Wang Bo (martial artist)
{{family name hatnote|Wang|lang=Chinese}}
{{Infobox martial artist
| name = Wang Bo
| image = File:Wang Bo At Shaolin Temple.jpeg
| image_size = 300px
| caption = Wang Bo at the Shaolin Temple
| birth_place = Shandong Province, China
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1989|11|2}}
| residence = Los Angeles, California
| style = Monkey Style
| rank = 7 段Duan Kung Fu
}}
Wang Bo ({{zh|s=王博|p=Wáng Bó}}) (born Nov 2, 1989) is a martial artist, Zen Buddhist monk, Shaolin Kung Fu master,{{cite web|url=http://oursouthbay.com/January-February-2012/Wang-Bo/ |title=Wang Bo - Our South Bay - February-March 2012 - South Bay - Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Torrance, Palos Verdes, El Segundo |publisher=Our South Bay |date= |accessdate=2016-10-20}} and Shifu of the Shaolin Temple Torrance, located in Torrance, CA,{{cite web|url=http://www.easyreadernews.com/69299/life-of-zen-shaolin-buddhist-monk-passes-down-ancient-teachings/ |title=Life of Zen: Shaolin Buddhist monk passes down ancient teachings |website=Easyreadernews.com |date= |accessdate=2016-10-20}} a main branch of the original Shaolin Temple of China. He is the founder of Hungrymonk Yoga.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oX2AScrw2rg |title=YouTube |publisher=YouTube |date= |accessdate=2016-10-20}}
Life and career
Wang Bo was born in a rural village of Shandong Province, China on November 2, 1989. The family relocated to the Shaolin village on Mount Song in central Henan Province, home to the Shaolin Temple, a Chán Buddhist monastery built in 495 A.D., considered to be the birthplace of Shaolin Kung Fu{{cite web|url=http://martialarts.about.com/od/styles/a/A-History-And-Style-Guide-Of-Shaolin-Kung-Fu.htm |title=A Brief History and Style Guide of Shaolin Kung Fu |website=Martialarts.about.com |date= |accessdate=2016-10-20}} and associated with many other Chinese Martial Arts. At age 8, his father enrolled Wang and his brother to live in the temple amongst the monks.
Wang studied Monkey style Kung Fu under Shifu Shi Yongxin, now abbot of the temple. At age 11, he began performing in the world tour of the Shaolin Wheel of Life show with the Shaolin Performing Arts Troupe.{{cite web|last=Nemour |first=Stacey |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stacey-nemour/shaolin-kung-fu_b_747649.html |title=Inside the Life of a Shaolin Monk |publisher=Huffington Post |date=2011-11-17 |accessdate=2016-10-20}} Touring for three years throughout Europe, Australia, Canada and the United States, then becoming the troupe leader and director. At age 20, with the blessing of the Shaolin Temple,{{cite web|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/society/2006-07/10/content_4813298.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508140911/http://news.xinhuanet.com/society/2006-07/10/content_4813298.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 8, 2013 |title=少林方丈应国际足联之邀赴德看世界杯决赛[组图] |website=News.xinhuanet.com |date= |accessdate=2016-10-20}} he relocated to the South Bay of Los Angeles in Southern California where he now lives and trains.
In 2013, Wang Bo was featured on the cover of Black Belt magazine and an article.{{cite web|last=Horwitz |first=Raymond |url=http://www.blackbeltmag.com/daily/martial-arts-videos/kung-fu-videos/shaolin-kung-fu-moves-video-shaolin-monk-wang-bo-shows-you-internal-exercises-for-stronger-kung-fu-techniques/ |title=Shaolin Kung Fu Moves Video: Shaolin Monk Wang Bo Shows You Internal Exercises for Stronger Kung Fu Techniques |website=Blackbeltmag.com |date=2013-03-15 |accessdate=2016-10-20}}{{cite web|author= |url=http://zultimate.com/wangboblackbeltmagazine |title=Shaolin Martial Arts Monk Wang Bo on Cover of Black Belt Magazine |website=Zultimate.com |date= |accessdate=2016-10-20}} In August 2016, he was again featured on the cover of Black Belt.
Dignitaries
Wang Bo has performed for world dignitaries such as:
- Queen Elizabeth II[http://www.shaolinsiwushuxuexiao.com/duiwaijiaoliu/37.html ]{{dead link|date=October 2016}} - April 21, 1999
- Henry Kissinger, (Former U.S. Secretary of State)[http://www.shaolinsiwushuxuexiao.com/duiwaijiaoliu/34.html ]{{dead link|date=October 2016}} - May 13, 2005
- Russian President Vladimir Putin{{cite web|url=http://epaper.dahe.cn/dhb/htm2007/t20070410_920752.htm |title=少林功夫欧洲倾城记-大河报-河南报业网 |website=Epaper.dahe.cn |date= |accessdate=2016-10-20}} - March 16, 2007
- King of Spain Juan Carlos - April 2, 2007