San Antonio, TX [Archive] - Kung Fu Magazine Forums

zhugeliang

07-29-2007, 09:18 AM

Water Dragon

07-29-2007, 10:08 AM

What kind of training are you looking for? I've been considering taking a student or two.

zhugeliang

07-29-2007, 11:34 AM

Water Dragon:

Well, what kind of training am I looking for - I am looking for good serious changquan, staff, spear, sword. Training that resembles that of the Houston Shaolin schools - essentially break every bone in my body and leave me collapsing in a heap at the end of class. I've already tried several martial arts schools in San Antonio and hardly broke a sweat, that's no good for me. No pain no gain.

Water Dragon

07-29-2007, 05:28 PM

Oh, I dont think you'd be interested then. I'd definately bust your ass, but I don't think what I have is what you're looking for.

zhugeliang

07-29-2007, 05:33 PM

Yeah, I think you do shuaijiao or something like that. Looks like Gilbert Leal is the closest thing to what I'm looking for until the next Shaolin monk wanders into San Antonio.

xcakid

07-29-2007, 05:56 PM

xcakid: That was why I posted the new thread because I saw your post some time ago and I had been wondering what you did assuming you made it to San Antonio (and what the others on this forum did as well). The closest I can find here is Gilbert Leal's Shaolin kungfu class. What he teaches is closer to modern wushu. He studied wushu with Wang Jurong in Houston. Seems like Houston has three or four Shaolin kungfu schools now. Houston ought to export one to San Antonio for all I know. One would think a heavily military city like San Antonio would have Shaolin kungfu by now.

Well given that Houston has 4 Shaolin Monks that have schools open there and a number of northern styles on top of that, you got yourself a CMA mecca going on there.

Unfortunately it seems San Antonio is lacking severely in CMA. At least here in DFW we have a handfull of schools.

Another suggestion is commuting to Austin. There is a few places there that can give you the training you are looking for.

zhugeliang

07-29-2007, 06:56 PM

Where are you training at in DFW? Yes, San Antonio is severely lacking in many respects including CMA. I'm looking for jobs in Houston for that reason. Until then it's make do with what little there is in San Antonio.

sha0lin1

07-30-2007, 06:49 AM

Hey Zhugeliang,

The International Shaolin Wushu Center has a school in Austin we have a Saturday Class from 11:30a to 12:30p. If you want to break a sweat come on in, Austin is only an hour to 45 minutes depending on where you live. My master and I have had some discussions about San Antonio and opening a school there and bringing another master in next year but nothing has been decided or is firm yet.
www.internationalshaolinaustin.com

zhugeliang

07-30-2007, 07:38 AM

xcakid

07-30-2007, 08:03 AM

Where are you training at in DFW? .

Kwoon I study at: www.swyi.com

I wonder how many more Shaolin masters Houston can absorb, four seems to be approaching critical mass.

Hardly. The problem is they are all in one area of Houston. They need to spread out. The Shaolin Monks I speak of are all in Chinatown. Like 5 sq miles. :D If they spread out a bit. Take a look at the S.F. Bay Area and NYC. quite a few good instructor there, but they are spread out.

zhugeliang

07-30-2007, 09:57 AM

Hardly. The problem is they are all in one area of Houston. They need to spread out. The Shaolin Monks I speak of are all in Chinatown. Like 5 sq miles.

Seems like a very Shaolin-dense area. Maybe they got cheap rents there.

sha0lin1

07-30-2007, 07:29 PM

shaolin1:

I assure you and your shifu will find no competition whatsoever in San Antonio in terms of Shaolin gongfu, northern styles, etc. Wing chun seems to be big here for some reason but I don't go in for push hands stuff. Sadly, Shaolin-Do has a foothold here.

I wonder how many more Shaolin masters Houston can absorb, four seems to be approaching critical mass.

Yes, I have heard that, I have a student that lives in San Antonio and she has said the exact same thing. Yes, Houston is very Shaolin rich which is a good thing. They each have their own specialties. My Master has a vision to spread Shaolin to all major Texas cities, with a monk or a disciple teaching in each which will make Texas in general, very Shaolin rich. It will also help to eliminate those schools that are forgeries. Hopefully, this vision will be accomplished. I think Dallas and San Antonio would support this.

sha0lin1

07-30-2007, 07:37 PM

Kwoon I study at: www.swyi.com

Hardly. The problem is they are all in one area of Houston. They need to spread out. The Shaolin Monks I speak of are all in Chinatown. Like 5 sq miles. :D If they spread out a bit. Take a look at the S.F. Bay Area and NYC. quite a few good instructor there, but they are spread out.

