I will definitely be returning."

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"From the very first email i sent Dawei to the day he dropped me off, he was quick to respond, friendly, and helpful, which made my choice of school and my planning very easy. The masters were extremely experienced and helped me every step of the way from my first day to my last.I trained in Basic Shaolin fist forms and Sanda, Tai Chi ,Qigong, meditation a staff form, and Bagua. By the time i left i had a very solid grasp on the basic movements and stretching and my strength and fitness had increased dramatically. The training facilities were a mix of traditional and new, which really worked for me, and the camp itself is basic, but very comfortable so a great balance of feeling like your in a Jackie Chan movie, but with a decent room and WiFi.The staff and other students were all friendly, supportive, and helpful, and i enjoyed my experience immensely. I would not hesitate to recommend this academy to martial artists of any level or complete beginners like myself and hope to return there soon. Please don't hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions or need any advice whatsoever (georgedevereux2012@hotmail.ca)."

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"I am Antoniya from Bulgaria. I've trained in the academy 3 times, 2015 - 3 weeks, 2014 - 4 weeks and 2013 - 6 weeks. I really hope that this routine will continue in the future too. I am very thankful to Tianmeng Academy for the great experience I always have there and the opportunity to meet such wonderful Masters.I' ve learned a lot at the school and the most important that I have learned is that Kung Fu is a commitment for the whole life, it's an investment you make to your body, soul and spirit, which will definitely reward you back! Gratitude to David, Master Wang Guiliang, Grand Master Han Baiguang, Master Liu, and the whole team of Tianmeng Academy.I will be glad to answer to some questions and share more of my experience in China for those who are interested. Do not hesitate to contact me at antonia_stoianova@yahoo.com."

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"I would just like to thank you (David) and the rest of your team for having me for the month at Tianmeng Kung Fu Academy. Everyone was really friendly, hospitable, and really helpful. Although I didn't stay for long I feel like I got good exposure to a variety of Kung Fu styles while I was here.The Sifus were really knowledgeable and patient towards all the students. The translators made the communication barriers a lot easier, the food was great and everyone was very welcoming. It was a great time to visit with snow covering Tianmeng mountain. I would definitely recommend training here if you visit China and would love to return someday soon."

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"I have stayed for one year at Tianmeng Academy from December 2014 to December 2015. This has been an amazing experience. David the manager was very helpful from when I sent him the very first email asking for information and has made Tianmeng Academy a comfortable home for me for the last year.I have met a lot of amazing people and made a lot of friends, both international and Chinese. I am generally a positive person and I came to China with an open mind knowing I would experience different food, living conditions, and culture. This is what I was looking for.I have enjoyed all of it and I have no complaints about anything. I am sad to be leaving what has been my home for the last year and hope to visit again some day. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me at abdul.elghobashy@hotmail.com."

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"I've spent two months at the academy and I had a really good time there. I will not say what is good and what is bad about the academy, because everyone has his own opinion, I will just say what my impressions about this two months are: First of all if you have decided to come all the way to China to learn Kung Fu, do not expect a five stars hotel.The place is simple but nice and cozy. I feel like home here. The food is simple but nutritious with a lot of vegetables. If you feel you need more protein than what is offered you should bring your own. The rooms are nice, clean, and comfortable, and the training rooms enough for your development. One thing to keep in mind is: you are here for training. Everything you need to develop your body and mind you will find here.The masters (shifus) are really good, and wherever you have questions during the training they will help you. Also, there are people from all around the world, so you will not only learn Kung Fu, but a little bit of every country. Before you decide to come to the academy, set your mind for training and for success, but there is no success without pain and hard work (that is why Kung Fu means work hard), do not expect to become Bruce Lee in a few months, but if you push yourself you will for sure overcome your own limits."

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"I was happy to practice Kung Fu in Tianmeng Kung Fu Academy for more than 2 month; this is really a great place to stay. The Academy is special because of the friendly atmosphere and a pleasant natural environment. I have got a Chinese grandmother, my sister lives in China so I have spend a lot of time in this country visiting different martial arts schools before I found the right place - Tianmeng Kung Fu Academy.First day when you arrive here, you feel at home. The dorms and all the facilities of the Academy are convenient, clean, and comfortable. There are really big martial arts schools, with over then 900 students. Decuples usually have a hard life in such places, because of the bad food quality, air, water, and crowded dorms.I really enjoyed staying in a nice single room with a window. We have got two big training rooms for practicing during the raining time; soon the new roof is going to be build and one terrace for practicing under the roof.Concerning practicing Kung Fu, I liked the way of teaching of our two masters. In another schools, masters normally do not teach students, very young instructors do that. We have got two masters and they normally teach the group of 15 till 20 students.Every student gets an individual plan for practicing based on his/her wishes, body condition and a previous training experience. I am a student of Liu Sifu, who is a great master, regular takes part in the competitions and is able to teach students in every Kung Fu style.It was important for me because, I wanted to learn Wudang Tai Chi, which is really seldom in Shaolin. During the training, students have no difficulties to understand masters because we have got a great translator in the school, his name is Dodo, and soon we will have a second female translator.Dodo is not only a translator, but also our Magic Box, helping with every question, especially concerning internet, online shopping, telephone cards, and booking tickets. Being able to communicate in Chinese, I know the difficulties of translators life, so anybody who says that he could do his job better should try to translate from Chinese local language into English and have fun.Concerning meals in the Academy, they are pretty good. Cooks make fresh and a healthy food with a lot of rice, vegetables, and tofu three times a day. We have got a great new cook, who will make traditional dumplings twice a week, so that everybody can enjoy the delicious Chinese food. Individual diets are accepted, for me as a vegetarian, it was very important.Well, we cannot compare European living standards with Chinese, and I think we should not do so, because we come to China to learn traditional Chinese culture and martial arts. Everybody who is looking for a great Kung Fu experience and would like to engage his/her health is warmly welcome to join our Kung Fu family."

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"I found this academy simply beautiful. The shifus are really good. To be here, learn and watch them performing you can totally understand what it means practice Kung Fu.The training is completely different from the occidental one. Here you learn what it means to feel tired and what does it take to hold on and work hard. About the food, I can just say that you will not find the same food of western restaurants, but typical Chinese dishes.People here are just amazing, its like a big family and we usually push each other to do every day better. Im really happy to have chosen this academy and Im pretty sure you will not regret if you do the same."

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"I will start by saying that I really enjoyed the time I spent at the academy and in China. Tianmeng Kung Fu academy, despite being a little rough around the edges, definitely supported a very family-centric atmosphere.Most of the people that I met during my stay at the academy were very like minded and supported each other through both the training and their own personal development during the time they spent there. The meals were mostly traditional style Chinese food, which I enjoyed, though additional sources of protein in the meals would be great to compliment the daily training.The Shifus that taught during the time that I was there were both very knowledgeable, each with their own their own teaching methods, and vast knowledge of the different elements and sub styles of Kung Fu. During my stay of 6 weeks, I think I only trained for about 5 weeks, taking some time during the middle of my stay to spend a few days in Linyi City, located 2 hours bus ride from the academy.During the 5 weeks of training, I managed to learn a short Shaolin Fist form, a 40 step Tai Chi form and a tiger style form. The only real qualms I had during my stay were with our dorms air-conditioner which didnt work for the duration of my stay, though I think it got fixed the day I left; and the bed I had was a bit difficult to sleep on for the first few nights until I got used to it, a combination of sore muscle and the most solid bed in the academy. Overall, I enjoyed my stay, and am considering visiting China again soon."

