In a small town called Akpro-Misserete, about 40 kilometers from Cotonou, the economic capital of Benin (贝宁共和国), there is a lively martial arts club. Here, 53-year-old Damien Agossou Degbo leads his students in practicing kung fu and tai chi under the warm sun. For Degbo, Chinese martial arts are more than just exercise — they are a bridge connecting his country, Benin, with China’s rich culture.
Degbo’s story began at the age of 13. When he was a student in Dangbo town, he watched Chinese martial arts movies. Films with stars like Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan aroused his interest in Chinese culture. “I was amazed by how the actors fought with both grace and strength,” he said. This love led him to join a kung fu club in Porto-Novo. In 2009, he started learning Chinese language and culture at a cultural center in Cotonou. By 2010, he opened his own club, called “Super Shaolin of Benin”.
In 2014, Degbo’s dream came true: he won a scholarship to train at the Shaolin Temple in China’s Henan Province. The three-month training was very tough. “In Benin, we practiced 3-4 times a week,” he said. “While at Shaolin, it was a way of life.” But the experience was amazing. He learned not only martial arts but also calligraphy, tea ceremonies, and even traditional Chinese medicine. The experience offered him a deep and immersive introduction to Chinese culture. A year later, Degbo went to China again to study traditional performance arts, including lion and dragon dances.
After returning to Benin, Degbo wanted to share everything he learned. He taught his students not just wushu and tai chi but also lion dances and tea ceremonies. Today, his club has over 350 students across Benin. “I wanted to pass on what I had learned to empower young people with self-discipline, confidence and an understanding of another culture,” he said. Through his club, Degbo has turned his love for Chinese martial arts into a way to bring people together and spread cultural understanding.
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