Ed Stafford's Rite of Passage, Shaolin

Ed meets the Hamer, cattle herders from Ethiopia, who must jump a line of bulls to be called a man. Ed too must control and leap these huge animals -- it's truly dangerous, no bull.

Ed endures the bullet-ant ceremony, the most painful thing this side of child birth. Also facing 24 hours of agony are Brazilian boys who do this 20 times to become men. Can Ed do it just once?

Ed meets the Hadzabe of Tanzania, who live in balance with their environment, including collecting honey from the world's most aggressive bees, a rite of passage with a sting in the tail.

Ed must wrestle the giant heirs of Genghis Khan if he is to become a man in the eyes of the Mongols, taking part in their annual rite of passage festival, Naadam.

Ed travels to the Ecuadorian rainforest to meet the Waorani, hunting monkeys and crocodiles, making poison blow-darts, and finding out what life it like with no number higher than five.

S1 E6 • 43m • HD12

For most people, Shaolin kung fu takes years to master -- Ed has just a few days to learn to control his Qi, or vital force, before fighting a martial arts master.