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"I had a wonderful time in the academy. I signed in for a month. I met really good people all over the world. The training is really good and you got in physical shape really fast. I learned mostly basic Kung Fu kicks, jumps, punches, and several Kung Fu forms.The master is really good with amazing flexibility and professionalism. I don't care much about how good things look but how I feel the place and people here. I should say it is very friendly and peaceful place.I just had problems with my hard bed. However, overall it is really nice place to get in shape physically and mentally, especially accompanied with some books related to Buddhism, and of course to learn Kung Fu. One could find really friendly atmosphere here. I liked the place a lot."

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"I spent one week in Tianmeng Academy and it was a really interesting experience. Here, I met a lot of fantastic people from every part of the world that share my same love for martial arts. I worked hard under the guide of a great sifu that showed us how Kung Fu could be wonderful and inspiring.I learnt a lot about Chinese culture and tradition, and I saw wonderful place that I will never forget. I took this experience in my heart and I really hope to have the chance to come back again in China and study again all the interesting styles that this academy offers."

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"The academy is not a bad place, but a lot of what is advertised is just not there. The manager/owner is a nice man, but untrustworthy. The rooms were advertised as air conditioned, which they did not allow us to turn on, they said they could provide a fan. Then I was instructed to buy my own and they would reimburse me, which then then refused to do.The food is the biggest complaint from the students, there is not enough substance to train 8 hours a day. They refused to separate meat for Muslims and vegetarians. One student was even told to pay extra to make his own vegetarian food, (which he already bought himself). Some students leave go to a restaurants after the academy food has been served.The academy is not situated by a beautiful lake, and is in fact next to a pig sty. Meaning the students are only meters away from a huge pile of excrement when they are sleeping and relaxing. It smells very bad. The lake is a separate business a mile down the road.Many different styles of Kung Fu are advertised, by up to 5 different masters. There is one head master and his understudy, who teach the students generically. Meaning people who have gone to study Tai Chi and meditation are learning the more combative Kung Fu, and vise versa.The skill and knowledge level of the 2 master is exceptionally high, and I would be surprised if there was a better master/Sifu/Instructor in China. The evening lessons are very random. Sometimes it just involves looking at google images. Water is no provided for the 3 training sessions a day, nor drinks provided with meals. The master sometimes leaves the training to make phone calls.The private rooms, despite the smell, are very comfortable. The problem is that all these little things add up, and many students cut there time short, or go to another academy. (That is not to say there are not students who extend).The owner has been editing the reviews and removing the negative comments. I would like to see the academy do well and and I wish it no harm. But people are traveling a long way to go to somewhere they think is 10/10. This involves a lot of money and time. I just believe they deserve a honest overview before they set off. David proved a few times he is not an honest man."

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"Im 22 years old and I live in Austria. I have been interested in martial arts my entire life, but due to growing up in a small village in the middle of no-where, I never had the opportunity to make this dream come true.This summer, I had some time off and saved up enough money to go out and make it a reality. I read many good reviews about Tianmeng Academy online and it didnt take long for me to make the decision to come to this place.Living on the countryside beneath beautiful mountains makes for the perfect environment to train Kung Fu. The masters are extremely knowledgeable about many different styles. You can choose whichever styles you want to learn and the masters will be able to teach them to you.They have many, many years of experience. The students who have been here for a while will be glad to help you with anything you need, which makes you feel welcome in the family. The food is simple but good. You will be eating a lot of rice and vegetables!The showers are clean and the western-style toilets are a real pleasure. Once you come to China you will learn to appreciate this. It is a pity that I was only able to stay for one month and if I had more time, I would have definitely wanted to extend my stay!"

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"I was in the academy for six weeks. It was a great experience. The place was perfect for training. The academy was situated in a quiet village close to a small town. We trained hard and our masters were very good. I had never pushed myself so hard before. I was just very surprised about the manager, he did not tell me the truth about many things.He told me that it is possible to choose a kind of training I am interested in, but finally everyone did the same kind of training. The website does not tell the truth either. It mentions five masters but there were only two. The food was the same day everyday and we were not provided with the basic equipment (toilet paper).These are the bad points of my experience. Many things were not as I was initially told by manager and it seems that all he cares about is the money.PS: Someone does modifications to the students reviews and the academy looks perfect, but its totally wrong. Be careful."

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"I am Fraser Edwards-Cleaves, 21, from United Kingdom. I joined 1 month training from 2nd May 2015.My time at Tianmeng academy was throughly enjoyable. In the month I was here I learnt one Shaolin form, one Chngqun form, one Shaolin staff form and one Tai Chi form.I studied under Guo Sifu and Liu Sifu; both of whom have incredible knowledge and skill of Chinese Kung Fu. Their patience and understanding during training cannot be undervalued as they will help you to perfect the moves, not matter how long it takes. Guo Sifu and Liu Sifu were able to provide me with the perfect balance of learning the Kung fu basics and forms during my short time here. The other students at the academy have been incredibly friendly and helpful, creating a learning culture where by no one has yet to say no when asked for help, whether it be in Kung Fu matters or other issues.The location of the academy resides on the edge of a rural village, part way up a mountain. The closest town is Zhangzhuang, where you can buy extra supplies of most things. The local area means students can train in a peaceful environment, and focus on their Kung Fu. The area provides students with plenty of mountains to hike and sights to see. My time at Tianmeng has been an experience, and one that I wish to repeat."

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"I found about Tianmeng Academy through BookMartialArts, and have stayed in the academy for two months in August 2014. During my time, I learned one Tai Chi form, two Meihua Quan forms, and a Shaolin sword form. The Masters here are excellent, not only with their Kung Fu but their teaching methods, and characters are all exemplary. Everyone is really helpful and friendly, and if you ever need anything, all you have to do is ask! All in all it was a once in a lifetime experience. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is interested in Kung Fu!"

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"The masters are really good, the training is hard but they adapt the exrcises to your capacity, and your desires. if you come with an open spirit, and train hard, you will improve, learn a lot, and be surprised of your own abilities. The masters, translators, staff, and all the students are really nice, they are ready to help with anything you could need. If you decide to come here, get ready to train hard, and discover another world, and you will enjoy your stay!"

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"To say that my time here at Tianmeng has been well spent is an understatement. I have been able to improve myself far beyond my expectations before coming here, and I still have 3 months of training left to go. As someone who previously could not even run a mile, the training was at first very tough. but by sticking to it, and listening to the masters, I've been able to change my body condition so much for the better. Running now, especially hill runs, feel much easier than when I first arrived.Being able to learn martial arts in the countryside of China with great, like-minded, and supportive people is simply amazing. This is a special time for me largely because of some people I've been lucky enough to meet out here. Whether we are training, travelling or just relaxing, everyone is very caring, and helpful and this provides a good atmosphere to train in. This experience is one that I hope that I will never forget!"

