Study Chinese Martial Arts in China

Some people dream of studying Traditional Chinese Martial Arts (TCMA), including Tai Chi and Qigong, in China, but don't know where to start.  When I was planning to go to China to study TCMA I didn't have anyone I could turn to for advice about where to go or what to expect.  I literally just found a website for a martial arts school, saved up money by working while in high school and jumped on a plane three months after turning eighteen.  It was a very exciting adventure, but unfortunately the school I went to, in spite of having good martial arts training, was not a very good school in other respects.  Even though I learned a great deal, and I still think fondly of my time training there, I wish I would have known that there were other schools that I could have attended.

The second time I traveled to China I decided to go to Kunyu Shan Shaolin Martial Arts Academy, a school about which I had heard good things.  When I first arrived I decided I would only stay at Kunyu Shan for a week to see if I liked it, and at the end of that week, if I was not impressed, I would go elsewhere.  The first day I was there I just observed classes to see if they met my expectations.  The first class I observed was a Qigong class taught by a distinguished looking master that everyone called Master Guo.  By the end of the class I was very impressed, and by the end of the week I was hooked.  The training, the environment and, most importantly, the masters were exactly what I was looking for.  I had never met such devoted martial artists in all my life up to that point.  I ended up staying at this school for a year, studying under Master Guo, and by the end of the year I didn't want to leave.  I only wish I had known about Kunyu Shan when I was planning my first trip to China.

If you have a dream of traveling to China to study TCMA, but are not sure where to start, take heart.  It is easier than you think to get there.  The school I attended during my second trip, Kunyu Shan Shaolin Martial Arts Academy, is an excellent place to train and I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in studying in China.  The training is top-notch and it is a truly life changing experience that I think everyone should try at least once.  

Below are some pictures of the Kunyu Shan Shaolin Martial Arts Academy.  More information is available at www.chinashaolins.com.  If you have any questions about attending this academy I would be happy to help in any way that I can.  You can also contact the academy directly by clicking here.

 This is the main training hall during a winter snowfall which makes the academy, as well as the surrounding mountains, look like a winter wonderland.

This is the Daoist temple that is a very short distance from the academy.  Students trained here at least once a week while I was at the academy.

This is the walkway from the dorm area to the dining hall and the main training hall.

This is the training courtyard in front of the main training hall.  This is where a lot of training is done during the warmer months.

This is a picture of some of the mountains that surround the academy.

This is the walkway to the main gate and to the dorm area from the dining hall and main training hall.

This is the road outside the academy that goes to the Daoist temple and to a national park.

 

The dining hall.

(The trees in front of the dining hall are used to condition different parts of the body)

The Wing Chun training hall.

A pagoda at the Daoist temple

A picture of the Main Training Hall in sunny weather.

Part of the path from the Daoist temple to the top of the mountain.

This is a picture of all of the masters and students who were attending the academy during my last few months there.

I hope you have enjoyed these pictures, and if you are someone who is looking to train in China, I hope this has made things a whole lot easier on you.

3 Students Preparing for Their White Sash Test

I'm very pleased to announce that 3 of my Tai Chi students will be testing for there white sashes next week.  They have been training for a little over a year at this point and I'm very proud of them for all their hard work.  I'm also very excited that they are about to take this next step in their training.


Below is a list of all the things they will be tested on and will need to show proficiency in to pass the test:

• Zhan Zhuang Qi Gong (Standing Like a Tree Qi Gong)
• Correct movements into posture, correct posture, and correct closing movements as well as an understanding of what you should be focusing on during this Qi Gong

• 8 Fundamental Stances – Static  (Ji Ben Ba Shi)
• Able to hold each Stance for 30 seconds 
• Horse Stance
• Bow & Arrow Stance
• Sitting on Crossed Legs Stance
• Four-Six Stance
• Tame the Tiger Stance
• False Stance
• Rooster Stands on One Leg Stance
• Squat Stance

• 5 Stepping Practices – Solo and with a partner
• Stepping Forward
• Stepping Backward
• Stepping to the Left – Inside and Outside
• Stepping to the Right – Inside and Outside
• Keeping the Center

• Yang Tai Chi 24 Postures Form

• Tai Chi 10 postures Qi Gong

• Basic Off-Balancing Concepts
• Explain the concept of the “3^rd leg of the triangle”
• Demonstrate where to lead someone to take them off balance from Horse Stance, Bow & Arrow Stance, and Four-Six Stance

• Correct Wushu Salute and Its Meaning

Many of these things may sound very simple when just reading the titles, but each section of this test requires a great deal of attention to detail.  There is a reason it has taken these students a year to prepare for this test, but all their hard work has definitely earned them the right to take part in this examination of skills.  :)


Stay tuned for pictures and updates from the test and the ceremony.  :) 

Just a Reminder

Hello All,   This is just a friendly reminder that the Tai Chi classes in Pine Grove will be at 6:00pm Monday and Wednesday starting January 2, 2012.  :)  I hope to see you all there!

A Small Glossery of Commonly used Chinese terms for Tai Chi, Qi Gong, and Chinese Martial Arts

I added a page with a list of commonly used Chinese terms for Tai Chi Chuan, Qi Gong, and Chinese Martial Arts.  This isn't something that I require my students to learn, but i wanted to make these terms available to anyone interested in learning them.  :)  A link to this new page is listed in the "pages" section on the left side of this blog.  You can also Click Here to view it.  Check it out.  :)

New Evening Tai Chi and Qi Gong Classes Starting in January 2012

I just wanted to let everyone know that starting in January 2012 at the KSW Karate Dojo in Pine Grove, CA evening classes in Tai Chi and Qi Gong will be made available. The classes will be held on Monday and Wednesday evenings starting at 6:00. If you have further questions please feel free to contact the KSW Karate Dojo at (209) 296-4200 or Contact Me.

Great News About the Tai Chi DVD

After months of set-backs, technical difficulties, and a super busy schedule to contend with, the "Tai Chi Basics" DVD is finally finished!  :)  I just finished putting the first batch into my gym bag to take to class tomorrow morning at New York Fitness and I will be bringing several copies to the classes in Pine Grove as well.  So they will be available at both locations during each class.  :)

This project originally started as a single DVD and has turned into a 2 DVD set because I was not able to fit all of the information on one disc.  Some of the topics covered in this set are as follows:

• Basic Movements
• Basic Footwork
• The Yang Style Tai Chi 24 form (With each step broken down in detail)
• Basic Stances
• Standing Like a Tree Qi Gong
• A Tai Chi Moving Qi Gong Set
• Warm Up Exercises
• Cool Down Exercises
• And Other Information

I'm really excited to have this project complete and to have this learning aid available to all of my students.  I am very much in hopes that these DVD's will help you all practice at home.  Thank you all for your patience while this project was in the works!  See you at class.   :)