Everyone starts in the beginners class, regardless
of what other disciplines they have learnt in the
past. Shaolin Kung Fu is very different from other
styles of martial arts and requires students to learn
all types of skills and techniques. It really is fitness
at a different level.
Our teachers are referred to as Shifu, which means
Master. We normally say 'thank you Shifu at the end
of every class as a matter of respect for them teaching
us.
Yes, you can become a member if you wish, but it is
not complusory. The benefits are that you receive
booking preferences for workshops and get discounted
prices on class subscriptions/workshops and merchandise.
No. As our Masters come from China where they have
previously been teaching, they teach the students
here in the UK in exactly the same way as they would
teach their Shaolin Kung Fu students in China. The
only difference being is that the students in China tend
to start from a much younger age and practise for
hours everyday.
Not at all. While the roots of Shaolin Kung Fu and
Buddhism are intrinsincly linked, people from all
religions and denominations are welcome to come and
learn .
Shaolin Kung Fu is often referred to as external or
hard, which means that all power is directed from
the outside.
Tai Chi is in turn referred
to as internal as it uses power from within. One of
the main differences between Shaolin Kung Fu and other
martial arts is that it uses both internal and external
power, hard/soft, yin/yang. There is no point in repeatedly
kicking or punching if you do not know where your
power is coming from or how to direct it. Everything
in life has to be balanced and to succeed and become
a good martial artist you have to be able to do this.
This is why we recommend our students study both Tai
Chi and Kung Fu.
Qi (Chi) is the internal life force or breath. It
is said that we acquire our strongest amount of qi
when we are still in the womb and that if we do nothing
to culitvate this qi throughout our life then it slowly
disappears. You cannot see it, touch it or measure
it. But through learning to control our breathing
and learning to take our breath deep into the abdomen
(dan tien) we can replenish our pre-natal qi.
Qi gong simply translated means energy work. It is
a series of movements, done in a slow and controlled
manner a moving meditation, that helps to move the
energy (qi) around our body. Practicing qi gong is
beneficial for both physical and spiritual gain.
Like Qi gong, tai chi is a moving meditation where
you learn to control your energy. Movements are continuous,
circular and flowing and whilst all they are done
slowly they are infact fighting techniques such as
blocks, strikes, kicks and punches.
Done repeatedly you learn
to control the power of the movement in a soft style
but beneath the surface, your body is like steel.
Shaolin Kung Fu is a unique martial arts that stands
alone form other styles such as Karate, Judo and Tae
Kwon Do. Whilst the other disciplines are based on
either grappling and throwing techniques (Judo) or
the use of hard power with the hands (Karate) or legs
(Tae Kwon Do), Shaolin Martial Arts encompasses everything.
It is both hard and soft, fluid and very quick, it
uses all of the body, contains combination fighting
techniques and acrobatics and uses a variety of weapons.
It really is the ultimate martial art.
Shaolin Kung Fu is a method of fighting that was developed
in the Songshan Shaolin Temple in China. It was based
on the movements of the 18 main animals in Indo-Chinese
iconography (e.g., tiger, deer, leopard, cobra, snake,
dragon, etc.), Originally the kung fu was devised
by an Indian Monk called Bodhidarma at the beginning
of 502CE, He found that the monks , whilst devoted
to their meditation, were physically weak from lack
of exercise. He realised that in order to meditate
for long periods of time, the body needed to be supple,
relaxed and strong. In order to overcome this problem
he devised a series of exercises based on controlling
the breathing, stretching and combined this with the
animal forms. The results were to help control the
mind and spirit whilst making the body strong, with
the ultimate aim of achieveing enlightenment.
On average we do grading exams every three months.
Students who pass the exams go on to the next level
where they will build on their exisiting skills and
learn new forms and techniques. However, we alway
recommend that students continue to attend the preparation
level classes as this is the essential core of our
training as it maintains the fitness levels and basics
required for all future levels. Unlike other martial
art school, we do not offer belts when you have passed
to the next grade. This is consitant with training
in china. We do however issue you with a grading certificate
to show that you have successfully completed your
various levels.
We feel that students know their own ability better
then anyone else and therefore leave it to them to
decide when they feel ready. Don't worry if you stay
in the beginner level longer then anyone else. After
all, you need very good basic skills in order to achieve
the best results at higher levels so the longer you
stay the more you will improve.
We take students from the age of 5 years old. There
is no upper age limit. However the kung fu is quite
physical so it is really down to the individual as
to whether they think they are able to do this. With
regards to the Tai Chi, you can practise all of your
life, physical strength is not an issue as Tai Chi
uses your opponents power. It is also excellent for
your health (circulation and breathing), relaxation
and maintaining your fitness.