No, it is more like 1 sq. mile. Shi Xing Hao's school is blocks from our school. The Houston Shaolin Temple is about a mile up the road from us and Shi Yan Feng's school is also about a mile away. It would be cool if they spread out a bit but I think each wants to serve the Chinese community and that is where the community is. All of the schools have a lot of students so the closeness of each does not seem to matter. Plus rent is cheap in that general area for the square footage and height that is required of our schools.

zhugeliang

07-31-2007, 05:28 AM

Yes, I have heard that, I have a student that lives in San Antonio and she has said the exact same thing. Yes, Houston is very Shaolin rich which is a good thing. They each have their own specialties. My Master has a vision to spread Shaolin to all major Texas cities, with a monk or a disciple teaching in each which will make Texas in general, very Shaolin rich. It will also help to eliminate those schools that are forgeries. Hopefully, this vision will be accomplished. I think Dallas and San Antonio would support this.

Good goal. Texas is a large state with Chinese communities concentrated in Dallas, Plano, Houston, and Austin. But do the Houston masters view Shaolin as something just for the Chinese community? With all those Jet Li movies out there one would think the non-Chinese community would take interest in Shaolin.

sha0lin1

07-31-2007, 06:39 AM

No they don't view it as just for the chinese community it is for everyone. However, since they are Chinese they want to serve their community and they feel most at home there as well. I am quite surprised however, that there are very few non-chinese students in our school and I am assuming that the others are that way as well because I have seen very few from the other schools at performances that we end up at together. However, it doesn't really matter where they are located, if you want good training you should seek out the best. Let me tell you, there is nothing like learning from a Master that has been doing Wushu since he was 6 years old 6-8 hours per day 6 days per week. It is an awesome sight to behold indeed. We are very lucky that the Shaolin Temple has allowed monks to come here.

xcakid

07-31-2007, 08:55 AM

sha0lin1, what is your schools curriculum like? I am really intersted in learning more of the Shaolin forms and application. Like Xiao and Da Hong Quan, Tong Bei, etc.

zhugeliang

07-31-2007, 09:45 AM

sha0lin1, what is your schools curriculum like? I am really intersted in learning more of the Shaolin forms and application. Like Xiao and Da Hong Quan, Tong Bei, etc.

Would like to know this too. And how are the four Houston masters different in their curriculum?

Let me tell you, there is nothing like learning from a Master that has been doing Wushu since he was 6 years old 6-8 hours per day 6 days per week. It is an awesome sight to behold indeed. We are very lucky that the Shaolin Temple has allowed monks to come here.

Blows my mind out the door too. You ever seen Tongzi Gong? Incredible stuff. They start that at age six. In some cases young as four or five.

sha0lin1

07-31-2007, 12:07 PM

sha0lin1, what is your schools curriculum like? I am really intersted in learning more of the Shaolin forms and application. Like Xiao and Da Hong Quan, Tong Bei, etc.

We teach all the traditional and contemporary wushu forms, open hand and weapons, internal styles and Qi Gong.

sha0lin1

07-31-2007, 12:16 PM

Would like to know this too. And how are the four Houston masters different in their curriculum?

The four are different in their specialties like Shi De Shan is a Hard Qi Gong specialist, Shi Xing Hao is an Eagle Claw specialist, Shi Xing Ying is a monkey style specialist, not real sure what Shi Yan Feng's specialty is. They are all good no matter what their specialty is.

Blows my mind out the door too. You ever seen Tongzi Gong? Incredible stuff. They start that at age six. In some cases young as four or five.

Yes I have seen it, it is mind blowing, my master also teaches it. But it requires a very special student and not many of our students have this training. I remember someone in the forum wanted to learn this, it may be possible for an adult through a lot of hard streching effort and pain. Shifu says it is best learned when you are very young and your muscles are more pliable.

zhugeliang

07-31-2007, 12:34 PM

I remember someone in the forum wanted to learn this, it may be possible for an adult through a lot of hard streching effort and pain.

