Classes

Tai Chi Chuan is known as the Grand Ultimate Fist. Chang San Feng was credited with creating this art over 1000 years ago in Wudang Mountain.

In our Tai Chi class, you'll begin with learning the 24 Combined Form, which is a combination of Chen, Wu, and Yang styles of Tai Chi. Upon completion of learning this form, we will break down the martial, meditative, and conditioning aspects of Tai Chi.

If you're hesitant to join the Kung Fu or Wooden Man training, Tai Chi is a great place to start! Tai Chi teaches the practitioner to move and flow fluidly, stretches the body through moving meditation, and helps with proper alignment of the body.  These aspects of the Tai Chi training are important to the development of the Kung Fu and Wooden Man practices.

The art of Kung Fu was developed over 1500 years ago by the Shao-Lin monks in Honan province. The monks watched animals and mimicked their movements to produce exercises for overall health and longevity.

In the Lower Belt classes, you'll be introduced to Sparring Techniques, Self Defense Techniques, Weapon Forms, and Empty Hand Forms. This material will give you a good introduction to the Shao-Lin art, while working your mind and body at the same time.

When you reach Brown Belt level, you'll be introduced to more Empty Hand Forms and Weapons Forms. These forms will further work your mind and body in preparation for the more advanced levels of Black Belt.

1st Degree Black Belt symbolizes becoming a disciple in our art, you have just "entered the Shao-Lin temple." Within the Black Belt levels, you'll delve into the deeper meaning of the internal and external benefits of the Shao-Lin training.

The forms/training with the Shao-Lin "Wooden Man" makes up an important part of the Kung Fu skills and conditioning found at our Shao-Lin schools. The "Wooden Man" form contains many of the fighting techniques and combinations of the Shao-Lin system.

The advantages of training on a Wooden Man are, that it can be hit as hard as the practitioner wishes, it can be trained on for long hours whereas a live partner might get bored. Also as the Wooden Man does not move much, thus the practitioner learns mobility while circling around the Wooden Man in conjunction with blocking and striking hand & foot techniques.

The key benefits of training on a "Wooden Man" are:   

• Improves Yao Li (power from the waist)
• Teaches the student the correct distance
• Encourages good structure and alignment in techniques
• Conditioning of the hands, arms and legs
• Students practice applying techniques with force