Hu Zhengsheng

Hu Zhengsheng

Hu Zhengsheng, born in March 1977, is the principal inheritor of Shaolin Xinyiba. He serves as the principal of the Shaolin Traditional Wushu Institute and the Zhengzhou Shaolin Wushu Secondary Specialized School, and is the president of the Shaolin Xinyiba Research Society and the International Xinyiba Federation (based in Switzerland).

Throughout the 1990s, under the guidance of his master Yang Guiwu—a highly respected Shaolin martial artist—Hu Zhengsheng focused on uncovering and preserving ancient Kung Fu manuscripts while studying Shaolin Wushu.

In 2002, Hu Zhengsheng established the Shaolin Traditional Wushu Institute in Dengfeng City, Henan Province, with the goal of teaching traditional wushu to passionate learners.

In 2009, he visited Hong Kong with skilled students to perform Shaolin Wushu at Po Lin Monastery during the Buddha’s Festival, where he also served as a judge and instructor for local Kung Fu learners.

In 2010, Hu Zhengsheng was interviewed by the director of JoongAng Ilbo (JoongAng Daily), which is the most famous newspaper press in South Korea. Following the director’s visit, Hu Zhengsheng’s story was featured in JoongAng Ilbo and he appeared on the cover of JoongAng Monthly Joins G-20 Summit Special, which included an article dedicated to his Kung Fu experiences.

In 2011, National Geographic USA visited Hu Zhengsheng’s school and conducted an in-depth interview. This led to a 13-page feature article titled 'Battle for the Soul of Kung Fu.' Later that year, he and his students were invited to Dubai to participate in the Saudi Aramco Cultural Program, an annual event, where he served as a professional guest judge.

In 2012, Hu Zhengsheng founded the Shaolin Xinyiba Research Society to honor his master Yang Guiwu’s wish of preserving and promoting traditional Shaolin Kung Fu. The society brought together skilled students and martial artists to study and refine Shaolin Wushu. Xinyiba, with a history spanning nearly 400 years and over 10 generations, is recognized as a significant cultural heritage. As its rightful inheritor, Hu Zhengsheng aims to share Xinyiba with the world, exploring its connection to traditional Chinese medicine and integrating its ancient theories with modern health practices.

In 2013, Hu Zhengsheng led his students to participate in the National Shaolin Boxing Competition of the "Sports Lottery Cup," where they achieved 12 gold, 23 silver, and 6 bronze medals.

In 2014, his students participated in the 10th Zhengzhou Shaolin Wushu Festival, winning 2 gold, 6 silver, and 13 bronze medals.

In 2015, CCTV (China Central Television) paid a visit to the school and stayed for a summer to make a documentary series for Hu Zhengsheng. Named “Kung Fu Shaolin”, the documentary narrated the stories of Hu Zhengsheng and how he became a Kung Fu master. Later that year, under his leadership, his students competed in the National Shaolin Boxing Competition of the "Sports Lottery Cup" and achieved 13 gold, 25 silver, and 7 bronze medals.

In 2016, his students took part in the 11th Zhengzhou International Shaolin Wushu Festival, securing 4 gold, 14 silver, and 33 bronze medals.

In 2017, Hu Zhengsheng built a new campus for the Shaolin Traditional Wushu Institute. He was specially invited to several countries in Europe. In Lithuania, Vilnius University invited him to give lectures, during which he served as a certified referee to judge and comment on the performances given by local students and martial artists.

That year, Hu Zhengsheng established the International Xinyiba Federation, headquartered in Switzerland, with the assistance of his student Joël Achermann. With branches in over 20 countries—including the US, the UK, the Netherlands, Malaysia, and South Africa—the federation has established a globally recognized network, earning widespread praise from students and Kung Fu masters worldwide.

In 2018, Hu Zhengsheng was invited to Germany, the Netherlands, Malaysia, and Singapore to teach Shaolin Kung Fu, and communicated with local Kung Fu learners as a representative of China. In these countries, he taught the students how to bring their skills into practice and how to adapt Kung Fu boxing theories in an actual battle. From October 1 to 3, 2018, Hu Zhengsheng was invited by the United Nations Secretariat to participate as a speaker in a high-level agenda at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. The event focused on promoting the values of "humility and respect" through Shaolin traditional martial arts and their alignment with the ideals of the Olympic movement.

In 2019, Hu Zhengsheng was formally recognized as an inheritor of Shaolin Xinyiba and Shaolin Boxing by the "Henan Provincial Wushu Management Center" and was featured in the compilation of the Henan Provincial Wushu Chronicle.

In early 2021, Hu Zhengsheng’s school successfully passed a reassessment by the Zhengzhou Education Bureau, enabling it to merge with the Zhengzhou Shaolin Wushu Secondary Specialized School. Later in 2021, Hu Zhengsheng was given the award for "Outstanding Individual in Secondary Vocational Education" by the Education Bureau of Zhengzhou.

In 2022, Hu Zhengsheng took part in the filming of the documentary Kung Fu, which was directed by the Central Propaganda Department of China and aimed to promote the beauty of China.

In the spring of 2024, Hu Zhengsheng started working on the construction of a new campus for Zhengzhou Shaolin Wushu Secondary Specialized School. The new campus has been functioning since August 2024, fortifying the foundation for the development of secondary vocational education in the school.

In 2024, Hu Zhengsheng completed and released the international edition of The Essentials of Shaolin Kung Fu, a comprehensive compilation based on the earliest historical records of Xinyiba from the Qing Dynasty's Qianlong Emperor’s reign era and the notes of Hu Zhengsheng’s master, Yang Guiwu. This project, which took him six years to translate and compile, was simultaneously published in multiple languages across Europe and North America, receiving widespread recognition and acclaim.

On October 6, 2024, Hu Zhengsheng participated in the filming of Kungfu-wise (Shaolin Zen and Kung Fu), accompanied by his students from China and abroad. The program, produced by China Global Television Network (CGTN), the international channel of China Media Group, reaches audiences in more than 160 countries and regions worldwide.

On December 27, 2024, People’s Daily (International) covered the new series Kung Fu Has Newcomers, which highlights the story of Zhengsheng where he has, as a primary inheritor of Shaolin Xinyiquan, dedicated over 30 years to his martial arts career, and committed himself to preserving and advancing the rich heritage of martial arts culture.