Kung Fu.
The Shaolin Temple became world famous as the home of Kung Fu
after being discovered by Hollywood 50 years ago.
400 monks live and study here.
100 of those are warrior monks.
For these student monks,
Kung Fu is not just a martial art.
It's a spiritual practice.
In two days, Shu Yandian will face a test to qualify
as a full warrior monk.
Mastering Kung Fu to the level expected at the Shaolin Temple
takes years of dedication.
Yandian will have to prove himself before a panel of senior monks
in both Kung Fu and Buddhist teachings.
If he fails his test, it'll be three years before he can try again.
Senior monk Yanseng is Yandian's mentor.
It's thought Kung Fu was developed by the early Chinese monks
as a way to stay fit enough for hours of seated meditation.
In the past, Shaolin warrior monks used their skills
to protect their monasteries and villages.
But today, its perfection is a mark of faith.
Each monk chooses a specialism.
Yandian has been practising with the monkey stick for 11 years.
But there's one move he struggles with.
Monkey going up the tree.
One of the most difficult in all Kung Fu.
Yandian must place both feet on the stick...
..let go with his hands,
and catch the stick before it hits the ground.
Strength, balance, and total concentration are essential.
At his test in two days' time,
he will need to perform this routine perfectly.
But Yandian will not just be assessed on his Kung Fu.
He must also recite a passage of Buddhist scripture...
..from memory.
The examiners could choose any passage from this book of mantras.
So Yandian needs to learn all 200 pages off by heart.
It's judgment day.
The Shaolin Temple is one of the country's most important
examination centres for aspiring monks.
Apprentices are arriving from all over China,
hoping that this will be the year they qualify.
First, Yandian's Kung Fu assessment.
The Abbott who's head of the temple
will be judging him, along with three senior monks.
Yanseng can only watch from the sidelines.
11 years of gruelling training have come to this moment.
His examiners have the very highest standards.
Movement must be matched by stillness.
So far, so good.
But next,
the technique Yandian fears the most -
monkey going up the tree.
Flawless.
Yandian has excelled at his Kung Fu.
But his success will count for nothing
if he now fails the scripture test.
The selection panel asks each trainee to recite
from the book of mantras.
The monks are trained to show no emotion...
..even in the face of failure.
It's finally Yandian's turn.
If he succeeds,
he will become a full monk.
HE RECITES THE SCRIPTURE
Fail, and it's another three year wait to try again.
He's made the grade.
Yandian will now become a full Shaolin warrior monk.
He will spend the rest of his life training, studying
and meditating on his road to enlightenment.