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"I dreamed about travelling to China to train Wushu, Wing Chun, and improve my Tai Chi. Tianmeng Academy was the perfect place for me to allow me to train in these martial arts styles. They also have other teachings which I have also started to train in such as hard Qi Gong, and Meihua Quan. The academy provides you with all the tools needed in improving yourself.Training rooms are large and the meditation room is perfect to improve your Qi when you have free time. There are also set in a perfect location allowing you to get into the city in your free time to buy all your needs for the week such as drinks, and food.The Masters are amazing and helpful and do no mind helping out in their own time so that I could improve my form quicker. I have been here for 2 months and will continue to train for another 7. So far I am happy, and enjoying my stay here with the rest of the academy!"

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"Hello there, young reader! As mentioned above, my name is Borgar, a 20 year old northman who practiced Kung Fu at Tianmeng Kung Fu Academy for three months, and golly, was that a time to rejoice over! I decided to go to China and train Kung Fu more or less on a whim (although, granted, the thought had been in the back of my mind for quite some time) as I realized that I suddenly had some free time between the end of my studies in June and my obligatory year of service in the army, come January.So, I checked the possibilities of travel, places to stay, and, of course, to train. I quickly came across this academy, contacted them, booked my flights, got my Visa, quit my part time job, and that was it. It all took me less than a month. During my time at the academy I have sweated, stumbled, bleed, grown in strength both physically and mentally, and experienced what it feels like to be taught Kung Fu at this academy, and it is an experiance that I shall bring with me through my life.I have learned one and a half form of Tai Chi, the Chinese Fist (a Shaolin form, the most exhausting and longest form I have ever been put through), Mei Wua Wushu and Shua Mei Wua, and a spear form. The masters are all lovely creatures with their own personality, styles and expertise, and it is clear from day one that they actually do wish to see you progress throughout your training, and they tend to make room for the best type of training suited for you specifically, the sort of training that you wish to learn.The accommodations are simple: you get your own room with a bed, a nightstand, a closet and a cupboard. You'll also get a couple of towels, of course. The food is quite nice, and mostly nourishing, but sometimes rather repetitive. Get ready to eat a lot of rice!The two chefs that's been here, and that I got too know, were rather decent persons: they both cared a lot about us personally. Say, if you were served a dish that you did not fancy they'd gladly make you a new, but simple dish. And, if they knew you well, they might hide an extra egg or loaf of bread for you, all depending on what you fancy.If you should wish to come here at the academy, I highly recommend you to start training now, at the most basic level. Do push-ups, sit-ups more or less daily, and go for a jog every now and then. Prepare, as the first week or two is always hard for new students here. The training is tough, but so will you become if you fight through it. I wish you well on your forthcoming adventure, and if there are any questions on your mind I'd do my best to remedy that, as long as you contact me per mail: borgar_aa@hotmail.com."

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"Before I go too deep on my pros and cons, one must question as to why they want this sort of adventure. That is what it is, limitless potential if that is what you seek. Confused with life in the fast lane? Lost a bit of yourself somewhere and looking to rebuild? Interested in a defence and power combo all in one? Then do what your heart might be telling you because this trip is guaranteed to provide. Willing that you adapt to environment, culture, and inner focus.Take the bull by the horns and use every second to fuel the fire with Qi Gong, conditioning, and whatever else is thrown at you. I came with no clue, I left knowing my strength. Now fear no external threats, except failure. Simply because I made this the changing point, anybody is capable. I would advise this greatly. Staff are great, very friendly, strong with their culture, and they deserve the chance to learn about our way of life. Important to be independent and open to others who are like minded and enthusiastic. Go for it!"

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"I had a fantastic time at Tianmeng Kung Fu Academy, the training in a fun and tranquil environment was more than I could have hoped for. The school obviously attracts like minded people which I found really gave the place a good spirit and family outlook. The rural setting on the outskirts of a wee village on the mountainside is perfect. The organic food was good living in such a farming area. I thoroughly enjoyed the Kung Fu training all aspects were ideal from meditation to stretching although I think they went easy on me due to my ageing joints. Thank you all at the school - keep up the good work."

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"It is not a regular event to go to a foreign country to train martial arts, but I would recommend this school if you decide to go on this great journey. The change that can and will happen here in two months is unbelievable; mentally and physically. The training is hard and you get pushed to your limits by the different Sifus, but they also understand that some things are not possible.You come here to improve yourself and you will with these wonderful people. It is a simple life in and around the school so dont expect too much, but there is everything you need. You have western toilets, decent bathrooms, private rooms, and beautiful surroundings to train in. The relationship between the students grows fast and you are welcomed with open arms by each and every one. It is wise to listen to the students who have trained there already for a while to make your stay a lot easier.Everyone is happy to show you around, tell you how the customs works and are glad to help you in any way they can. After a couple of weeks of basic training, I chose to learn staff forms. But I also trained in Xiao mei hua, mei hua wushu, and shaolin and taiji forms. I also learnt how to break bricks with my hands and break staffs on my back too.If you have any special requests about the training, they are willing to change the schedule to suit what you want to learn but most of the time you are required to attend the classes for that day. Every Sifu teaches differently, so you can choose which training is the most suitable for you too. If you come to this school with an empty mind, a good willing spirit, a healthy attitude and the motivation to improve yourself then you shall have an wonderful time and experience."

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"I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent training at Tianmeng Shaolin Kungfu Academy. Initially I found some of the training & drills to be quite arduous, but the teachers were all quite understanding & able to help me tailor & streamline my training regime so that I could focus on the facets of training I wanted to learn & the Sifus are very skilled, thorough & helpful with their instruction, enabling me to make the best of the short time I spent here.The staff & other students are very warm, helpful & friendly, and I had a wonderful experience & would definitely recommend Tianmeng Shaolin Kungfu Academy to anyone thinking of studying kungfu in China. Thank you David, Uncle Chen, Gua Sifu, Hua Sifu, Arnold, Elsa, and all the other wonderful students who help out, you made it a wonderful experience for me in Shandong!"

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"My two boys and I enjoyed our time at Tianmeng Shaolin training academy. I found the staff friendly and helpful and the instructors patient and dedicated. I liked the variety if training available although we were not there for long enough to sample it all. Next time we will stay for longer."

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"Since I was a kid I always had a big interest for Kung Fu movies and this interest hasn't changed even now when I'm not a kid anymore. Planing a 3 month adventure traveling in SE Asia and China I didn't need much time to come to a conclusion that I want to experience real Kung Fu training while staying in China. Two weeks seemed to little and one month just perfect so I decided to search for a school where that is possible. Checking Tianmeng Shaolin Kung Fu Academy site gave me good impressions and having my private room was one of the important aspects so I didn't need much time to sign up.I arrived in a rather bed or average physical shape so the first days seemed quite hard but all within the limits. The masters try to push you a bit more then you are willing to push yourself and thats how I find it right. After two weeks I already felt the physical improvements and after one month even more. I wanted to get more insight into Wing Chun and learn a form or two with a weapon and as expected the program was customized as I wished. I wanted some changes regarding the food and that was sorted out after just expressing my demands.The staff really tries to take care that you are satisfied and comfortable staying in the academy with the exception of trainings...there is not much comfort in that, rather after that as a consequence. Masters are all great and Sifu Hua (Tianmeng Headmaster) someone I will never forget. Seeing him perform and do the things he can do, you can see real and authentic Kung Fu that is just beyond your imagination. Having a master like that is just legendary! After training one month in this school I am satisfied to be part of this fascinating culture and this way of life. Highly recommend to all Kung Fu enthusiasts who want to experience authentic Kung Fu."