Yeah I saw that post somewhere too. Like what I said, no pain no gain. Tongzi gong, ever seen that split upward pose? One foot standing on the ground, other foot practically perpendicular over the head.

sha0lin1

08-01-2007, 06:55 PM

Yeah I saw that post somewhere too. Like what I said, no pain no gain. Tongzi gong, ever seen that split upward pose? One foot standing on the ground, other foot practically perpendicular over the head.

Yes, for our students that have good flexibility this is pretty much where you start. If you can do the splits on the ground and on the stretch rack then the next step is to stand in that position. If a student can do that and shifu thinks that you have the discipline needed then he will teach the student. Like I said though, very few students learn this, part of the form requires head kips and not many of the kids like doing that or stretching (too painful).

BM2

08-01-2007, 10:33 PM

There is a real bad azz that lives in San Antonio, David Lee "Tex" Hill Sr. . :) No BS.

zhugeliang

08-02-2007, 05:20 AM

BM2:

What does Tex teach and where in San Antonio?

zhugeliang

08-02-2007, 06:39 AM

Yes, for our students that have good flexibility this is pretty much where you start. If you can do the splits on the ground and on the stretch rack then the next step is to stand in that position. If a student can do that and shifu thinks that you have the discipline needed then he will teach the student. Like I said though, very few students learn this, part of the form requires head kips and not many of the kids like doing that or stretching (too painful).

Ah, yes, the stretch rack, wasn't that a torture device invented in medieval times? What are head kips?

BM2

08-02-2007, 07:22 AM

It is sad that someone such as Tex Hill could live in a city such as San Antonio almost all of his life and there would be people who don't know of him. Google him. He is a Flying Tiger.

Pk_StyLeZ

08-02-2007, 09:54 PM

No, it is more like 1 sq. mile. Shi Xing Hao's school is blocks from our school. The Houston Shaolin Temple is about a mile up the road from us and Shi Yan Feng's school is also about a mile away. It would be cool if they spread out a bit but I think each wants to serve the Chinese community and that is where the community is. All of the schools have a lot of students so the closeness of each does not seem to matter. Plus rent is cheap in that general area for the square footage and height that is required of our schools.

shi yan feng school is only a mile away??
unless he moved recently...then i guess....
but as far as i know, it is way more than a mile...atleast 10 miles or so.....

i use to know someone in san antonio that teach kung fu, and he would come to houston every other weekend and train with the monks.....i dont know exactlly where he teach in san antonio or even where he is =D
but his name is brett. i know that..if that helps...hahaha....

zhugeliang

08-03-2007, 03:35 AM

shi yan feng school is only a mile away??
unless he moved recently...then i guess....
but as far as i know, it is way more than a mile...atleast 10 miles or so.....

i use to know someone in san antonio that teach kung fu, and he would come to houston every other weekend and train with the monks.....i dont know exactlly where he teach in san antonio or even where he is =D
but his name is brett. i know that..if that helps...hahaha....

How did you know Brett - through this forum? I don't know where he is in San Antonio either if he is still here. I guess he has already fled this Shaolin-desert.

sha0lin1

08-03-2007, 06:53 AM

Ah, yes, the stretch rack, wasn't that a torture device invented in medieval times? What are head kips?

You know, where you bounce across the room on your head then flipping to a standing position in sequence. Here is an example, the first performer is Shi Yan Feng, the 4th is Shi Xing Ying.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ConnTxuY46g

sha0lin1

08-03-2007, 06:55 AM

Sorry that URL doesn't work type in IntMat 2007 and that should do it.

Pk_StyLeZ

08-03-2007, 05:31 PM

How did you know Brett - through this forum? I don't know where he is in San Antonio either if he is still here. I guess he has already fled this Shaolin-desert.

i met him when he a took a seminar at taiji legacy with shi xing ying and i was the assistant or whatever.
and then like aweek or two later he came down to the school and started learning
and from then on we trained a lot together when he was in houston
until like 2 years ago was when i lost contact with him

i hope we talking about the same brett??hahaha

zhugeliang

08-03-2007, 05:37 PM

i met him when he a took a seminar at taiji legacy with shi xing ying and i was the assistant or whatever.
and then like aweek or two later he came down to the school and started learning
and from then on we trained a lot together when he was in houston
until like 2 years ago was when i lost contact with him

i hope we talking about the same brett??hahaha

Well I don't know any Brett here in the Shaolin Desert aka San Antonio. How long did you train with Shi Xing Ying? Are you still with Shi Xing Ying or are you now training with someone else?

