Aug 7 - 11 | GLENDALOUGH, IRELAND | FULLY CATERED
Summer Retreat 2025
A Special Place to Be
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Stay
Stay in the breathtaking Glendalough Valley and share this experience with with a group of special people, your kung fu brothers & sisters from around the world.
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Train
Shifu Yan Xin awaits you here in Ireland—to guide you on the path of the Shaolin Warrior. Train your heart out, embrace the good kung fu pain, find your inner peace and awaken the true warrior spirit within.
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Nourish
Nourish your body with heartwarming, delicious, Asian-inspired vegetarian meals prepared by the Deersotone’s in-house master chef—and share in the laughter and joy.
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Explore
In the heart of Glendalough, explore not only the beauty of Ireland’s sacred valley, but the deeper terrain of your own spirit—the path of the True Warrior begins within.
Come & Join Us
This is the 10th year we’ve been running our Summer Retreat now! To celebrate this special milestone we have picked a very special venue for you.
This year, our KungFu.Life Summer Retreat takes place in a special venue called, The Deerstone, Luxury Eco Hideaway. Nestled deep within the Wicklow Mountains National Park, in the breathtaking Glendalough Valley—the Valley of the Two Lakes.
This land whispers ancient stories. Its mountains still your mind.
Its waters reflect your truest self.
Our 5-day immersive retreat is a powerful reset - a chance to step away from the noise of daily live, recharge your energy and bring out your warrior spirit.
Return with clarity in your mind, strength in your body, joy in your heart, and purpose in your soul — ready to step into the next unfolding of your life’s path.
Under the guidance of Shifu Yan Xin (a 34th Generation Shaolin Warrior Disciple), you’ll train in an environment designed for deep, authentic Shaolin practice - one that nurtures true presence, cultivates discipline and supports inner renewal.
The Nine Section Whip
How to Transform Unpredictability into Mastery
At this year’s Summer Retreat, you will step into the rare and thrilling world of the Shaolin Nine Section Whip—a weapon that embodies both chaos and control, softness and steel.
Flexible, fast, and fearsome, the whip challenges you to move with awareness, precision, and flow. In the hands of a Shaolin warrior, it is not brute force but refined timing, sensitivity, and spirit that bring the whip to life.
Under the guidance of Shifu Yan Xin, you’ll learn the foundations of this ancient weapon: how to generate power through relaxation and redirection, how to move with the rhythm of energy rather than against it, and how to transform unpredictability into mastery.
Training with the nine section whip is more than learning technique—it’s an invitation to awaken your reflexes, sharpen your focus, and deepen your internal awareness. You’ll discover how to stay centered amid motion, how to release tension while maintaining strength, and how to embody the stillness within the storm.
Whether you’re new to kung fu or weapons training or ready to expand your practice, the nine section whip offers a truly unforgettable experience—one that stays with you long after the retreat ends.
Training Day
Each day we will start the day with a morning run, Shaolin Stretching & Breathing Exercise
to awaken the body & spirit
Morning
Soft Fist - Qi Gong
After breakfast, we return to the body with Ji Ben Gong—the foundational drills of Shaolin. Known as the food of Kung Fu, these movements nourish your structure, sharpen your technique, and prepare your body to receive more advanced forms. Without them, Kung Fu is hollow. With them, it becomes alive.
Then, Shifu Yan Xin will guide you through a specially condensed version of the Shaolin Soft Fist. Drawing from his insightful experience, he has selected movements from this classic Shaolin form that are not only representative, but deeply beneficial to the body and energy system.
This practice is both Kung Fu and Qi Gong—a form that blends softness with power, breath with motion. You’ll move through postures that cultivate internal strength, focused calm, and a meditative flow state. In time, you begin to dissolve the separation between breath and movement, between form and formlessness—becoming one with the motion, and with the universe itself.
Afternoon
Nine Section Whip
After lunch and a rest | nap, Shifu Yan Xin will take you on an exploration of the rare and dynamic practice of the Nine Section Whip.
We begin this training with something special: you will craft your own practice Nine Section Whip—a safe, training-friendly version of the traditional weapon. This hands-on process is more than just preparation; it’s a ritual of intention, connecting you to your weapon, the practice, and the path ahead.
Then, the fun starts, you will start to explore this weapon with Shifu Yan Xin.
The characteristic of this weapon is that it’s wild in motion, it demands clarity of mind and control of body. This training builds a new relationship with yourself—one that calls forth your focus, flow, and fearlessness.
