This 8-year-old from Toronto is headed to one of the world's top kung fu competitions

Raphael Riding shouts between kicks.

Hesways, jumps and punches, practising for his upcoming competition.

But he's not just any athlete, and the eventhe's getting ready for isn't just any tournament.

In October, Raphael willbe in China, competing for the first timealong with more than 2,000 athletes from 50 countriesin theZhengzhouChina InternationalShaolinWushuFestival.

Oh, and by the way, he's only eight years old andhas been training in the Shaolin martial arts for half his life already.

Thestudent at Toronto'sShaolinTempleQuanfaInstituteisbothexcited and nervous.

"I might perform in front of 1,000 people," he said. But he's also confident, sayinghe's expecting to walk away from the competition with a gold medal.

The institute, aShaolinkung fu school with branches in Toronto and Markham, is taking 14students ranging in age from eight to 47 to the competition, forming the ShaolinTeam Canada.

Raphael, who is the youngest member of the team, will be competing solo in his favourite form, Tong Bi Quan, a quick sequence of kicks, punchesand jumps.

"We need to put Canada on the map with all these other countries of the world that are showcasing their talent in Shaolin kung fu martial arts," said Dao Shi, the head coach for Shaolin Team Canada.

TheShaolinfestival is held in thecity ofZhengzhou, which is near the famousShaolinTemple.

The athletes compete in a variety of kung fu moves and sequencescalled forms.

ShisaysShaolin is unique because anyone, regardless of age, can participate and do well.

Shaolinwas made famous in the west by the late actor Bruce Lee and the movieKung Fu Panda. Itcombines kung fu with meditation and the practising ofvirtues such asfocus and perseverance.

It's more than 1,500 years old, and according to Shi, each move has a purpose in self-defence.

"We don't do fancy flips in the air. What we're trying to do is display power and effectiveness in the movements, and that's why we train them," said Shi.

Some of Shi's most impressive moves take lots of time to prepare for. He spends minutes in meditation, breathing deeply and making slow movements with his armsbefore he takes a iron bar and breaks it with just his head.

Next, he takes two iron bars and breaks them over his head at the same time.

Watch Toronto Kung Fu coach breaks iron bar with his head

6 years ago

Duration 0:36

Dao Shi demonstrates qigong, the practice of harnessing internal energy to protect the body from injury.

Shi saysthat move is a demonstration of something called qigong.

"It's about internal energy, being aware of internal energy, learning how to cultivate and utilize it," said Shi.

The virtues that Shi teaches his students as part of Shaolin don't just stop in the classroom. Several of his students counted off how the teachings have made it into other areas of their lives.

"It definitely helps me with my school work," said Jonas Kauffman, 10, who is competing in the Shaolin festival with his mother, Ciela Kauffman.

"It helps my focus at school. I'm a lot calmer now than I used to be and it's helped my physical strength a lot," he said.

Shi sayshis hope is that learning Shaolin, and competing in this festival, will boosthis students' confidence.

"Regardless of how they do, they will accept it and they will come back more confident and more sure of themselves, because how many people get that kind of opportunity to do something like this, and also represent Canada?"