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"So far my stay at this academy has been really good. Everyone here are very welcoming; the other students and the Sifus. The Sifus push you but they want you to do better and you will improve a lot in fitness, flexibility, and strength. The training does work your whole body, its not easy and there is pain in places that you wouldnt think you would have pain but in the end you do get a lot out of it.The Sifus are also very supportive with your goals that you want to achieve, forms that you want to do and any problems whether it is personal or to do with the training. They are all willing to help and want you to also enjoy you stay here. I have found that the power stretching classes really helped improve my flexibility and Ive realised that when you are more flexible you are able to do more things.Also learning about all the different styles of Kung Fu was really interesting because you learn so much here and you also learn many things about the Kung Fu and Chinese culture, which are so so different from western cultures. The people I have met here have been unforgettable. I have made really good friends here, the other students come from different parts of the world and it has been a pleasure to get to know them.I have been here for a few months and have learnt and improved so much, but I know there is still so much more to learn. I do recommend this academy to anyone who is interested in learning Kung Fu in China; the area is great, you get your own room, you train hard, and the Sifus have a lot of great knowledge to share."

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"My experience at the Academy was definitely a positive one. I found the staff, particular helpful, especially, David the school manager. He sent me directions written in Chinese script to get me from the airport to the train station in downtown Beijing. All I had to do was show someone my help me sheet and they would point me in the right direction.The mountain location was just amazing. I visited during January through February and it was cold. Going up the mountain to the temple was a challenge but I made it and the view from the top was worth it.The water park down the hill from the Academy has its own charm and would be a wonderful place to visit with the Grands when the weather is warmer.The training was rigorous and at 57 years young I will finally admit to being just a little past my prime. Four weeks later I do feel rested and even though a little ache in the joints I am in better shape. The single room was very good and the food was delicious. All in all I would say whatever your age this is one for the must do list."

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"We are Lele and Mattia from Italy. We have been here for 1 month from January 5th 2015. During this time we learned 1 Tai Chi form, 2 Mei Hua Quan forms, 1 sword form, and 1 eagle fist form. The Tianmeng Academy is a good place to improve your mind and your body.We are in the nature and in mountain, and every week you can climb a different mountain where there is a pagoda or a temple, or you can go to the water park. We practiced Qi Gong and hard Qi Gong and the Sifus can teach to you a lot of training for improve yourself.Every days push-ups, sit-ups, and jog on the mountain or to the water park. The staff is friendly and the Sifus are qualified. Every time there are two Sifus, but if you need something special the staff can call another Sifu to teach to you a particular form of style. If you need something they can help you (for a trip, book tickets train/flight, food, etc.).The accommodation is simple with the bed, the nightstand, the closet, the heater, the chair, and in the winter, most important, the electric blanket. The food is nice, the chef is helpful if you are vegetarian. Thank you for the opportunity! Enjoy!"

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"My visit to Tianmeng Kung Fu Academy January 17 - 21, 2015. I accompanied my 19 year old son to China to Tianmeng Kung Fu Academy, a path of his dreams. It took quite a bit of convincing, many hours of online reading of reviews, and finally trusting my sons instincts, to say yes to this unusual path.After four days of living at the academy and participating in activities at Tianmeng, I left my son in China without a worry. The manager, David, is wonderful. David would likely tell you that I sent him many email questions before we arrived in China. He answered every email promptly and thoroughly.David reassured me that everything would be ok. From questions about illnesses, mosquitoes, clothing, weather, travel, visa, showers, and hot water, David answered every question. He is a person of great patience and bottomless optimism, with a wonderful smile.David is the main reason I left China confident about my sons safety and experience in China. David assisted us with opening a bank account and getting a local cell phone in China. Without telling you details, I witnessed Davids effective handling of complicated issues about foreigners with such matters. Still, he had a ready smile at the end of the day.As for the Academy, two things impressed me the most:1. Quality of the other 10 students. The students were from Finland, Italy, England, France, Australia, Egypt and USA. I spoke to most of the students, their determination to fulfill their personal goals impressed me. I witnessed this determination as they woke up to a disciplined morning line up and warm up run, followed by a full day of training and stretching. Fatigue and physical pain puts all to an early bedtime.2. Quality of the master teachers, Sifus I was fortunate to meet 3 teachers - masters of Kung Fu, Tai Chi, and Qi Gong. My heart dropped when I saw each teacher in class. I witnessed mastery of each field of practice. I could not believe the quality of these master teachers. Impressive.Bottom line. I was a very worried mother before China. I left China without a worry. I also left knowing my son would have one of the most amazing experiences of his life at Tianmeng. I knew he would mature into a strong and confident adult in the hands of true master teachers and among passionate and determined friends from all over the world."

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"I have all in all had a great time here. I have been here for one month and have learnt a lot of new skills; including tai chi, chi gong, kung fu forms, pole movements, balancing exercises, amazing ways to stretch and gain strength as well as self-defence tactics. I take away with me various practices that I want to continue working on in my daily life and a much stronger and healthier body."

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"I arrived on 25/03/17 and was unsure of exactly what to expect. I was instantly put at ease - the staff and students I met were friendly and helpful, and I felt like I'd made a good choice. Initially I had booked to stay for a month but ended up staying 2 months, and would have stayed longer if I could! The school is in a beautiful rural location, and has all the necessary amenities."

"The Sifus are very knowledgeable and amazing at what they do. If you put the work in and train hard, the more you will benefit. I learnt more than I had expected, including several forms, weapons, and some Plum Blossom Fist. The daily schedule is well laid out and includes various forms of training, including weights, cardio, stretching etc."

"I made some amazing friends here, learnt loads, and left feeling fitter, stronger, and more flexible. I enjoyed it so much I am looking to return later in the year!"

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"Tianmeng Academy probably is one of the most international places I have encountered, surrounded by the most un-international surroundings imaginable. It is hidden in an idyllic location surrounded by hills and mountains in the depths of Shandong province. I have made friends for a lifetime, I strengthened body and mind, and managed to get a small glimpse at what Chinese culture is. Definitely to be back."

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"I have stayed here for a little bit more than 4 month in total 1 and a half month last year and 3 month this year. "

"I am 27 years old and have traveled over most of the world to see different cultures and learn new skills. And I absolutely love Tianmeng academy. I have visit some other schools in china, but remained at Tianmeng. For some simple reasons I will list below. for me it was very important to find the right school before I left my family for 1 year to train. a school that shares the same values as me and also trains me in a correct way. "

"Everyone Have single rooms here so everyone have the opportunity to be well rested and I general just nice to be able to shut your door, after being around other people all day. "

"The sifus here actually provides a individual chase by chase training that match your level and creates exactly what I need, my main focus was Taiji and sanda, something that is hard to find in the same place as they are the exact opposite. So here I have a young master who can push me and punch me and a older master who skill fully can guide me and push me to reach my peak within the forms."

"I feel like this is my home any problem I have David(the manager) takes care of if it is Buying extra fruits for students sorting out a visa, recommending a restaurant, anything I could imagine. also when accidents have happened it is easy to see that we stick together as one unit and are not on our own in china with their interesting laws and confusing systems. "

"My fellow students, are good to accommodate new people and I instantly felt welcomed and at ease, everyone trains hard, even people who may have trouble with the physical aspects are taken good care of by both students and shifus. So they fell included and supported. During my stay we have had students who were Muslims, Hindus, Christians and atheist and all live together and have space to be free to believe and be who they are. Something I personally value very high."

