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Kaixin 开心

开心 means happy heart. Kaixin is learning kung fu the way his father did: one small step at a time.

Meet Kaixin

Kaixin is the son of Shifu Shi Yanjun, a 34th-generation Shaolin warrior monk. He is growing up in the training yard, and one day he will carry his father’s legacy.

In Chinese, 开心 (kāixīn) means happy, literally an open heart. It is the spirit of everything Kaixin does, from his first bow to his lowest stance.

开心

Name: Kaixin 开心, an open, happy heart
Teacher: His father, Shifu Shi Yanjun
Styles: Shaolin, Meihua Quan and Tai Chi
Values: Discipline, kindness, courage, joy

Episode 1 · Animated · 1 min 32 s

The Journey to Meihua Temple

Kaixin packs his little bag and walks through the blossoming hills to the temple, ready to learn kung fu. But the courtyard is empty. Watching the plum petals dance in the wind, he finds his first teacher.

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Try a move with Kaixin

Four stances Kaixin practises every day. Pick one, read the steps and try it at home. Grown-ups, please keep an eye on the little ones.

Pick a move

Kaixin in horse stance with an open palm

Horse stance

马步 mǎ bù

The first stance every kung fu student learns. It builds strong legs and a patient mind.

Stand with your feet about two shoulder-widths apart, toes pointing forward.
Bend your knees and sink down, as if sitting on a small horse.
Keep your back straight and your chest open.
Make fists and rest them at your waist, palms up.
Breathe slowly and hold for ten breaths.

Kaixin's tip: Keep your knees over your toes, not in front of them.

Kaixin in a deep lunge in front of the red calligraphy wall

Bow stance

弓步 gōng bù

A long, strong stance for moving forward. The front leg bends like a bow, the back leg stays straight like its string.

Take one big step forward.
Bend your front knee until it is above your toes.
Keep your back leg straight, with the heel down.
Turn your hips to face forward.
Push one palm forward and hold.

Kaixin's tip: Your front leg is the bow, your back leg is the string.

Kaixin in crouching stance by an old stone wall

Crouching stance

仆步 pū bù

A low stance that stretches the legs and teaches balance close to the ground.

Start with your feet wide apart.
Bend one knee and sink low over that leg.
Stretch the other leg out straight to the side.
Keep both feet flat on the ground.
Lift one arm up and look along the straight leg.

Kaixin's tip: Go only as low as feels good. You will get lower a little every week.

Kaixin doing the splits in a red kung fu uniform

The splits

劈叉 pǐ chà

Flexible legs make every kick higher and every stance easier. Kaixin stretches a little every day.

Warm up first: jump, swing your legs and march on the spot.
Slide one leg forward and one leg back.
Put your hands on the floor to hold your weight.
Lower yourself slowly while breathing out.
Stop when you feel a stretch, never pain.

Kaixin's tip: Stretch a little every day and never bounce.

Growing with you

Kaixin’s path, and every student’s

Joy begins4Moving, playing, bowing. Kung fu starts as fun.
Learn6First stances and first forms, learned with patience.
Grow8Strength, balance and the courage to keep trying.
Strengthen10Harder forms, deeper focus, helping younger students.
Deepen14Kung fu becomes a way of life.

Same values. A lifetime journey.

From the training yard

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