Shi Xing Mi

Shi Xing Mi
Born Walter Gjergja
Italy
Nationality Italian
Website www.shaolinshixingmi.com

Shi Xing Mi (Walter Gjergja) is a Shaolin secular monk of the 32nd generation, Master, trainer, adviser, speaker and writer.

Biography

Early martial arts practice

Walter Gjergja started studying Shaolin Kung Fu in his early teens in Italy and France, winning numerous international competitions in both forms (traditional Kung Fu and modern WuShu) and fighting (Sanda and Qingda/Quingda), initially in Europe (late 1980s) and later in Asia (early 1990s).[1]

Further studies and work

He then moved to Australia where from 1992 he attended Melbourne La Trobe University; he graduated in 1996 with a double major degree and, in parallel to his studies and then to a rapid career in management and consulting, traveled numerous times to the Shaolin monastery where he learned Shaolin culture in its entirety (Chan - philosophy, Wu - martial arts and physical training, Yi - health practices), specialising in philosophy and in several Shaolin martial arts such as Xiao Hong Quan, Da Hong Quan, Qi Xing Quan, Chang Hu Xin Yi Men Quan, Rou Quan and others. He was eventually accepted as a 32nd generation Shaolin disciple with the monastic name Shi Xing Mi. The official discipleship ceremony was held in Shaolin Temple and presided by his master, Shaolin Grand Master Shi De Yang.[2][3]

In 2002 Shi Xing Mi returned to Italy and decided to teach full-time in Europe and Asia, subsequently appearing in television documentaries (BBC, Discovery Channel, Disney XD, Italia1, CCTV, Wild and the 2nd episode of the popular martial arts show "Kill Arman"), numerous press articles (Men's Health, Outside Magazine, Sportweek, Die Zeit, Kung Fu Magazine, For Men, Handelsblatt, Corriere Della Sera, Frankfurt Allgemeine, Budo, etc.), demonstrations and major events.[4][5][6]

Shi Xing Mi performing Shaolin Kung Fu in the Shaolin Temple 'pagoda forest'.
Shaolin Grand Master Shi De Yang in his Shaolin Temple room with disciples Shi Xing Mi (right) and Shi Xing Qiu (left).

Teaching

In 2005 he founded in Milan the first Italian Shaolin culture center, Shaolin Wuseng Houbeidui Italy, today with several branches in Italy and Switzerland. Over the years he has taught in a dozen countries and has also been appointed to several official roles for the development of international Shaolin cultural projects, such as Shaolin Cultural Director for FIWUK (Federazione Italiana WuShu KungFu) and Shaolin Master member of SEA (Shaolin Europe Association).[7][8]

Since 2008 he has also utilised his cultural and professional background to apply Shaolin principles and methods to diversified contexts such as human development, business management and sports performance, conducting keynote speeches, seminars and workshops at various international conferences (TEDx, FIBO, Trainertage, etc.) and for companies such as Publicis, BMW, Bayer, Postbank, Red Bull, Siltronic, Kempinski, Merck, Technogym, DWP Bank and many more, as well as coaching professional sports people in football, tennis, winter sports and combat sports.[9][10][11][12] He is also involved in several humanitarian and humanistic projects.

He has been called by organisations and media a "cultural acrobat", "monk of strategy", "the master of effectiveness" and "the wellness master".[13][14]

In 2012 he published his first book, titled 'Shaolin: a journey', followed in mid-2014 by a philosophy and self-development book written together with a well known German author in the field of training and coaching, titled 'Gib Nicht Alles, Gib Das Richtige'.[15][16]

Shi Xing Mi (Walter Gjergja) lives in a village in Ticino, Switzerland, and teaches mostly in Europe and China.[17]

References

  1. ↑ Shaolin masters' biography pages, Italy. http://www.culturashaolin.it
  2. ↑ Book 'Shaolin: a journey', published in 2012.
  3. ↑ Shaolin masters' biography pages, Italy. http://www.culturashaolin.it
  4. ↑ Shaolin masters' biography pages, Italy. http://www.culturashaolin.it
  5. ↑ Shaolin press book pages, Italy. http://www.shaolin-wushu.it/press.htm
  6. ↑ Kung Fu Magazine Shaolin Specials, USA 2005 - 2006 - 2007 - 2009 - 2011.
  7. ↑ Shaolin masters' biography pages, Italy. http://www.culturashaolin.it
  8. ↑ Shaolin Europe Association members page. http://www.shaolin-europe.org
  9. ↑ Official website. http://www.shaolinshixingmi.com
  10. ↑ Frankfurter Allgemeine newspaper, Germany 05/2010.
  11. ↑ Die Zeit newspaper, Germany 10/2014.
  12. ↑ Handelsblatt newspaper, Germany 04/2015.
  13. ↑ Handelsblatt newspaper, Germany 04/2015.
  14. ↑ TEDx Switzerland. http://2015.tedxlugano.com/
  15. ↑ Shaolin news pages, Italy. http://www.shaolin-wushu.it/news.htm
  16. ↑ Random House Group. http://www.randomhouse.de/catalog/catalog.jsp?men=1500&lbl=51000
  17. ↑ Official website. http://www.shaolinshixingmi.com
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