You will not only be learning about the weapon, more importantly, you will get to know and become friends with yourself—one step, one breathe one swing at a time.
Evening
Tea Chat, Meditation & Reflections
After dinner, we close the day in stillness and reflection. Begin with seated Qi Gong to soothe the energy stirred throughout the day, followed by meditation and reflection to connect deeper to your inner-self. End with a shared tea chat—an open space for questions, insights, and connection. Here, practice meets life, and wisdom flows like tea.
2024 Summer Retreat
A special memory from last year’s KungFu.Life held at a difference venue, Glendalough Clamping.
Training:
Five Animal Qi Gong Shaolin Weapon: Dharma Cane (Walking Stick)
2016 Summer Retreat
10 years ago, we trained the Nine Section Whip!
Other Special Elements
Gathering, music by the fire
Times to use venue facilities (Sauna, Jacuzzi, Hydro pool, Cold Plunge Pool)
Free Space for you to explore the surroundings, the mountains, the lakes.
Venue
We’ll stay at The Deerstones, a stunning eco-luxury hideaway nestled in nature.
Here, under sun and stars, you will train fiercely and rest deeply.
You will sweat, you will ache, you will laugh.
And you will discover a strength that was always within you.
A Sanctuary for Warrior Renewal
After each day of hard training and mindful qi gong, restore your body in harmony with nature.
Our retreat venue, The Deerstones, is more than a place to stay—it is a sanctuary designed for deep rest and rejuvenation.
Enjoy the healing contrast of fire and ice:
Step into the outdoor sauna to sweat out the old,
Sink into the Jacuzzi under open skies,
And awaken your spirit with the invigorating power of the cold plunge.
These elemental therapies echo the ancient Shaolin wisdom of balance—
Yang and Yin, heat and coolness, tension and release.
Together, they support your transformation from the inside out.
Accommodation
Option 1: Luxury Eco Cottages
Each of these luxury cottages have 3 bedrooms:
1x Twin bedroom
2x King Size Bedroom
All rooms comes with their own luxury bathroom, luxury toiletries (Made from organic Irish Seaweed, Brand: Voya), bathrobe and slippers.
A bespoke, Irish-made kitchen combined with comfortable lounge area
A private O-Care hot tub with outdoor shower.
A BBQ area with adjoining patio lounge
Wireless Movie Projector and Bluetooth Speakers
You have the option to share a room with another participant or have a room to yourself.
Option 2: Shepherds Huts
Great for those who value more personal space
1x Double Bed
Fully furnished with beautifully crafted interior with stove.
Mini kitchen including a fridge, kettle, toaster and cooker.
Shower en-suite with award winning Eco compost WC.
VOYA organic toiletries | Hairdryer.
Bathrobes & Spa towels.
Eco flip-flops.
Electric BBQ.
Private outdoor terrace.
Each unit includes a private wood-fired Japanese hot tub.
Schedule
**Hours may subject to slight variations during the eventDay 1:
Thur 7 August, 20205:
16:30 onwards | Check in & Settle Down
18:30 - 19:30 | Welcome Dinner
20:00 - 20:30 | Shaolin Stretch & Meditation
Day 2 | Day 3
Fri 8 | Sat 9 August, 2025
7:00 - 8:00 | Morning Run, Shaolin Stretching & Breathing
8:00 - 9:00 | Breakfast
9:00 - 10:00 | Shaolin Ji Ben Gong
10:00 - 12:00 | Shaolin Soft Fist
12:00 -13:00 | Lunch
13:00 - 14:00 | Rest nap
14:00 - 16:30 | Nine Section Whip
16:30 - 18:30 | Free Time (Explore & use facilities)
18:30 - 19:30 | Dinner
20:00 - 20:30 | Stretching, Meditation, & Tea Chat
Day 4:
Sun 10 August, 2025
7:00 - 8:00 | Morning Run, Shaolin Stretching & Breathing
8:00 - 9:00 | Breakfast
09:00 - 10:30 | Shaolin Soft Fist
10:30 - 12:00 | Nine Section Whip Training
12:00 - 13:00 | Lunch
13:00 - 14:00 | Rest nap
14:00 - 15:30 | Training
15:30 - 16:30 | Demonstration & Certification
16:30 - 18:30 | Free time ( Explore & use Facilities)
18:30 - 19:30 | Dinner
19:30 - 20:30 | Get together by the Fire ( Chats & Music)
Day 5:
Mon 11 August, 20205:
7:00 - 8:00 | Morning Run, Stretching & Breathing
8:00 - 9:00 | Breakfast
9:00 - 11:00 | Consolidation Training, Questions, Photos.