"All in all I cannot recommend this school enough, it is no a 5 star hotel and we are in china, yes the food is different and yes the living conditions are different. but for students who really want to learn Kungfu and work on them self this is the ideal place to do so. Super excited to be here, and to see what will happen In the next month of my stay!"

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"Joining the Tianmeng Academy for one month( from May 1) was one of the best decisions in my life. I wish i could stay longer, because one month is clearly not enough. You don't only learn Kungfu, you also grow by heart. I met a lot of wonderful people here, whom i definitely keep in touch. Lots of love, Alice "

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"I had a really great time at the Tianmeng academy and I made some progress in Kung fu. We learned new hand forms, weapon forms, made a lot of conditioning. Now they are extending the facilities and building, so it will be an even nicer place. I will bring my daughter next time."

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"I have spent the past two months at Tianmeng Academy training Kung Fu. While the time here has gone by fast, I will remember my experiences here for many years. The academy is small but the Shifus (Kung Fu Masters) are dedicated to both their practice and their students. The work is hard, there are many different forms and disciplines to learn while at the academy and you will spend time learning which you prefer. I came to love the nine-section staff also called the whip. Hiking the mountain and training in quiet nature here was one of my favorite parts about Tienmeng Academy. The staff is always helpful and quick to offer tips and guidance. It doesn’t have the luxuries of the west but if you love kung fu or are interested in trying something new and challenging this is the place for you."

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"First of all i felt really wonderful to be there and very pleased to be a part of the academy. I loved the place where academy is located, far from the city area, plus point is the fresh environment. Guru's were strict at first but at the off time they were very friendly and lovely person from inside. Stream cold environment is disadvantage but i will cherish my every learning and the memories of being there."

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"My second time staying at Tianmeng has been just as rewarding. The place has the same great feel and very welcoming staff and the food has improved! I love the area surrounding the academy and there is ample exploring to be done. During my stay I visited a hot springs resort for a few days with scorching hot water and more than 20 hot baths. I highly recommend this little getaway for a relax and a break from training. The training is what you make of it, so ask lots of questions and stay motivated. Next time I plan to stay longer and dig deeper into Kung Fu movements."

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"Had a wonderful time at Tianmeng Academy and would highly recommend it. Wonderful people, an amazing shifus and an absolutely lovely aunt Li the cook. I shall miss the place and my fellow students who made this month such an uplifting and unforgettable experience. "

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"Hello My name is Diego from Chile, I stayed one month in Tianmeng academy in this short period of my stayed im very satisfy with all what I have learnt and accomplished, all the Shifu are very kind and experienced and they are always willing to help you to improve and you can see that in their faces that you are making progress, also what makes the academy a pleasant stay are all the students, we live in a very friendly and supportive atmosphere that makes you really feel like a Kung fu family, we all support and help each other in learning and in our stay in here, in the academy we have two translators always there to help all the students to communicate with the Shifus. I came here to discover what really is Chinese Kung fu, I wanted to absorb as much as I could and learn as much as possible, but then I realized it is a slow learning curve, you will find it and fit yourself as you learn, in my case I learnt a weapon (da dao) and I learnt one form, also most of the basics kicks, stances and forms, qigong, taiji, meditation,and mei hua quan, I learnt as well how to feel and use our dantian qi. I still feel my stay was too short and there are a lot to improve and to learn, but I am planning to come back soon J. Training are hard and there wasn’t a day I didn’t feel tired or sored from training, you only do as you can but Shifus and classmates are always there to encourage you and get the best out of you. I got used to the training routine and I feel changes not only in my body and legs flexibilities but also in my forms and sleeping. I would totally recommend the academy to anybody interested in Chinese Kung fu. The academy is located in a beautiful place surrounded by mountains and a beautiful sky at night time away from all the city noise and pollution. I also want to profusely thank to Gu Shifu for all his dedication and patience during my stay. "

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"I stayed at the academy for about 6 weeks. My time here has been spectacular and the academy has surpassed all my expectations. The setting is as good as it gets as it is in a rural area, within a 10 minute walk to the base of the Tianmeng mountains. There are so many beautiful places to do Tai Chi and train Kung fu. At night the sky is full of stars and is really an amazing sight to see. When I arrived at the academy I was greeted by many friendly students and it wasn’t long before I felt like I fit right in. The sifus are extremely talented and have so much patience and attention to our training. I felt like they really wanted me to succeed and I have taken away many useful things from the academy. The equipment is cool as it is very traditional, lifting rocks and large pots, walking on poles to improve balance, and they also have Sanda equipment we can use, also a large variety of weapons you can practice with. The training was tough but you are able to progress at a pace that suits you. I continued to push myself every day and I was seeing amazing results. I really want to come back and train here again but will try for a longer period of time. I think if you are coming here aim to stay as long as possible to really change your body and have the time to absorb the sifus knowledge as there is so many brilliant things to learn. I recommend this school for anyone who is serious about learning Kung fu or who wants to develop them self into a better person. I will never forget my time here."

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"I arrived at the academy and straight away felt at home. Everyone was very welcoming and friendly, and encouraging during training. Everyone was there for their own reasons; from learning kung fu to personal wellbeing, from improving their health to trying something. The academy proved useful to anyone and everyone. The training was tough but very rewarding, I learnt a lot. I practiced Meihua quan, grappling, qi gong, tai chi, various fist forms and a sword form, and so much more. The Shifu’s knew more than I could ask them, and enjoyed teaching as much as I enjoyed learning. Their experience was so vast, it allowed for personal training where you could specialise in a specific style of kung fu. The facilities were basic but effective. They weren’t over complicated and really allowed you to train to the fullest. I would highly recommend the academy to anyone. From the first to the last day I felt part of the tianmeng family, and I’m looking forward to returning again to further my training."

"Hope the filming for television went well, and I look forward to seeing all the videos. I look forward to coming back to train again at the academy"

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"I’ve stayed at the Tianmeng Academy for 1 month. At the beginning it took some getting used to the change in culture and environment. However both the students and the teachers gave me the feeling that I belonged at the Academy and welcomed me with open arms. This made me feel at home really fast. After 3 days I felt like I belonged here and from there the time flew by. The training days are long and quite heavy. I can’t remember a single day where I didn’t feel ant muscle ache. The training sessions are hard but accessible for everyone, both beginners as experts. I really enjoyed the diversity in training. A lot of different styles are being taught, together with power- and endurance training. I have learned a lot from this experience, both about Kung Fu as about myself. If anyone is considering to make this trip as well, I would encourage them to do so."

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"I stayed at Tianmeng Academy over the summer for four months. This was my first time in China. There were three Shifus at the school during my stay. Each Shifu offered different styles of Kung Fu training. I found every Shifu to be very knowledgeable and proficient in Kung Fu. I was able to learn tai chi, qi gong, Shaolin, and Mehuia kung Fu. There was often a tendency for training to become unfocused. Students are allowed to slack off. The school, however, held some meetings and is working to make training more serious. Training is good if you pay attention and work hard, I learned a lot."

"The school facilities are good. Having a single bedroom is nice. The room is small and cozy. The wifi is slow and unreliable, but I was not here to browse the internet. The bathrooms are fine, western toilets, private shower stalls and everything kept clean enough. The kitchen underwent a major re-hall while I was here and it is now very nice. The food is fine and provides what you need. Foreigners may have to adjust to the Shandong style cooking."

