Kung fu master leaves China to call Costa Mesa home

COSTA MESA, Calif. (KABC) -- A kung fu master, who joined an ancient Chinese temple at the age of 12, has left China behind to call Orange County home.

There are only 600 Shaolin kung fu masters in the world, and one of them is now living in Costa Mesa.

Through a translator, 31-year-old Master Shi Yanqing says he began studying at the ancient Shaolin Temple in China at age 12 and spent 17 years practicing kung fu and studying Buddhist teachings in an extremely disciplined environment.

In 2013, his master sent him to Orange County to share the shaolin culture. Last September, he opened the Orange County Shaolin Temple Cultural Center to teach the arts of kung fu and meditation.