Five hundred martial arts students from the United States, on a pilgrimage to the birthplace of Chinese kung fu, arrived at the famed Shaolin Temple in central China's Henan Province on Tuesday.

The Americans showed off their skills in front of Shaolin Temple abbot, Shi Yongxin, by performing knife wielding, snake boxing and self defense maneuvers. Eighteen kung fu masters from the temple also gave them instruction. The abbot told them that "The pilgrimage will teach you the traditional oriental lifestyle, etiquette and culture and enhance your understanding in kung fu. "

He encouraged the Americans to integrate the traditional oriental culture with the modern culture of the United States and contribute to peace and happiness of all human beings.

The abbot praised Yandeng (aka Charles Mattera) and Yandi, (aka Stephen Demasco) two U.S. kung fu masters who received their monastic names when they converted to Buddhism in 2002.

Yandeng noted that his group had arrived at Shaolin Temple on American Independence Day which celebrates the founding of the United States 230 years ago.

"I'm happy to celebrate this historical day for Americans at the temple that is the root of kung fu. Martial arts has brought our two nations together and I hope we can live in peace forever," said Yandeng.

Established about 1,500 years ago in central China's Henan Province, the Shaolin temple is famed for combining martial arts with Zen Buddhism and features long sessions of meditation to purify the mind.

The Americans, who are between the ages of five and 62, come from 30 U.S. states. They will be trained at the Shaolin Temple for three days. They are students of the United Studios of Self Defense, a franchise kung fu training center that has studios in 46 U.S. states.

(Xinhua News Agency July 5, 2006)