"The location of the school is excellent. The surrounding mountains and farmland is beautiful and peaceful. This area is very enjoyable for hiking and exploring. The city is only a short bus ride away if you want to go shopping or escape for a weekend."

"My summer at Tianmeng was overall very enjoyable. The school atmosphere is positive and they provide a good experience. I would return again given the opportunity."

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"I have stayed at the academy for two wonderful weeks. It was a great experience for me. First, the academy itself is really nice, it's more like one family, the atmosphere is very friendly, and from the beginning you feel like home. Second, the academy is surrounded by mountains that makes it extremely beautiful and peaceful. During my stay I trained hard, learned about martial arts, especially about MeiHua Quan, made new friends and had a lot of fun. Third, David, the head of the academy is a very nice and kind person who helped me a lot with every question that I had. Masters of the academy are really good, especially Gu Shifu with his great sense of humor and impressive skills in qinna."

"All in all, I enjoyed every day of staying at the Tianmeng academy. And when I have chance, I'll visit it again."

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"Hello there! This is Josh, 24, from Germany and I just spent a month at Tianmeng Kung Fu Academy here in Feixiang, China. In the last couple months I had developed a n interest in Chinese culture and Martial Arts so I decided to come here and learn right from the source of wisdom. And I must say I had a really nice experience and learned a lot. In the beginning I was a little worried if this was the right thing for me because I was a total beginner in Martial Arts. The first week I got to see all the different styles and therefore got more of a picture of what I wanted to focus on in my time at Tianmeng. I focused a lot on Meditation, Soft and Hard Qi Gong and Kung Fu Forms and Applications."

"I really liked that you could talk to the masters about what you personally would like to focus on and they would take it into consideration and apply the wishes of the students to the training schedule. The academy is located in really nice location with water park, beautiful mountain landscape in walking distance but still not too isolated from bigger cities like Feixian and Linyi, which makes it a really nice place to focus on training during the week while still being able to head to the city on the weekend. All in all, I must say I had a really good time and recommend anyone interested in Martial Arts to come and try it out for themselves."

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"As I am writing this review my last hours in this academy are counting. And I got to say: I gonna miss this place. Before I arrived I had no idea what to expect, since I never ever did Kung Fu before nor had I ever been to China. My previous martial arts experience consists of 4 years of kickboxing in Germany and the idea to come over here spontaneously came to me while travelling in Australia about three months ago. I was a little out of form and shape and seldom did physical exercise while travelling. So I gave it a go and within two weeks after informing myself about the academy and chatting with David about everything I wanted to know (he replied always within a day answered very detailed), I found myself with a valid visa and flight tickets. By the time I finally got here, there were only about 10 students in the academy, what created a very pleasant and familiar atmosphere. Now it’s main season and the academy is inhabited by over 20 students from about 10 nations in all ages from 9 to 44, some staying for months and even years, others only for a few weeks. That’s of course a big group but as we spend all day together, we’re really getting into a “Kung Fu family” relationship, nobody is excluded or on his own."

"With the size of the group, of course, training changes, too. Luckily we currently got three shifus, what enables them to split the groups up during those training lessons where it is necessary. There are more experienced long term students, advanced students and beginners. The shifus pay the same amount of attention to everyone and try to suit the exercises in every lesson on your overall condition and demands. Don’t worry, even if you never did any martial arts and suck at all types of sports, you will improve fast and get into shape if you attend the training every day and follow the shifus’ instructions."

"There is Liu shifu, a high grade master with almost 60 years of Kung Fu experience, who is a great source of knowledge about traditional Kung Fu forms and and the theory and history of it, too! Our second shifu is Wang shifu, a rather young shifu specialized in Qi Gong in Tai Chi. He is an invaluable teacher in these internal styles, masters the Chi perfectly and the truly lives the “kung fu lifestyle”. The third teacher, who just recently joined us, is Gu shifu. An experienced shifu, too, who’s focus lays on grappling, sanda and hard qi gong. The latter is specially remarkable, as he trained his body to be “indestructible” using the Chi and special breathing techniques."

"You can learn almost anything in this school and the shifus are always willing to fulfill individual wishes and answer questions, even after training. Obviously, the focus here lays mainly on traditional Shaolin Kung Fu, Qi Gong, Tai Chi and overall fitness. If you are aware of that and your plan is to learn Shaolin Kung Fu and its related styles, Tianmeng is a real good place to go!"

"What else might you be interested in? Well, your room will be small and there ain’t got a private toilet. The food isn’t what you are used to from your local Chinese restaurant, but it is absolutely convenient and cooked with lots of love. From time to time we visit the street BBQ down the road, so if you can’t live without grilled pork and cold beer, fair enough, you will find it there."

"The evening lessons don’t always take place, but when they do, it’s a welcome alternative to the physical exercise during the day. You don’t want to miss tea ceremony with David…"

"Our two translators are competent and friends to us. They are very helpful, too, when you are planning to travel somewhere on the weekend (what I would personally highly recommend)."

"The surrounding mountains are quite and spiritual places, ideal to hike or chill."

"If you feel like experiencing something new, changing your life: others have done it before and this place helps you finding yourself. You will have a good time at Tianmeng and return home as a different (improved) person. If you return at all…"

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"I went to the Tianmeng Academy for three weeks and I can tell you it was the best experience I've had at any school. I was not expecting the wonderful teachers and helpers as well and the enthusiastic students who were also there to learn all types of martial arts. The facility and teachers encourage you to learn and you won't go home without learning something cool to show your family and friends - from all different types of weapons to all types of martial arts this academy does it all and much more."

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"I stayed for one month and during that time learned a San-da form, soft chi-kung, hard chi-kung and many more about kung fu and also corrected some wrong moves I had from before. Special thanks to the amazing masters Liu Shifu, Gu Shifu, Wang Shifu and academy's manager David, who takes care of everything one might need. I had a pleasure staying and meeting all the students and other personal of the academy."

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"It was a great and satisfying month of training and many fun, thank you Tianmeng ! :)"

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"I spent one month in Tianmeng Academy. I felt like I was at home. The atmosphere is really friendly. The dorms and facilities are clean and comfortable. The place is simple but cozy. All the staff are great and supportive. Liu Sifu is a great Master and teaches very well. In this month, I've learned 2 forms of Shaolin, 1 broadsword form, Wing Chun, Tai Chi 24 form, Qi Gong and a little bit of Bagua. David is really he'pful. Everything you need, he provides it. He is an awesome person. And Emily, our translator, is very kind and she helps us in everything. The meals are simple but pretty good. The chef makes fresh and tasty food. She is awesome and she really cares about us. She is ever asking if everything is good. I`ll miss her dumplings and noodles. Finally, I can say that I'll miss this place and everyone in here. This month I'll never forget. And probably I'll be back next year."

