In a lively martial arts (武术) club in Akpro-Misserete, Benin (贝宁), the sound of feet hitting the ground and cries of “Hay-Hah!” fill the air. Damien Degbo, 53, teaches his students kung fu and tai chi there. For him, Chinese martial arts are more than just exercise. They’re a way of life and a bridge between Benin and China.

At the age of 13, Degbo watched Chinese martial arts movies in Benin’s capital. He loved how these actors fought with beauty and power. That’s when his love of kung fu began. Degbo joined a private kung fu club and later learnt Chinese at a culture centre. In 2010, he started his own club, Super Shaolin of Benin. In 2014, he got a chance to train at China’s Shaolin Temple. The training was hard, but it taught him a lot about Chinese culture. He learnt how to practice calligraphy, tea preparation and traditional Chinese medicine.

Now, Degbo’s club has more than 350 students. He teaches not only Chinese martial arts but also Chinese culture. Chefff Deen, a student of the kung fu master, says kung fu has changed his life, helping him become stronger and more self-controlled.

Degbo thinks of himself as someone who spreads Chinese culture. He wants to share with young people Chinese good qualities like self-control and respect. As China and Benin get closer, more and more people like Degbo will help build a stronger friendship between the two countries through kung fu.