Today we’d like to introduce you to Master Qi.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
In the 1980s, a kungfu movie called Shaolin Temple was shown across China. Like many kids, I had a dream — to carry a sword, travel the land, fight bad people, and help the weak. After watching that movie, I told my parents I wanted to go to Shaolin to learn martial arts. China’s economy was poor then, and the tuition was about a year’s income for a family. Still, my parents supported me and gave in to my stubborn wish. When I was ten, I left home alone and went to Shaolin.
Training was tough. It needed strength, patience, and hard work. Every morning, I woke up at 5:00 a.m. and trained for more than eight hours. Except for Sundays, when I had to clean my dorm and wash clothes, there were no breaks. It was a closed program, I could only go home once a year during the Spring Festival. Many days, my legs were so tired I could barely lift them. I shook when I walked. The next morning, I trained again. I was exhausted and often thought about quitting. But for the dream in my heart, I kept going — and I made it through.
In the 1990s, the world knew very little about Shaolin kungfu. Back then, the temple had a special performance troupe that toured more than sixty countries to perform and teach. I was honored to be part of that team. We shared Shaolin martial arts with audiences around the world and welcomed foreign guests who came to visit the temple. I came to the U.S. six times for performances and cultural exchanges. As the internet grew, more people began watching movies by Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, and Jet Li. Their films sparked huge interest in Chinese kungfu. Many martial artists decided to stay abroad to teach. I also began to think about doing the same — to spread traditional Chinese culture and share what I had learned. That idea slowly took root and guided my next steps.
In 2013, our stage show Kungfu Panda ran for a year at the famous Palazzo Hotel in Las Vegas. The show combined Chinese dance, acrobatics, martial arts, and illusion. I worked as the martial arts choreographer, leading a cast of more than one hundred performers. The production received great reviews and warm applause from audiences. After that success, I decided to stay and start teaching kung fu. Friends told me there weren’t many Shaolin instructors in St. Louis, so I moved there. I began by joining local events — performing at the Missouri Botanical Garden’s annual festival, and starting after-school programs in several schools. Through word of mouth, more students came. We joined local tournaments and achieved strong results. Over time, my student base grew to around one hundred people, and my path as a teacher became clear.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The path was never easy. From my early years at Shaolin to building a life in America, I faced many challenges — physical, cultural, and personal.
Training at Shaolin tested my body and mind. The long hours, strict discipline, and constant pain pushed me to my limits. There were days when I questioned if I could keep going, but I learned that true strength comes from persistence. When I came to the United States, language became my biggest obstacle. My English was limited, so I had to communicate through action — through movement, performance, and patience. It took time for people to understand what Shaolin kung fu truly represents. Competition was also tough. Here, martial arts like taekwondo, karate, and boxing were already popular. To introduce Shaolin kung fu, I had to start from zero — performing at community events, schools, and festivals just to let people know who I was and what I taught.
The pandemic years were another major setback. Many students stopped training, and I struggled to keep the school open. There were months when paying rent felt impossible. But I didn’t give up. Slowly, classes resumed, and students began to return. It felt like starting over, but I was grateful just to keep going.
Every challenge taught me something, about endurance, humility, and purpose. No matter how difficult the road became, my goal stayed the same: to keep sharing Shaolin spirit and Chinese culture with the world.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Today, my focus is on teaching and passing down Shaolin kung fu — not only as a form of martial arts, but as a way to build character, discipline, and respect.
I teach in St. Louis, where I run classes for children and adults. I work with local schools to offer after-school programs, helping students improve focus, confidence, and fitness through kung fu. Some of my students started training just for fun, but over time, many discovered something deeper — patience, perseverance, and pride in their progress.
Outside the classroom, I stay active in the community. Every year, I perform and teach at cultural events such as the Missouri Botanical Garden’s annual festival and local events. These events let more people experience Chinese martial arts up close — to see the balance of strength and peace that Shaolin represents. I also help students prepare for martial arts competitions, where they have earned strong results and recognition. Watching them grow, both in skill and in mindset is the most rewarding part of my work.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
I’m also slowly building my experience and results. My only advice: stick to your passion, be consistent, don’t give up—success is right in front of you.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.stlchinesekungfu.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/masterqistl/