Pk_StyLeZ

08-03-2007, 05:40 PM

Well I don't know any Brett here in the Shaolin Desert aka San Antonio. How long did you train with Shi Xing Ying? Are you still with Shi Xing Ying or are you now training with someone else?

i trained with all the monks in houston....since 2000....(no i dont school hop, just everyone left and started their own school)
i trained with shi xing ying probably a good 2-3 years??
no im not with shi xing ying anymore...=( i miss him funny guy..good teacher
my last sifu was shi yan feng

im currently training with no one.......

John Takeshi

08-04-2007, 06:36 AM

im currently training with no one.......

Are you a master of Shaolin? That statement sounds incredibly familiar, and is indicative of enlightenment. Everyone is nobody. Nobody is everybody. Train with no one. Train with everyone.

sha0lin1

08-04-2007, 07:48 AM

pk stylez

I think I met you about two years ago at the TaiJi Legacy. I remember we had a conversation about you training with all the monks.

zhugeliang

08-04-2007, 09:25 AM

Are you a master of Shaolin? That statement sounds incredibly familiar, and is indicative of enlightenment. Everyone is nobody. Nobody is everybody. Train with no one. Train with everyone.

This is getting to be some thread now that Takeshi has jumped in here. Yes, Takeshi, in San Antonio we train with no one and in Houston we train with everyone. We Texans are no one and everyone in the same state. Texas is a state of everything and nothing.

Pk_StyLeZ

08-04-2007, 09:48 AM

Are you a master of Shaolin? That statement sounds incredibly familiar, and is indicative of enlightenment. Everyone is nobody. Nobody is everybody. Train with no one. Train with everyone.

ya im a master of shaolin..........
no im not if you took that statement seriously...
just because i choose not to train with anyone right now doesnt mean i am a master and think i am to good to train. i just simply choose not to train right now with anyone. i am no where near that level.

sha0lin1, sorry, but if i did i meet you, i dont really remember. there been so many people in my shaolin life......=x
i also had lots of conversation with people training with all the monks too....hahaha.....but if u did see me two years ago..i was in bright yellow with yan feng....
wat ur name btw?

chud

08-07-2007, 07:37 PM

It's true San Antonio doesn't have a lot to offer as far as kung fu.
However I think one of the best options in S.A. is Sal de la Rosa's Chen Taijiquan class. His beginner's class is Monday evenings at 6:15 at NorthRidge Park (near Austin Hwy & Alamo Heights area). He also has a Saturday morning 'open' class at 8 am. I train with Sal and also travel to Wimberly to train with Dr Gary Stier (Yang Taiji, Bagua, Xingyi). I also have a friend who lives in Austin who is a TST Xingyi guy and he comes to SA periodically with his wife to see her folks; I train with him when I can. There is kung fu here, but you really have to know where to look (I'd be interested in checking out that 'Tex' guy btw).

The other interesting thing about San Antonio is that it is growing like crazy right now because a lot of Californians are cashing out, selling their high priced homes and moving here and paying cash for everything. At the rate this city is growing, I predict some good martial arts schools will be opening up within the next year or so. The first few that open up will do very well, because right now this city is a kung fu desert. Mark my words, we'll have some good schools soon.

Water Dragon

08-07-2007, 07:43 PM

At the rate this city is growing, I predict some good martial arts schools will be opening up within the next year or so.

There arleady are. There's Olympic level Judo, Black Belt BJJ, a **** fine Muay Thai school and a few good boxing gyms. I've also seen 2 Wing Chun guys who impressed me, dunno where they come from though.

chud

08-07-2007, 07:57 PM

Yeah I knew about the Judo, BJJ, and of course there's lots of Wing Chun.
I am also hoping that some other good CMA schools will open up soon (Bagua and Xingyi for example, and maybe some shaolin or other CMA). The future definitely looks bright; I am seeing so much development around here, the slow down in the real estate market has not really affected SA because lots of people are still moving here.

Iman01

08-09-2007, 08:01 AM

Eight Step Praying Mantis Kung Fu is now offered in San Antonio...

http://www.realkungfu.us

zhugeliang

08-09-2007, 09:47 AM

It's true San Antonio doesn't have a lot to offer as far as kung fu.

