The world-renowned “Shaolin Warriors,” who sold out a full run at The Hawaii Theatre in 2002, return to Oahu to play six shows at The Blaisdell Concert Hall from Sept. 23 to 27. Tickets go on sale Wednesday at 9 a.m.

“Shaolin Warriors” have mystified U.S. audiences in three U.S. tours in the last decade. This appearance will be the first in their latest incarnation, leading a 20-city North American tour.

The group of 22 Buddhist monks from Shaolin temple in China’s Henan Province creates a spectacle with their brand of high-flying martial arts and acrobatics.

While the show is highly entertaining it is also educational — these martial arts are grounded firmly in the mindfulness of Buddhist practice. The Shaolin Warriors fight mostly in silence while showing a disciplined stillness that comes from a serene mind.

The monks of Shaolin Warriors train specifically for the show, but their rigorous regimen also includes slower moments. Zhan Yucheng, manager of the “Shaolin Warriors,” says the monks “spend hours meditating and practicing kung fu. They have a diet rich in rice and spend as much time outdoors as possible."

"A monk trains his mind perhaps more than his body. Strong mental as well as physical discipline is required," Zhan said. "Without concentration, physical strength is nothing."

Although the traveling theatrical performance of “Shaolin Warriors” has been in existence for less than 10 years, the kung fu at the show’s core was born 1,500 years ago, at Shaolin Monastery.The monastery was the center of spiritual and kung fu (Shaolin Chuan) practices. Wushu exercises, based on the attack and defense movements of animals that lived near the monastery, were used to develop a defense system of hand-to-hand and weapons combat that became sophisticated over generations.

That system of combat now enables choreographed martial arts feats so amazing they don’t look real.

Standing out among the performers of this company are two young boys who despite their size and age have many chances to show off their physical and artistic abilities. The two are able to hold their own amongst the more experienced Shaolin performers on stage. They also lead some of the interaction with the audience – there is humor as well as serenity in the show.

Tickets for opening night are all priced at $35, with $5 to be donated directly to the Palolo Chinese Home. Tickets for the rest of the run range from $30 to $60 with $10 discounts for children, seniors, students, and military, available in person from the Blaisdell ox Office, charge by phone with Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000, at outlets in Macy’s at Ala Moana and Pearlridge and at www.ticketmaster.com.

Show details and times:
Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 24 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 25 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 26 at 2 and 8 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 27 at 2 p.m.
Ticket prices:
Opening night, Sept. 23: All tickets $35, fundraiser for Palolo Chinese Home
Thursday to Sunday ($60/$50/$40/$30) plus booking fees.
$10 discount per ticket for: children under 18, college students w/ ID, seniors 60 and older with ID, military (two tickets per ID), groups (10 and more) earn further discounts.