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"My ten days at Tianmeng Academy surpassed my expectations in many ways. It was a privilege to train under two incredibly skilled and knowledgeable shifu masters, and it was great fun training hard alongside a group of enthusiastic, like-minded people. In my short time I was exposed to many different styles of Kung Fu. I was able to learn forms and movements of Tai Chi, Shaolin, Xing Yi, Wing Chun, and Sanda. To achieve so much in so little time is testament to the dedication and experience of the shifus. The academy is a great environment to train in, with everyone encouraging one another to kick higher, punch harder, move quicker (or slower in the case of Tai Chi!), and the surrounding mountains and water park are really beautiful. From the masters, to my fellow students, to David, to the translators, to the cook, everyone was so helpful and friendly – making me feel settled in by my first night. I would definitely consider coming back again in the summer when it’s a bit warmer!"

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"I spent one month training at Tianmeng Academy and it is a time I will never forget. I studied under Guo Sifu and Liu Sifu. They are tough teachers but at the same time they are very patient, kind and understanding. They helped me build my confidence and overcome any doubts I had about myself.Under their tutelage I learned one shaolin staff form, one tai chi form and learned the basics of Sanda. The academy is located up in the mountains, which is ideal for training. Twice a week we would go down to the waterpark to train. The scenery is beautiful and the atmosphere is very enjoyable.Overall I would say that my stay here has helped me grow and mature as a person. I pushed myself harder than I ever have. I came here with no martial arts experience and no idea of the Chinese culture. This is a great place for any beginner in martial arts and for any person who wishes to learn about the Chinese culture. "

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"My name is Giovanni, 51 years old, from Italy. Its always been my dream to learn Chinese traditional Kung Fu Since a long time ago . I made my Kung Fu dream come true this April in Tianmeng. There are many Kung Fu schools in China, and its hard to choose for foreigners indeed. But I felt fortunate that I chose Tianmeng Kung Fu Academy, following a friend.The academy is located in the beautiful mountains. There are two scenic natural parks next to the school where we train every week. All masters are professional with patience, they can teach you different Kung Fu styles which suit you best. They also make a private schedule for you after you arrive. All the students have their own single rooms and one can get good rest after hard training. The food is delicous with rich nutrition.According to my physical condition, Sifu taught me Tai Chi whip-cudgel and Shaolin forms within my one and a half month stay. At the end of my stay, I attended a National Martial Arts Competition held in Heze City, Shandong. I won the first prize in Tai Chi whip-cudgel. I am so proud of it!I definitely will come again next year, hopefully with my son."

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"With this letter I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Tianmeng Academy. I spent two months in the summer of 2013 and 2014. Ive returned to the academy for a second time and I will do that as many times as I am able to. This is not only a Kung Fu school for me, but much more. The atmosphere and the nature are just magical.My life suddenly became easier and inspired at the moment I arrived at the Academy. Kung fu is everywhere and in everything there. As long as you love Kung Fu this is the best place to be! The Academy is made with lots of love, simple but just enough. The owner of the Academy belongs to the Meihua Quan Family, he is taught in a traditional way and that is also the spirit of Tianmeng Academy. Everyone treats you as a part of the Family.For the time spent in the Academy I studied mostly Meihua quan and Bagua Zhang. Both styles are very old and traditional, difficult to learn out of China. I am very motivated to continue my training further with those styles. Master Wang( one of the Masters at the Academy) said: there isnt richer man than me, I have the treasure of the Chinese Kung Fu, now and later I can say that I havent seen a happier and more dedicated person than him. He is 61 years old Master of Tai Chi, Meihua quan and Bagua Zhang at the Academy.David (the manager of the Academy) helped me to meet with Grand Master Han Baiguang, 16th generation Grand Master of Meihua Quan and study from him and his disciples shortly with the opportunity to learn more once I have the chance to come again to China. Now I am writing this letter from home in Dubai (4.09.2014) just back after this adventure but my heart and thoughts are still in China, counting the days to visit the Academy again and the many friends there"

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"Hello everyone i'm Marx from italy i'm 19 years old,Ive been at the academy for almost 3 months, in those months Ive practice kung fu forms with hands and weapons, practice sanda sanshou and qi gong and trained very hard. The academy is one of the best places if you want to start again your life for your body and your mind, it's very healthy for your spirit and you really appreciate the life there.The school has all the things that you need for living you don't need anything more,it has all the training rooms, outdoor spaces, areas for training and all the material for that, the training that you will have there is very authentic. The staff and masters and translators are very friendly and nice but the most important thing is that they are very prepared and qualified, everything you need, just ask, you don't need to be shy there they'll do their best to help you.The evening lessons are very interesting and helpful to understand Chinese culture and language and well done. The surrounding areas is very beautiful, it is the real china and you can see how normal people live, so explore it, try to see every corner of that area and you will know what i'm talking about. if you wanna go to visit other parts of china just talk to them and you can check with them trains hotels flights for your trips in the weekend, china is very easy to travel.Advices: don't bring too much stuff because you can buy everything there for very cheap prices, the training is hard if you train hard, so try to do your best and don't be lazy, if you wanna do a wonderful experience it's all up to you."

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"This year I update my recommendation which I wrote 5 years ago in 2009. A lot has happened since I arrived at the age of 24 first in China. Back then, there was no school terrain yet. A couple of months after my first training, the school properties were bought. Because at that time the school was just created by 2 disciples of Meihua Quan Kung Fu, I was the first and only foreign student.One of the founders graduated from law university and trained a lot of Meihua Quan Kung Fu during his student years, and the other one was an ex-shaolin monk and Sifu who after the performance team of Shaolin decided to embark on a quest to find real/ authentic traditional Kung Fu in China and was close disciple to the Meihua Quan 17th generation Grand Master Shiye Han Baiguang. So, the division was made and one would handle the business side, the other would be the Kung Fu headmaster of the school.When I started training Kung Fu in China 5 years ago I was fairly new to the Chinese Martial Arts. Before I practiced Karate since I was 9 years old and then later switched to try a bit of Capoeira and a bit of Muay Thai. Before going to China, I joined the local Hung Gar (southern Shaolin) Kung Fu School in my city to prepare for a couple of months for the trip to come.In China we started training at the local army training place just north uphill of the school terrain where we train now. The training was great, spectacular surroundings , Chinese food of which you can always fully stuff yourself and a the whole Kung Fu curriculum waiting to be explored.After 2 weeks of mainly practicing Meihua quan and Weapons, I was asked the question to go to Pingxiang, the birthplace village of the Meihua quan kung fu and where many grandmasters are buried. I remember the nice way of asking: It was ok to stay at the academy in Tianmeng, but if Id like to come to Pingxiang we would be going there. I said yes, and we went! There we had great adventures with many Kung Fu masters and I got the chance to meet with the Grandmaster who taught me some small corrections. After the 2,5 months of practice I decided clearly to come back again in the future.In the end this was already really soon, because 3 months later I was already back. Now not for Kung Fu, but for setting up an ebike business by working together with Chinese manufacturers. My Kung Fu brothers were very much eager to help with this which I highly appreciate.Back in Holland, after graduating and starting to work I was already afraid that the foreign Kung Fu opportunities were almost over for me, until I saw an opening that I could try to get 3 months off from work to help with the now already grown school in the summer of 2013.Once again, the trip to China proved to be an amazing journey and Training. The Sifus were still the same as I remembered from 3-4 years ago, which was very good to meet up again. My Kung Fu interests changed over these years and I noticed that I was getting more and more intrigued by the soft and internal styles to go deeper into the feeling of Chi. My Tai Chi greatly improved this period.By now there were many foreign students at the school which made the atmosphere nice (sometimes almost more western than Chinese;) and there were many activities to be undertaken. This year I returned again to study Kung Fu, giving expression to how much I love this place and to practice Kung fu. I hope that you will find your way in Kung Fu and that it will be a treasure for you during your whole life, the easy and the hard times.Tianmeng Kung Fu Academy is well set-up now. The rooms are everything you can expect of in a Kung Fu academy. It is not a hotel and also not a Spa where you will be staying. But you do have your own nice room. The showers are clean and nice, and the toilets are western and clean. The academy ground is really good, because of the love and dedication which have been placed at creating authentic traditional training methods and equipment.For example, the Meihua poles, the Boxing bags which are being placed outside under a rooftop (helps in case of rain), the weapon equipement, stretching and hard qi gong tools, the wing chun dummys (there is even one with an own, different design than the normal one - designed and created by the head master and maintenance man).The whole area is surrounded by a beautiful mountain range. If there is enough rain, there are lakes where you can swim and waterfalls. Nearby there is a very beautiful waterpark and the area provides more than enough opportunities to go hike and explore!"

