Who here has actually trained with a Shaolin Monk?
I'll start. I've trained at Shaolin Temple under my master Shi Decheng. I've taken lessons (albeit some of them were rather short) under Shi Sugang, Shi Deshan, Shi Xinghong, Shi Xinghao, Shi Yanming and Shi Guolin. Has anyone else here trained directly under the monks and to what extent?
Gene Ching
Asst. Publisher
Kungfu Qigong Magazine & www.KUNGFUmagazine.com
sorry for the typo, thats no more not know more
Check my e-zine article on BSL vs. Shaolin Temple Kungfu
I addressed the question of Shaolin systems in my latest e-zine article, so please have a look and tell me what you think. The organization of traditional Shaolin at Shaolin temple now is very lineage oriented. While there are many standard traditional sets, there is plenty of variation. Most don't distinguish variations by specific names aside from the names of the individual forms. It's all shaolin to them.
As for the monks only performing wushu, this is because wushu is the performance form of kungfu in PRC. It's what wushu was desingned for - Traditional lacks the spectacular quality of wushu, especially for people who know nothing about kungfu. But all the monks practice BOTH wushu and traditional (except for maybe some of the older monks who skip the wushu).
Personally, I think that's what makes the monks extraordinary - they do it all, traditional, contemporary, sparring, hard qigong, etc. They even train military/police combat. I've lived with them at Shaolin. There were days when the monks had to give up to 5 performances for tourists, train their students, and train themselves. Nobody else works that hard. Nobody else needs to. Their wushu might not be as good as Beijing, but they'll beat Beijing wushu in the traditional, the hard qigong, or the sparring.
It's hard to imagine what it's like to make your living in the martial arts if you don't do so. When you do it for a hobby, it's one thing. But when you do it for your food, clothes and shelter, everything changes...
Gene Ching
Asst. Publisher
Kungfu Qigong Magazine & www.KUNGFUmagazine.com
If you think of Shaolin, you probably are....
I don't often check this board so I am suprised at the "this is" or "is not" shaolin attitudes.
KFO really needs an accurate FAQ regarding learning CMAs in the US.
I have met incompetent teachers--avoid them.
I have also met partially trained disciples--they have something to offer.
I have met masters--they have a lot to offer.
Above all, be a student! Take a look at what the teacher has to offer and internally analyze, criticize, and evaluate. If it seems worth learning at the time put 100% commitment into learning and development.
If you don't understand what is being taught, stick with it until you find a meaning or a new teacher.
"Everything is training, Training is everything"
Real Shaolin is impossible to verify. Is it even possible to historically verify that it is the best? No.
At heart today, "Shaolin" is marketing. Not the school or the temple, but the word is marketing.
If you break your a55 everyday, you will get better. Period. Work. Contemplate your failures. Correct your training. Work. Kung fu never ends except if you quit.
Just a rant....
"To the Buddhist, "To
be or not to be" is not
the question. The
question is whether or
not you can transcend
these notions."
Thich Nhat Hanh