11:00 | Checkout and see you next year
The Retreat Package:
5-day, 4-night immersive Shaolin Kung Fu retreat with Shifu Yan Xin
6–7 hours/day of high-level, authentic training
Luxury accommodation with private bathrooms for all options
Nutritious vegetarian meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Daily access to Wellness Facilities: sauna, cold plunge, hydro pool, Hot tub
Evening meditations, fireside music, and community connection
Surrounded by the magic of Glendalough & Wicklow Mountains
Small, inspiring group of like-hearted people walking the path with you
Pricing
KFL Members
€1695
Shared Twin Room (with 2 people)
Availability: 8
€1850
Private King Room
Availability: 8
€1950
Shepherds Hut (Stand alone unit)
Availability: 4
Non Members
€1850
Shared Twin Room (with 2 people)
3x monthly payment option available
€2050
Private King Room
3x monthly payment option available
€2150
Shepherds Hut (Stand alone unit)
3x monthly payment option available
Member Pricing
Members receive special pricing as part of their ongoing commitment to the KungFu.Life path.
We believe transformation should be accessible. Whether you're a long-time member or joining us for the first time, this retreat is your invitation to step into something deeper.
Not a member yet?
You are still warmly welcome—and we have something special for you:
If you’re joining this retreat, you’ll have the exclusive option to become a KungFu.Life member at a discounted rate—only available to retreat participants.
Option 1:
Sign up for Membership with Retreat offer:
Retreat-Only Offer:
Become a member for just €299 for the year (normally €420) or €29/month (normally €49)
That’s our way of welcoming you into the community—with open arms and open heart.
This special pricing is only available if you join as part of your retreat experience and is valid for the 1st payment.
And remember, you're never locked in — you can cancel anytime by click a button from your student dashboard, no hassle.
Once you join our membership you will be able to access your member special pricing from your student dashboard.
Why Become a Member of KungFu.Life?
Membership isn’t just a discount. It’s a doorway.
When you join KungFu.Life, you step into a living tradition—a community devoted to growth, practice, and purpose.
Your membership gives you access to ongoing support and inspiration, long after the retreat ends.
Option 2:
Book a retreat Place at
Standard rate
Twin Room (Shared by 2) | Availability: 8
Rooms come with private bathroom and luxury Organic Seaweed Irish toiletries (Voya), bathrobes, towels and slippers.
If you would like to share with someone in particular, please let us know during checkout. Otherwise, rooms will be allocated randomly with participants of the same gender.
King Room (Private) | Availability: 8
Rooms come with private bathroom and luxury Organic Seaweed Irish toiletries (Voya), bathrobes, towels and slippers.
If you come as a Couple | Family and would like to share a room please get in touch, we can organise a family rate.
Shepherds Hut (Whole unit) | Availability: 4 (0 Remaining unit)
Rooms come with private bathroom and luxury Organic Seaweed Irish toiletries (Voya), bathrobes, towels and slippers.
The huts are mindfully located within the natural landscape to allow guests to feel immersed in the natural setting with private space to enjoy the peace and quiet.
Special Gift for Full Payment
For those choosing to pay in full, you will receive a personalised calligraphy gift:
a word of wisdom chosen by Shifu Yan Xin and handwritten by Lila, our co-founder.
A keepsake for your path—created with love and intention.
(Yes, what you see on the right, is written by Lila! and you will get something similar, that is personal for your journey)
** Kindly note: By booking your place, you acknowledge and agree to the Summer Retreat Terms and Conditions.
FAQ
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Yes, absolutely. The retreat is open to both members and non-members.
If you’d like to join our community and receive the the special member rate, you’re welcome to become a member before registering.
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Membership gives you access to weekly interactive live classes, members-only live programs with Shifu Yan Xin and resources, early event access, exclusive pricing, and a global community of fellow practitioners.
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Yes. This retreat is a great entry point—no matter where you are in your journey. Whether you're a longtime practitioner or just beginning, you'll be guided with care and depth.
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We believe in this path—and if it’s meant for you, we’ll find a way.
Reach out about a payment plan or bring-a-friend / family discount if you want to share a king room or Shepherds Hut.
For full terms & conditions of booking please click below
