TRADITIONAL NORTHERN SHAOLIN KUNG FU

Northern Shaolin Kung Fu Instruction

We will be scheduling private lessons in Kung Fu in Berkeley in 2014. Feel free to contact us if you want to ask any questions. Email us.

It is the art form that the beginning student should master to establish a successful foundation for the arts of Tai Chi and Hsing Yi. Northern Shaolin Kung Fu is a complete longevity system unto itself, one that will keep a practitioner healthy and powerful for an entire lifetime.

Practicing Nothertn Shaolin Kung Fu gives student strength, flexibility, coordination, and athleticism. With our unique teaching style, Shaolin Kung Fu is learned as a derative of Hatha Yoga- making the art form capable of transforming the physical structure of the body, increasing both strength and flexibility. The powerful Kung Fu stances strengthen while freeing the legs and hips, and the extended arm configurations likewise strengthen and free the upper body.

The first system learned, Tan Tui/Steel Legs Kung Fu, is well named. Tan Tui contains 12 lines of ambidextrious Kung Fu stance and techniques that increase leg strength, arm power, and core power while increasing coordination and movement skills dramatically. The beginning student builds up dense muscle structure and begins to circulate ch'i powerfully through the legs, spine and arms.

Tan Tui also serves as an introduction to the 8 Shaolin Kung Fu stances, which are further developed in the ten sets of the Northern Shaolin system and four sets of Buddhist Arahat Kung Fu.

It is unusual that the art of Kung Fu taught with a "Yoga" perspective, as this knowledge has been guarded by real Sifu's/instructors who wait for a student to prove their worth by years of practice and discipleship. It has practically been lost with the proliferation of poor trained instructors. This Yogic perspective allows for the building of both physical strength, flexibility, and internal energy development concurrently.

Once a precision in body movement and mechanics, as well as a knowledge of the eight stances of Tan Tui is achieved, the art is practiced with an emphasis on enhancing application skills. When the body moves correctly, the techniques for application can be performed with power.

Kung Fu takes on an athletic, aerobic, and acrobatic dimension at this stage. When the art is practiced with a partner to develop martial skill, these skills acquired in Kung Fu will directly improve Muay Thai striking and Tai Chi/Hsing Yi performance.

Curriculum