Shaolin kung fu

Live-in training at academies around the Shaolin Temple: two sessions a day of forms, conditioning and qigong under monk-lineage coaches. 3 other cities on this map teach martial arts & movement too - the reason to pick this one over them is what's above.

Yes. It starts from zero, no experience needed. That is the whole point. The days are intense and close to full-time, so come rested.

Most people give it 90 days; the honest range is 30 to 365, and how far you take it is largely up to you. There is no certificate at the end. You come away with the skill itself. Expect it to be discipline, full immersion, conditioning.

Around $1,500 – $3,500 for the whole thing, about $28 a day, or ₹1.4L – ₹3.3L in rupees. That covers 3-month live-in training, tuition + room + meals. Flights and visas never are, and this is a researched estimate, not a quote. Range built from typical 2026 market rates. Verify before you book.

You can. The cheapest martial arts & movement on the map is kalaripayattu in Kochi, India, from $400, against a $27/day median for the category. Whether the place is worth the difference is the real question.

Best across roughly 9 months of the year: mar-nov. Outside that window the season is against you, not the school, so it is worth planning the trip around it.

2 other things on this map, starting with porcelain in Jingdezhen from $500. A trip does not have to teach you only one thing.