The other interesting thing about San Antonio is that it is growing like crazy right now because a lot of Californians are cashing out, selling their high priced homes and moving here and paying cash for everything. At the rate this city is growing, I predict some good martial arts schools will be opening up within the next year or so. The first few that open up will do very well, because right now this city is a kung fu desert. Mark my words, we'll have some good schools soon.

Chud,

That is exactly what I am seeing here too. Everything here is much less expensive including the rents. My realtor said something like 30-40% of homebuyers in San Antonio are coming from California. California has a good number of Shaolin and wushu schools. Hopefully as a result of the California migration, the Shaolin Desert here is going to bloom into a Shaolin Oasis. Or so I hope. Loads of Wing Chun here and I don't know why. I'm not that into Wing Chun though.

chud

08-09-2007, 09:33 PM

Eight Step Praying Mantis Kung Fu is now offered in San Antonio...

http://www.realkungfu.us

Very interesting, I hadn't heard of your group. Glad to see some good kung fu coming to town though. How long have you been teaching in S.A.? Just curious because I hadn't heard of y'all before. It's too bad I have so much going on already (Chen, Yang, Xingyi), because I've always thought Praying Mantis was cool stuff. The wife will disown me if I start up with another class though. :)

Btw, the site says classes are at 'Medical Center Park', do you mean the big track over in the medical center area?

Iman01

08-10-2007, 07:49 AM

Very interesting, I hadn't heard of your group. Glad to see some good kung fu coming to town though. How long have you been teaching in S.A.? Just curious because I hadn't heard of y'all before. It's too bad I have so much going on already (Chen, Yang, Xingyi), because I've always thought Praying Mantis was cool stuff. The wife will disown me if I start up with another class though. :)

Btw, the site says classes are at 'Medical Center Park', do you mean the big track over in the medical center area?

I just moved to San Antonio. Today will be my first class at the Medical Center. I met with some students earlier this week at Orsinger park and they recommended we switch to the park at the Medical Center. Once I figure out exactly where we are going I will update the web site. Maybe even with a map. :)

Real

zhugeliang

08-10-2007, 05:49 PM

I just moved to San Antonio. Today will be my first class at the Medical Center. I met with some students earlier this week at Orsinger park and they recommended we switch to the park at the Medical Center. Once I figure out exactly where we are going I will update the web site. Maybe even with a map. :)

Real

Iman01,

Are you a student at the Dental School there? Supposed to be one of the best dental schools in the US. And your kungfu class is outside, in the Medical Center Park? Blazing hot in San Antonio alright.

chud

08-10-2007, 06:07 PM

... they recommended we switch to the park at the Medical Center.

I thought I would check you guys out so I walked around the track at Medical Center several times between 7 and 7:30, but didn't see you.

Iman01

08-12-2007, 07:57 AM

chud,
I am sorry I wasted your time Friday. Around 5:30pm I got word that none of the others were going to be able to make it to the park. I would have gone anyway but I just got a house last week and have a million things to do, unpack etc. They have reassured me that they will be there Monday, so will I.

zhugeliang,
I am not a student at the medical center. The classes are outside until I find a better location. I want to buy a building to teach out of but I have some other things I need to sort out before I can make that happen.

Aside from teaching in San Antonio I am working with a school in Boerne to get some floor time there. In a month or so I should offer some classes there too.

Real

SAAMAG

08-12-2007, 10:09 AM

The ONLY gung fu orientated instructor that I know can actually fight and teach you to fight--is from the Boztepe wing chun group. He is located on Broadway near the Austin hwy intersection. Nico Lahood.

There are only two legititate groups of wing chun (if you care about lineage) and that is the LT on Austin hwy and the Boztepe on Broadway (mentioned above).

Gilbert Leal from what I understand is very good--and came away from the group on Austin hwy many years ago.

NO traditional shoalin orientated places that I can recall, not unless you count shaolin-do karate a martial art (ack!).

There's lots of fighting arts here though--as stated there's judo, jj, a few muay thai places, the boztepe wing chun school. If they train hard and actually spar--you probably won't go wrong no matter where you go.

SAAMAG

08-12-2007, 10:16 AM

Also--I knew Brett when he was practicing Capoeira for a while and then tried out Jingang Quan Gung Fu (where I was cross training with a gentleman named Bob Melius). He then migrated to where I was also training in Muay Thai over at Phet Phonsavane's when Phet just had the store and was only training a few guys.

