BennyMeng
11-11-2004, 12:41 PM
While in New York City, I had a chance to visit the Shaolin Temple Overseas Headquarters, the official representative of the Shaolin Temple. There are a few other places around the US that use the phrase 'Shaolin' but this one has direct connections and recognition from the Shaolin Temple in China.
The Shaolin Temple Overseas Headquarters is led by the Venerable Shi Guolin. He is the transmission disciple of the 30th generation monk who is currently abbot of the Song Shan Shaolin Temple, the Venerable Shi Yongxin.
The temple is situated in the Queen’s Chinatown. It’s a very large building, considering the property costs in New York City. When you first go in, it is set up as a Buddhist temple. The Kung Fu school is in the back. The facility is very beautiful and highly decorated with Buddhist artifacts. They have 38 classes a week from 4-10 T-F and 9-7 Sat and Sun. For $100 a month, you can take as many classes as you want. It gets cheaper if you sign up for long-term training.
The basic program I use for my beginners, which goes back to 17 years ago with the opening of my first school, is similar to what is being taught at the Shaolin Temple Overseas Headquarters including the fist forms of Wu Bu Chuan, Lohan Chuan, Basic Exercise, Basic Movements, and Shaolin Kicking Methods. I learned these things at the Shaolin Temple and it’s interesting to see that the Shaolin temple is still using them today, over 20 years later.
I visited to introduce myself, visit with the monks, watch a class and ended up speaking with the Instructor of the class.
Walking away from my experience that day, I was quite disappointed with the fact that they don’t introduce Chan during the martial arts class – at least, for the public program that I saw. I’ve trained in the Northern Shaolin Temple, met with monks during national tours and from what I have see, the connection between Chan and martial arts is not communicated during these public events. The tiger (kung fu) and dragon (Chan) are seem to be separated.
To me, this is another benefit and treasure of what we are getting from the HFY system from Grand Master Gee – the Chan and the art cannot be separated - the Saam Mo Kiu methodology and the reality of Time/Space/Energy are introduced right at the beginning.
The Shaolin Temple Overseas Headquarters is led by the Venerable Shi Guolin. He is the transmission disciple of the 30th generation monk who is currently abbot of the Song Shan Shaolin Temple, the Venerable Shi Yongxin.
The temple is situated in the Queen’s Chinatown. It’s a very large building, considering the property costs in New York City. When you first go in, it is set up as a Buddhist temple. The Kung Fu school is in the back. The facility is very beautiful and highly decorated with Buddhist artifacts. They have 38 classes a week from 4-10 T-F and 9-7 Sat and Sun. For $100 a month, you can take as many classes as you want. It gets cheaper if you sign up for long-term training.
The basic program I use for my beginners, which goes back to 17 years ago with the opening of my first school, is similar to what is being taught at the Shaolin Temple Overseas Headquarters including the fist forms of Wu Bu Chuan, Lohan Chuan, Basic Exercise, Basic Movements, and Shaolin Kicking Methods. I learned these things at the Shaolin Temple and it’s interesting to see that the Shaolin temple is still using them today, over 20 years later.
I visited to introduce myself, visit with the monks, watch a class and ended up speaking with the Instructor of the class.
Walking away from my experience that day, I was quite disappointed with the fact that they don’t introduce Chan during the martial arts class – at least, for the public program that I saw. I’ve trained in the Northern Shaolin Temple, met with monks during national tours and from what I have see, the connection between Chan and martial arts is not communicated during these public events. The tiger (kung fu) and dragon (Chan) are seem to be separated.
To me, this is another benefit and treasure of what we are getting from the HFY system from Grand Master Gee – the Chan and the art cannot be separated - the Saam Mo Kiu methodology and the reality of Time/Space/Energy are introduced right at the beginning.