American Shaolin recounts the author’s experiences as he grows from the proverbial 98 pound weakling to a true Sanda (Chinese kickboxing) warrior, during his two years at Shaolin.

In 1992, despite his friends’ and parents’ misgivings, Polly takes a leave of absence from his studies at Princeton and, with no idea where Shaolin is, leaves for China.

Upon arriving in China, Polly quickly realizes that the 3 years of Chinese he studied in college has only barely prepared him to speak with the locals and find his way through Chinese society. He also faces the culture shock of dealing with corrupt, if ineffectual, old-school communist officials.

Once he finds the Shaolin monastery, he discovers it to be more of a tourist attraction than the mystical temple he has dreamed about his whole life. Even so, his experiences with his teachers, fellow monks, and the Chinese people are deep and meaningful, transforming him into a physically and spiritually fit adult.

Most of the monks Polly trains with are poor young men from peasant families. Being at Shaolin is not some “spiritual quest” for them so much as it is a way out of the poverty they’ve experienced their whole lives. Much like kids in the US dreaming of becoming the next Kobe Bryant, these kids hope to become the next Jackie Chan or Jet Li.

The interactions between the monks really bring the book to life. Like everyone else, they have hopes and dreams and struggle with the challenges of being young men while trying to live up to the ideal of what a Shaolin monk should be.

Each of the monks is memorable; there’s the precocious Little Tiger, the noble warrior Dequing, and of course the mighty Monk Dong. (Yes that’s right, Monk Dong.) For the next month, I am going to have the image of Monk Dong putting his junk on a desk and pounding it with his fist to make it “impervious”, engraved on my brain. Thanks, Mr. Polly! Forget all the SPAM emails you get about how to make your “unit” bigger guys. All you need to do is study Iron Crotch KungFu!

The book culminates with the author’s return visit to Shaolin 10 years after he originally left. On his return visit, Polly sees how much China has changed during his absence. It is a country that has become much more open, and thanks to some capitalist investment, is growing by leaps and bounds. Even the monk culture has changed since he left. The author’s description of watching an elderly peasant man perform during traditional forms competition is quite moving and stirring.

If the book has any shortcomings it is that we are not really told how the author’s life is different when he returns to the states. Is he more focused? More confident? His experiences at Shaolin surely have changed how he sees and interacts with the world around him, but we do not have a complete picture here.

I strongly recommend American Shaolin for any reader who is interested in travel-adventure stories, coming of age stories, martial arts, Midwesterners, or penile enlargement techniques.

Amituofo (May the Buddha bless you)

5 Grasshoppers out of 5

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