Chinese Kung Fu Master on IShowSpeed: “He Really Loves Kung Fu”
Over the weekend, Chinese internet was abuzz with one unexpected storyline—American YouTuber IShowSpeed’s kung fu pilgrimage to the Shaolin Temple in Henan, China. For many Chinese viewers, the live broadcast felt straight out of a classic martial arts film.
At the start of the stream, Speed donned a monk-style headpiece and excitedly told viewers that his goal for the day was to find a real kung fu master and begin training at the world-famous Shaolin Temple. Longtime fans know Speed has a soft spot for Chinese martial arts—in fact, one of his viral clips online shows him reacting enthusiastically to a Chinese Kung Fu film Shaolin Soccer.
But the journey didn’t exactly begin smoothly. Speed first wandered into a temple, shirtless and full of energy, where he bowed and burned incense in front of a so-called master. Chinese viewers couldn’t help but laugh, joking that he had stumbled into “Little Leiyin Temple”—a trap temple from Journey to the West, used to deceive the Monkey King. Many online noted that this temple was a tourist attraction with little to do with authentic kung fu training.
For the next two hours, Speed roamed the vast Shaolin complex, searching in vain for a true teacher. His team seemed disorganized and unsure where to go. At one point, Speed sat silently in the car, visibly disheartened. “I just wanna learn something real,” he mumbled. When fans tried to cheer him up with gifts, he was far from his usual high-energy self. As one viewer put it, “At that moment, Speed looked like a lost child.”
Then came a dramatic turning point—Speed unexpectedly met a kung fu coach with the surname Liang, who agreed to teach him. What followed became one of the most widely shared video moments on Chinese and international social media: Speed, under Master Liang’s guidance, practicing real Shaolin Kung Fu with impressive focus. They were later joined by a group of local kids, training together in picture-perfect form.
In one now-iconic scene, when Speed was struck on the arm and back with a wooden staff and collapsed to the ground in pain, Master Liang rushed over, lifting his new student with care, and delivered a line that instantly went viral:
“It’s pain, it’s life. It’s pain, it’s Shaolin. It’s pain, it’s Kung Fu. It’s pain, it’s you.”
One viewer on Zhihu, often referred to China’s Quora summed up the stream as “a real-life greatest hits of every kung fu movie ever made: the fake master, the eager student, the betrayal, the dead ends, the deceptive guides, the language barrier, and finally—the real master, with true skill and humility.”
Another wrote: “This livestream felt accidentally perfect. The first half was a mess—he couldn’t find a master, stumbled into a tourist trap, learned a bunch of fake moves, wandered aimlessly around the temple. He looked like he was about to cry. And then boom—Master Liang shows up. He speaks English, knows multiple styles, teaches everything from hard qigong to nunchaku to drunken boxing. By the end, I felt like I had learned kung fu just by watching. All the chaos earlier just made the ending feel like a reward.”
Master Liang’s humble demeanor, clear skill, and deep respect for Shaolin culture quickly earned him praise from viewers worldwide. Many commented that “he saved the stream,” and some even began referring to him as “a true master.”
The day after the livestream, Master Liang went live himself, sharing his side of the story and answering curious viewers’ questions. “I’m Liang Xiaolong,” he said. “I work at the Shaolin Temple Wushu Training Center. My job is to introduce and demonstrate Shaolin kung fu and culture to enthusiasts and tourists from around the world.”
On March 29, Master Liang started a brief livestream on Chinese social media.
Naturally, most viewers wanted to know more about his sudden encounter with Speed. “I didn’t know speed at first,” Master Liang admitted. Clearly, he had no idea that the guy who just showed up and bowed to him had over 30 million followers online.
Though their time together was short, Liang had high praise for Speed: “Once I met him, I thought—what a great guy. He’s hardworking, driven, and takes things seriously. I could tell he had his own understanding of kung fu.” He also talked about Speed’s build: “He’s really strong—solid muscles all around.”
When asked if he believed Speed truly loved kung fu, Master Liang responded without hesitation: “I do think he genuinely likes kung fu. You can tell a lot through someone’s eyes—during the stream, I looked at his eyes and they really stood out. There was something there.” And as for the experience itself? “Honestly, I think I made a real friend through this livestream,” he said
Despite his rising popularity, Master Liang stayed humble. When asked whether he could defeat Speed’s bodyguard, he laughed: “No way. Not a chance. And even if we were in the same weight class, I probably still couldn’t take him. Those guys have professional combat training.”
Viewers also asked if he’d consider teaching kung fu online. Liang happily agreed: “If people want to learn, I’d be thrilled to share.”
After nearly 40 minutes of livestreaming, and with fans still flooding him with questions, Master Liang politely wrapped up: “It’s late, and I’ve got work tomorrow. Everyone, get some rest, sleep early.” A few minutes later, he added with a smile: “Okay friends, I’ve already gone three minutes over. I really gotta go now.”
Since then, Master Liang has kept his word—occasionally livestreaming on Chinese platforms, teaching students the same moves he demonstrated to Speed. Calm, focused, and humble, he remains the same “real master” that viewers fell in love with during that unforgettable stream. Just like at the end of the livestream, Speed tried to offer him money as thanks. But Master Liang simply smiled and replied: “Chinese and American people are friends. Friends don’t need money between them. If you insist, maybe buy some candy for the kids.”
Speed took a photo with Master Liang and his students.
Editor: Li Jingyi
