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67:, Italy, Testini began studying martial arts aged seven. Coming from a poor family of 10, he challenged other children in the neighborhood to martial arts contests to win money to support his family. Aged nine, he was then introduced to a master named Kim Wong Feng, who accepted Testini as his student.
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By the age of 19, Testini had won several national fighting and forms competitions in Italy, and also won first place against 700 competitors for strongest arms at the Golden Dragon competition in
Amsterdam. At the age of 21, he entered the Chi Ri temple in South Korea to take vows of becoming a
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In 1994, Testini moved to the United States to promote
Shaolin and Buddhism. Upon his arrival in the United States, he was homeless and unable to speak English, and exchanged martial arts instruction for food, while gradually gathering students.
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In 2007, an ordination ceremony was held at the
Shaolin Temple. Shi Yan Fan was the first of a total of 43 Shaolin monks to receive the
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In 2012, Shi Yan Fan founded a nonprofit organization, the Yanfan
Foundation, providing health and wellness training.
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markings in that ceremony, becoming the first
Westerner to be ordained as a Shaolin monk.
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159:"Should Shaolin Monks Be Asian? Just Ask Abbot Shi Yan Fan of Shaolin Temple Los Angeles"
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LA City
Council President Herb J. Wesson presents Venerable Shi Yanfan with recognition
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In 2004, Testini was inducted into the
Shaolin Temple at Song Shan Mountain in
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168:11 October
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98:References
59:Biography
65:Brindisi
63:Born in
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88:jieba
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