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"My name is Monique Leguijt, 51 years old and I am from The Netherlands. I went to the Tianmeng Kung Fu Academy last July and I had a great time. I wanted to learn tai chi in China and I found this school on the Internet. After several emails with David, the manager, I decided to go to this academy and I dont regret this decision at all. I learned a lot about tai chi, and most of all I met great people at the school. Very helpful, kind, and very patient.I never practiced Chinese arts so it was totally new for me and they supported me all the time. It was hard as July is a very hot period but the training was very good for me. The facilities in the school are very good. The rooms are small but sufficient and the meals are great. The environment is beautifull and especially the waterpark is a great place to visit. Surrounded by mountains in a beautiful area you find a great school with good teachers and a fantastic manager. China is a great place to visit. I thank them all for this great experience!"

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"I am a student from Mexico, I was 40 days at the Academy and I personally can express the Academy is situated in a wonderful and peaceful place surround by hills and mountains, all nature around, a perfect place to live the experience of Kung Fu which is the perfect match of Chinese culture. Our shi fus were absolutely skillful, experienced, good teachers, but above all very friendly and humble.It is well taught, kung fu of Chinese traditional martial arts are not used to create violence or brawling but to strengthen your body, your mind, your spirit and improve your health. This is not a temple, is a school in order to experience the traditional Kung Fu as in ancient China was practiced.We had two excellent translators who helped us in everything, excellent friends, attitude and hospitality, willing to make our lives much easier. The training is flexible and you have the liberty to choose which style you want to learn or develop plus you set some information from Chinese culture, medicine, Buddhism, Mandarin, etc."

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"I wanted a place where I could invest some time in myself and in the meantime work on my health And fitness.And a friend of mine who knew I had an interest in martial arts advised me to have a look at bookmartialarts.com. On this site I found the Tianmeng Shaolin Kung Fu Academy, which really looked authentic to me at a very reasonable price.I booked for a month and I am very happy that I did. All the people I have met are very kind and understanding. One of the hardest things in China is communication, this school provided 2 very kind and talented translators who are very willing to help you with anything.All the teachers are very understanding as they meet people from different cultures, and statuses. No one will push you to do anything if you are not comfortable with it. I was at that time the oldest student with no kung fu experience at all, but I never felt in any way. The teachers(shi fu) really try to make a program for you that is suitable for beginners.In that period, I have been here to learned, to understand Chinese culture much better. I got in better shape, learned basic wingchun,1 shaolin form,and out of all, I had a great time doing it. I am someone who is used to doing whatever I like to, here you do it as well but in a structured way according to school schedule and regulations. I recommended this school for all adventurous martial arts lovers who are willing to learn and are able to adjust to the Asian standards.I'm Riccardo from Italy, I've been here for 1 month. In this period I learned 2 drunken fist forms, 1 taijiquan form, 1 meihuaquan form, and 1 huaquan form. I've also practiced qi gong and hard qi gong. I think the school is the perfect place for training. The masters are really qualified and they want the student do their best but also known that different students have different limits, and the training is personalized for every single student.All the staffs, and the masters are really friendly and it's been a great pleasure for me live 1 month with them. The accommodation is very good and you have everything you need; hot water, washing machine, Wifi, fan, and air conditioning. The school also has 2 training rooms, a large assortment of weapons, and all the tools you need to practice sanda or sparring with other students.In the evenings there are interesting lessons about Chinese culture, Mandarin, acupuncture and calligraphy. You can spend your free time visiting the water park near the school or going to the nearest city Linyi. If you want to travel in other big city in China you can ask to the staff (they even assist me to book accommodation and train ticket to travel to Beijing). I think I will never forget this experience. If I have a chance, I will surely come back to this amazing place."Im Hannes from Sweden and I stayed here for one month. A month I wont forget, I have learned so much interesting stuff since we do many different types of Kung Fu. The staff at the school have been very helpful and warmhearted. I've also met wonderful persons here and we have been traveling, training, watching Kung Fu movies and much more together.Whatever you need help with, the staff will gladly provide. The accommodation was perfect, and there was no trouble with showers, washing machines etc. The school provides you with sheets and towels. There is a village about 20 minutes' walk from the school were you can buy convenient groceries. The school also has a small shop.The environment couldnt be better, we train with the view of beautiful mountains and there are amusing things in the nearby area, like temples, parks etc., weve also been climbing at a nearby obstacle course which was really fun. The Kung Fu training is challenging and fun. You can tell the Sifus (trainers) what you want to learn and he will in consideration to your skills put up a plan for you to reach your goals.You are also going to get the chance to break bricks with hands and elbows and etc. during hard Qi gong classes. If I am coming back to China, to train again, I will definitely return to this school. Ive had a wonderful time and Im sure you will as well."

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"One of my dream since I was teenage to go to China to learn real Martial Arts and Chinese medicine, I got all what I want when I came to Tianmeng Academy. I came to the school without any martial arts background, and I was not in a good level of fitness, my goal was to increase my flexibility and condition.After 3 months of training, I can now run 3 km, I have also learned 2 Tai Chi forms, I can break bricks by bare hand and elbow, break sticks in my back and arm, can break the metal in my head, learn some grappling techniques, and the most amazing thing is now I can do the full split!The school masters are nice person, and have a good humour but at the same time they are strict during the training, they know when to push you beyond your limit. I also like the environment by the school, all the staffs are kind and helpful. I will definitely come back again to learn more."

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"The school is situated in the mountains, near a village and there is no pollution at all. In the vicinity there are many terraces used for agriculture, which is a beautiful sight.The training was harder than I imagined and its quality is very good, as all the masters are experts in their martial arts. In the evenings, there are cultural classes such as Mandarin, Calligraphy, and acupuncture.These are really interesting and Shuaicheng, who is also the manager, is an excellent and patient teacher as well. Shuaicheng makes sure you have everything you need. Shushu, the cook, is another great host and his meals are both tasty and healthy.There is a small restaurant down the road operated by a very nice family. I can really recommend going there for dinner at the weekends. This school is a very hospitable place."

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"I came to the school for 2.5 weeks and in that short amount of time I was taught a sword form, a tai chi form and a couple of other forms. I also learnt how to crack a whip and do some fancy moves with 2 swords. Everyone there from the Sifu to the chef was very friendly and welcoming. I enjoyed my time there and if I was to come back it would be in summer next time."

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