After that I went into the military and was only able to pop in once in a while. I saw him a couple years back teach shaolin all of a sudden as a sifu at Phet's latest place on Bab**** and Hillcrest. So in my mind I'm like WTF?! He said he'd moved to Houston for a while and learned Shaolin.

How someone learns wushu for a couple years through seminars and then becomes good enough to teach it is beyond me...but whatever.

I'm very big on quality--and quality of a martial art is it's effectiveness in fighting and the teacher's effectiveness in creating fighters. After all--it is a MARTIAL art...isn't it?

Pk_StyLeZ

08-12-2007, 04:00 PM

chud

08-12-2007, 04:11 PM

chud,
I am sorry I wasted your time Friday. Around 5:30pm I got word that none of the others were going to be able to make it to the park.

No problem, I figured something came up.

The ONLY gung fu orientated instructor that I know can actually fight and teach you to fight--is from the Boztepe wing chun group. He is located on Broadway near the Austin hwy intersection. Nico Lahood.

I remember Nico from the days before the LT/Boztepe split, when we were all training at the LT school on Austin Hwy; he was definitely good. His kung fu brother Mauricio Blake was good too. I dropped out right before Boztepe split with Leung Ting, and Nico & Mauricio jumped ship and started their own school under his org. They're good guys. I always meant to look them up but life got in the way, and then I decided to pursue training something other than Wing Chun.

zhugeliang

08-12-2007, 06:12 PM

Did Leung Ting actually live in San Antonio at some point? I think Gilbert Leal trained with Leung Ting originally.

zhugeliang

08-12-2007, 06:17 PM

NO traditional shoalin orientated places that I can recall, not unless you count shaolin-do karate a martial art (ack!).

Shaolin-do is karate, not Shaolin or wushu so I am not counting the Shaolin-Do here in San Antonio as anything.

SAAMAG

08-12-2007, 06:44 PM

Shaolin-do is karate, not Shaolin or wushu so I am not counting the Shaolin-Do here in San Antonio as anything.

Good for you. I'm glad you see through the B.S.

chud

08-12-2007, 06:45 PM

Did Leung Ting actually live in San Antonio at some point? I think Gilbert Leal trained with Leung Ting originally.

No, but Leung Ting came to San Antonio many times for seminars; I went to a couple of them back in the day. From what I heard Gilbert Leal and William Parker were two of Leung Ting's high-ranking students in this region of the US. Gilbert chose to leave the organization, and Parker stayed in.

zhugeliang

08-13-2007, 05:24 AM

Good for you. I'm glad you see through the B.S.

Any authentic Shaolin fan can see Shaolin-do is not authentic Shaolin. Then again I should not start yet another anti- Shaolin-do thread here or Gene is gonna be after my wazoo.

zhugeliang

08-22-2007, 02:35 PM

Austin Martial Arts Festival is in October, anyone from San Antonio competing in it?

chud

11-29-2007, 06:36 PM

Austin Martial Arts Festival is in October, anyone from San Antonio competing in it?

I didn't go, but a friend of mine who did said it sucked this year. Much smaller than last year. I heard that the organizer did not pay some of the instructors who gave seminars, so none of them came back. Too bad.

Btw, Master Chen ZhengLei is giving a Chen Taiji seminar in San Antonio this weekend at Northridge Park; Sal de la Rosa is hosting it.

RFM

11-30-2007, 10:23 AM

This thread caught my eye and brought fond memories.

Vankuen (Tim), I hope you read this and respond. Long time no see or hear!

There was not much in SATX in terms of good kung fu. While I taught there in the late 90's I also checked out a few folks to observe, not their styles, but rather their teaching methods.

I checked out Gilbert Leal, like me, he was teaching in the park at the time (oh how I loved to be able to go to the parks and train all year long - can't do that here in Kansas) and I really appreciated what he had going on, someone I'd let teach my children, if he'd have them.

I think I also met Sal de la Rosa. I only remember a Taiji man who's name was Sal (he was also training in the same area as Leal) and he moved like water - made me feel grossly inadequate to call myself a teacher of kung fu. Anyways...

The man Vankuen referred to a Phet, I have no idea where he operating now, really nice guy and seem to have a pulse on the martial art community, atleast when I knew him.

