Prince Simeon of Bulgaria, the 19-year-old royal, made headlines when he decided to step away from the luxuries of his Sofia palace and enroll in a Shaolin Kung Fu residential class in China. His mother, Princess Kalina of Bulgaria, is world-famous for her athletic body transformation, and it turns out the prince too has a passion for physical training. Before zeroing in on Kung Fu, Prince Simeon trained extensively in taekwondo in South Korea.
Prince Simeon's Journey to Shaolin
According to Hola, the prince traveled to Mount Song in Henan Province in November. After completing preliminary training, he received his Chinese name: Si Miao Tian, which translates to 'Great Disciple of Buddha of the Magnificent Heaven.' The school stated that Prince Simeon is the only Western student they have.
Acceptance as a Disciple
"After passing the exam, what filled him with the most joy was being accepted as a disciple by the great master Wang Hengying in an official ceremony. This meant a great deal to Simeon. Master Wang Hengying, who is dedicated to spreading and promoting traditional Chinese martial arts culture, has been the one guiding and training him," the school said.
Rigorous Daily Routine
The prince's daily routine at the school was rigorous. He woke up at five in the morning to follow a tough training program of eight to ten hours a day and followed the same daily routine as all other students. After passing the exam, he received his first diploma from the hands of the great master Wang Hengying. For two months, he was without a phone. He could call his parents only when he arrived at the school and before his stay ended.
A usual day in Prince Simeon's life in China began with a 5 a.m. run amid nature. These run breaks continued throughout the day as they practiced kung fu for 8-10 hours a day until dark.
Special Accommodation
The school said that the only exception made for the prince was letting him stay with the trainers. This was not because he is a prince, but because he faced a language barrier with his classmates. Authorities allowed Prince Simeon to live near the town of Dengfeng in Henan Province, in the impressive 58,000-square-meter complex, and he slept in the Quanshi building with the trainers.
Prince Simeon's dedication to martial arts and his willingness to embrace a disciplined lifestyle far from royal comforts highlight his commitment to personal growth and cultural exchange.
