Gulun Kung Fu Zen and Internal Arts Retreat with Ben Lucas
A deep silent meditation retreat combining seated Chan meditation, standing meditation, and the five core stances of Gulun Kung Fu.
Stillness and Internal Movement
According to tradition, when Bodhidharma arrived at Shaolin Temple, he found the monks weak and sleepy from long hours of motionless sitting. He introduced internal Qi Gong and martial postures to strengthen their bodies and invigorate their meditation.
In the quiet of mid-January, we step away from our phones and conversation to bring together these Shaolin methods. This retreat provides a natural digital detox, using rooted internal postures to wake up the body, build a steady inner fire, and carry that clarity directly into seated stillness.
At the centre of the physical work is Wǔ Bù Zhuāng Gōng (五步桩功, the five foundational stances of Gulun Kung Fu), preserved by 31st-generation Shaolin lineage holder Grandmaster Wu Nanfang, master to both Shifu Shi Heng Yi and Ben Lucas. Practising these five stances develops lower-body strength, stability, and rooted movement.
What You Will Practise
What Is Included
Venue accommodation and booking details at Shaolin Temple Europe will follow.
Who This Retreat Is For
Meditators and practitioners looking for a restorative winter retreat that balances seated stillness with internal movement.
Complete beginners and experienced practitioners alike. No prior martial arts experience or flexibility is required.
Practice films: Basic sequence with Shifu Wu Nanfang · Five stances with Shifu Wu Nanfang
About Ben Lucas
Ben Lucas lives in China and has trained one-on-one with Grandmaster Wu Nanfang since September 2024, the first Westerner to do so. His background includes seven years in Chinese martial arts, over a decade of meditation and more than 200 days on silent and darkness retreats, with experience across Theravada, Zen and Tibetan Buddhist practice. A former Goldman Sachs lawyer, he coaches people on bringing meditation and martial practice into everyday life.
Continuing Your Practice
Prepare for the retreat and continue practising at home through our online programme, which includes a free introduction at gulunkungfu.org/online.
Booking details will be announced here.