It is almost impossible not to be instinctively drawn to the magic and unsolved mysteries of Chinese martial arts. The hidden meanings behind a movement, a pattern or an entire style is enough to inspire a burning desire to train hard and strive for perfection. But, while there are thousands of teachers in China, there are very few masters. Many of the great martial arts practitioners who have devoted their lives practicing and teaching got their start at Wudang Mountain. Wudang Kung Fu enjoys great popularity both in China and abroad. The Wudang monasteries figure prominently in Chinese martial arts films. The film "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" attracted students from all over the world to travel to the mountain.

Located in central China, Mt. Wudang is revered in the martial arts community and is seen by many as the spiritual and historical home of three major styles of martial arts, Xingyi, Bagua and Taiji. A distinguished pilgrimage site, Wudang has attracted many prolific martial artists and philosophers throughout history. In the Ming Dynasty the Emperor declared Wudang Mountain the most sacred in China.

Every morning and afternoon at Zi Xiao Gong (Purple Cloud Palace), Daoist monks gather to read Daoist canons to the accompaniment of traditional music. There are statues of gods and immortals on the altars, as well as sacred objects and musical instruments. But, the Daoist monks of Wudang Mountain also advocate physical training in conjunction with the cultivation of morality and fostering of a spiritual nature.

Those students at Wudang who chose to practice martial arts face some of the most rigorous athletic training in the world. Before morning prayers begin, they have already completed several hours of basic conditioning. Loaded down with heavy sand bags, they are often seen sprinting up and down the mountain. For a total of nine hours a day they stretch, memorize ancient forms, and drill with weapons. Although hundreds of people (Chinese and Westerners alike) study at Wudang, only a few per year are promoted to instructor level and given permission to pass on the Wudang arts when they leave the mountain.