Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) walks off the court in the second half of game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Dillon Brooks seems to have spent part of his offseason far away from an NBA gym, with the Phoenix Suns forward showing off his Kung Fu training in the Wudang Mountains of China.
The Suns shared footage and photos of Brooks getting training from martial arts masters during his visit. There was one post with the caption, “Experiencing it all in Wudang,” as they described the visit as a Kung Fu masterclass in the mountains.
Credit: Phoenix Suns/ X
For Brooks, whose game has always been built around physicality, aggression, and intensity, this setting might be perfectly suited for his personality.
The 30-year-old has earned a reputation as one of the league’s most controversial and confrontational defenders, and he has openly embraced the villain role, as he constantly tries to get under opponents’ skin.
Credit: Phoenix Suns/X
His willingness to play on the edge has resulted in a lot of technicals and ejections over the years. Last season, he picked up 17 technical fouls and was suspended at one point because of them. He has since said that he wants to cut down on these technical fouls next season, and that’s why this offseason Kung Fu martial arts training makes that even more interesting.
Credit: Phoenix Suns/ X
Kung Fu training is often associated with discipline, concentration, balance, rhythm, and body control, all of which can help with playing basketball in various ways. Brooks has never been known to be one to lack toughness, but if he can add composure to a part of his game, that might be as valuable as anything physical he takes away from this experience.
Experiencing it all in Wudang
Dillon getting a masterclass in Kung Fu in the mountains of China pic.twitter.com/YjFuZTTz8q
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) September 8, 2026
The trip also reminded NBA fans of Victor Wembanyama. The Spurs superstar visited the Shaolin Temple in China last offseason, where he trained with monks and participated in martial arts exercises.
Once Brooks’ videos resurfaced, fans quickly began joking that he was copying Victor Wembanyama.
Jokes aside, Brooks is coming off the best season of his career. He averaged a career-high 20.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists during his first full season with the Phoenix Suns, and this was the first time he crossed the 20-point threshold for a season.
He was even better during the Suns’ playoff run, as he averaged 26.0 points, but they were thoroughly outclassed, as the Suns were swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round. He did miss 26 games during the season, but when healthy, Brooks showed that he could provide far more than defense and intimidation.
Now he’s adding a rather unusual element to his offseason routine.
Most NBA players spend the summer lifting weights, working on their jump shot, or participating in open gyms. Brooks seems to have decided to get martial arts training in one of China’s most famous Kung Fu destinations.
Whether any of this actually pays off is yet to be seen.
But if Brooks somehow becomes a little bit more disciplined, all while remaining physical and difficult to deal with next season, opponents might have to blame the Wudang Mountains in China.
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