DOMINIQUE MARTIN SAATENANG ar nN - …...als in 2006 from the Wushu World Championship Competition. The same year, he also obtained the gold medal at the International Wushu Festival

DOMINIQUE MARTIN SAATENANG释 延 麦

HISTORY

According to the Chinese, he is the “Black Eagle;” to the Africans he is “the African Bruce Lee,” and to Europeans he is “the Black Chinese.” The story of Dominique Martin Saatenang is an unusual adventure in which a Cam-eroonian left one day from Africa to China, challenging the ancient martial arts establishment and living an exceptional destiny. Saatenang was born in the village of Bafou, Cameroon where his grand-father is king. At the age of eight, the Prince began playing on a soccer team at his elementary school. At ten, the budding footballer became captain of the school team. It was then that he saw the Bruce Lee’s film, Enter the Dragon, for the first time at the Omnisport Theatre in Douala, Cameroon. The film immediately sparked his desire and dream to prac-tice martial arts.

Against the pressure and advice of his family, Saatenang enrolled in college and began prac-ticing Wushu at the school of “Black Tigers” In Douala, Cameroon with the secret hope of going to China to complete his training.

Etymologically, Wushu means the art (SHU) of war (WU). It has been an indispensable part of Chinese cultural heritage over the centuries. It’s not based purely in the physical realm, but also contains philosophical, spiritual, and aesthetic dimensions.

Saatenang’s hope became a reality many years later, when, armed with a Master’s Degree in-accounting, the young business man sold all of his property and goods in Africa to go to China to pursue his studies in Wushu. To his amazement, he was exceptionally welcomed by the Shao-lin Temple. The Chinese experts in Wushu recommended that he attend Beijing Sport University due to its brilliant curriculum. Saatenang completed the program with a diploma in Wushu, conferred by a worldwide body of expert judges in Wushu.

Today, Saatenang is the first Black and fourth non-Chinese foreigner to become a member of the Shaolin Temple as part of the 34th generation under the name, Shi Yan Mai. He was ap-pointed by the Superior Monk of the temple, the Abbot Shi Yang Xin. Saatenang advanced through higher levels of competition where he obtained two silver med-als in 2006 from the Wushu World Championship Competition. The same year, he also obtained the gold medal at the International Wushu Festival in Hong Kong and was a 2009 UNESCO Med-alist.

Saatenang is one of the 33 best athletes from 1959 to 2009 to be voted into the National Cam-eroonian Sports Hall of Fame. Saatenang speaks fluent Chinese, English, French and Bamileke. Today he is an essential pillar in the development of Wushu in the world. He was given the title of “Wushu Ambassador” by the Chinese Government.

CURRENT WORK

Saatenang’s current shows are always amaz-

ing and full of cultural appeal. He offers martial

arts performances that showcase self-defense

techniques, weapons demonstrations, and

acrobatics. Additionally, Saatenang performs

in a wide array of athletic and cultural exhi-

bitions that fascinate the public. Saatenang

is a Monk of the famous Shaolin Temple and

Wushu expert. Strong in experience and tal-

ent, Saatenang has participated in a number

of martial arts and cultural shows, sometimes

accompanied by his Chinese colleagues in

tournaments in Europe, Africa, and the United

States of America. In his work, Saatenang em-

braces the Shaolin-based principles of the

Hard QI GONG, an internal energy that ties the

physical, mental, and spiritual realms with the

practice of arms that include spears, swords,

and halbards along with techniques of self-

defense.

CINEMA

Saatenang draws from his rich theatrical experiences and the courses in

comedy he has taken in Paris, France in his film creations. In his numer-

ous martial arts films, Saatenang incorporates his athletic experience and

Wushu expertise. As a comedian, he has produced his own scene in a

Kung Fu show accompanied by Shaolin Monks in France and abroad.

Today, the talented young Frenchman is an actor and action-scene cho-

reographer. David Lai, the co-producer of Transporter, has made a docu-

mentary film on Saatenang entitled The African Bruce Lee, which is pro-

duced by the Chinese National television channel, Tianji TV. The shooting

took place in China, France, and Cameroon.

EVENTS

June 2009: Demonstration by Saatenang accompanied by his col-leagues, the Monks of Shaolin, in Yaounde Cameroon before the Presi-dent of the Republic of Cameroon, Members of Government, and sev-eral personalities.

May 2009: Demonstration by Saatenang at UNESCO before the Gen-eral Director of UNESCO and other personalities. March 2009: Participation by Saatenang in the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the International Wushu Festival In Hong Kong. 2007-2008: Demontration by Saatenang in Europe, including France, Croatia, Switzerland, Italy and Germany. 2006 Demonstration by Saatenang at the Opening Ceremonies of the Wushu World Championship in Zhengzhou, China. 1998-2004: Participation by Saatenang at “ La Grand nuit des arts mar-tiaux” in Gabon.

CONTACT

DMS Events13 Passage Saint-Jules75 018 ParisFrance

Contact [email protected]

[email protected]