Lion Dance Lifts Off

Our London Club have just started exploring the art of Lion Dancing.
For the past one hundred and fifty years Kung fu and Lion Dance been associated as the Lion symbolically ate then spat out the 'Choy Cheng'. A play on words mixes the term for lettuce or greens and 'Ch'ing', who were the ruling dynasty at the time. When revolutionary groups were driven underground this was an open way to show your support for the previous Ming dynasty.



We have only just started our Lion Dance group but as you can see from the video they are making good progress.

If you have problems watching the clip above it can also be found here.

Keeping Focused

This video shows Sifu Simon Brooks and Taisipak Kai Jettkandt engaged in a little light hearted weapons sparring. It was the first time that they had used those particular weapons (Sabre or boardsword and Butterfly Knives) against each other. Despite the friendly and slowed nature of the action it still ended up with Sifu Simon getting his thumb sliced.



Taisipak (oldest older brother) Kai of Frankfurt once taught that when unarmed sparring we should treat our opponents fists as if they are knifes. This thought was to help keep us focused. It was a valid comment then and obviously even more vital when actually facing sharpened steel.

For safety's sake should we trade our steel weapons for wooden versions?
The danger of fake weapons is that we become blase and careless in our actions in the same way that unarmed sparring fully 'padded up' encourages us to take risks.

Take your sparring gradually one step at a time and keep it real!

Signing Up For Classes

The current Autumn term is now underway.

The next chance to join the group will be at the start of the next April. At this time we will hold a free taster session where you can come along and try out our unique brand of Traditional Shaolin.

To register for this free session just follow this link and fill out the short form.

During this session we'll take a glancing overview of the material covered during your first three months of practice.
This includes chi kung (as known as qi gong), internal force training, kung fu stances and some basic attacks and defences.

Shaolin Mountain Retreat 2008

England may have missed out on the Euro 2008 football championships but they made up for it with a strong attendance at this year's Swiss Mountain Retreat. Shaolin Wahnam students from four countries took the cable car up to Eggberge and spent a week or two enjoying meditation and kung fu in the beautiful Swiss mountains.

Organised and taught by Master Kai Jettkandt from Frankfurt, this is the second year that the retreat has run and high number of return visitors showed it's popularity.

The participants soon slipped into the daily routine of meditation, chi kung and kung fu. While not hard at work cultivating mind and body the time was spent on mountain walks, boat trips or simply sitting on the porch glazing at the stunning views.

Shaolin Chin Na Course

June 8th-15th saw Grandmaster Wong kiew Kit teach a course in the 72 techniques of Shaolin Chin Na.
The course was held in Sabah, Malaysia and gave students excellent advice on wronging bones, separating tendons and targeting meridian points.

This was the first time that this course had been offered and despite the large amount of material to take in, all the students had a great time. As well as internal methods for developing Tiger Claw and One Finger Zen, also practised were the external training methods of jabbing beans, carrying jars and taming tiger push ups.
Despite the obvious dangers of Chin Na all students left with their fingers and meridians intact although most people sported a lovely set of bruised legs; a lot of techniques involved bring your opponent down to his knees, normally by standing on his ankles or lower legs!

Brighton Warrior Project

Congratulations to all those who made it to last weekend's Warrior Project in Brighton. These two day events are taught by Taisipak (oldest older brother) Kai of Frankfurt and focus on the more practical side of our art, especially when facing opponents using techniques from outside our usual syllabus material.

The Warrior project will return to the UK next year. For those Level 2 students and above who are really keen the next three projects are:

Cananda: Toronto, 17. Calendar Week (fourth Weekend in April) the exact date will be follow soon. Further Information Sifu Emiko Hsuen shaolin@shaolinwahnamcanada.com

Spain: Barcelona on Sat 25th & Sun 26th of October. Further Information: Sifu Daniel Perez shaolinbcn@shaolinbcn.com

Italy: Milano 6th & 7th of December. Further information: Sifu Riccardo Puleo riccardopuleo@libero.it

This old photograph shows an elderly Yang Fatt Khun (standing) with Ho Fatt Nam squatting in the foreground.

As a young man Yang Fatt Khun earnt a living from a roadside stall selling medicines. Part of his sales pitch would be a demonstration of his kung fu skills. One evening an elderly passing monk happened upon the performance. The legend has it that after six nights of watching the demonstration the old monk confronted the young medicine seller telling him his kung fu for 'not real and only for show'. Of course the issue was soon put to test in a friendly sparring match in which Jiang Nan, the elderly monk, easily beat his young opponent.

Yang Fatt Khun became a student of Jiang Nan and years later passed what he had learnt to Ho Fatt Nam. One of the last students that Ho Fatt Nam accepted was a young man named Wong Kiew Kit. A hundred years from the start of our story the arts are passed on by the Shaolin Wahnam Institute. For your chance to join the story just click on the 'class info' button on the right.

January's All Nation's Gathering

January 26th saw the third annual All Nation's Gathering take place in Edinburgh. This event is the yearly get together of students from around the Uk and beyond. Instructors each take a one hour slot to teach.

This year's subjects included Tai Chi push hands, Chi Kung, reflective practice, a five animal set and sparring methodology. The day was finished off, as always, with a good meal.

Well done to all those who made it up from London. It was good to see the old faces again and meet so many new ones from Scotland's bulging Wahnam scene. Next year should be back in the UK somewhere, see you then...