If you can't locate a good school via the yellow pages in SATX, my recommendation is to simply walk in the parks. People can be found all over training in various styles of MA. It seem to me when I was there, that SATX was the only place where a guy could walk into a park area with a staff and sword in hand, practice and not be questioned by police! Try that where I live now, and someone will probably draw down on you. However, in Kansas, if you walk into a park with a shotgun, people probably won't pay too much notice (just kidding).

Thanks to all who posted, brought back lots of good memories!

Peace,
Bob Melius

chud

12-01-2007, 08:16 PM

.

I checked out Gilbert Leal, like me, he was teaching in the park at the time (oh how I loved to be able to go to the parks and train all year long - can't do that here in Kansas) and I really appreciated what he had going on, someone I'd let teach my children, if he'd have them.

I've always heard good things about Gilbert, but haven't had a chance to check him out. Here's his web site: http://www.wingchunkungfusanantonio.com/

.I think I also met Sal de la Rosa. I only remember a Taiji man who's name was Sal (he was also training in the same area as Leal) and he moved like water -
Yep, that's Sal all right. He's a great teacher, very detail oriented, and lots of learning through repetition. Good to learn from.
Here's his web site: http://sachenstyle.com/

Sorry we didn't have a chance to meet when you were living in San Antonio Bob.

-- Chris

zhugeliang

12-02-2007, 07:38 AM

Gilbert Leal isn't teaching in a park anymore for sometime now, he has his own space - pretty small considering how his wing chun class seems to be growing and growing. I did check out his Shaolin class - what he is teaching is more like modern wushu. He trained with Wang Jurong in Houston. I think Charles Graham also trained with Wang Jurong if my memory is correct but at a different time maybe.

chud

12-02-2007, 08:33 AM

GLW

12-02-2007, 03:16 PM

Gilbert Leal ... I did check out his Shaolin class - what he is teaching is more like modern wushu.

It is a common mistaek that people doing northern from roots tracing back to people like Wang Ziping are doing modern wushu...not so..it just happens to be that things like the old Changquan compulsory (not the current one) were heavily based on Cha Quan.

Madame Wang taught some of the contemporary sets but was teaching 90% traditional based heavily in the Cha Quan system.

RFM

12-03-2007, 07:17 AM

It's a pity that I am not in SATX anymore. After reading many of these posts I think a nice little community would have developed outside the web. Do any of you meet or talk outside the forum?

Before I left SATX, like two days before - I got a phone call from Porkchop who at the time used the handle. Lost Disciple. We had a good conversation, too bad, it came too late.

If you want to complain about Kung Fu deserts, you have to come up to Kansas. It so shaolin dry here that it makes you want to take up hunting and fishing...wait...that's what I did! Well the fishing part at least.

Well, if I am ever back in SATX (which is a possibility with my job) I will be looking forward to some of that good Texan hospitality. Do they still have Tom's Ribs? Boy that was good eating. I also miss Tomatillos on Broadway and the Golden Pheonix off of Perrin-Beittel (Sp?). Now I'm hungry.

Peace,
Bob

zhugeliang

12-03-2007, 08:24 AM

RFM,

Those places are still here in SATX. In fact, Golden Phoenix got remodeled and had a grand reopening over the weekend. Ding Hao on 410 is being remodeled right now. Tom's Ribs - still two or three of those here. No we don't get together outside the forums (too busy training with whoever San Antonio has got to offer - Leal, Horacio etc). This is still a Shaolin desert alright. I'm thinking of finding a job in Houston. Yes, Houston, maybe to train with those who trained with Wang Jurong in the past. Anyway let us know when you get transferred back here. But I may be gone by then??

chud

12-04-2007, 08:02 PM

Madame Wang taught some of the contemporary sets but was teaching 90% traditional based heavily in the Cha Quan system.

That was my impression too based on what I've been told by people I trust. She had no great love for the PRC, and taught traditional shaolin forms.

zhugeliang

12-05-2007, 07:10 AM

Interesting, I didn't know Wang Jurong taught 90% traditional, I thought previously maybe she taught a little more modern wushu than 10%. Ok, I stand corrected. Did Wang Jurong have any direct experience/training with Shaolin monks in the PRC before she came to Houston? Just wondering.

GLW

12-05-2007, 09:40 AM

I sent you a couple of privates on one part...

As for the 10% - be aware that Madame Wang was trained from age 5 daily by her father, Wang Ziping. She was a national champion in the late 40's and early 1950's - BEFORE the creation of contemporary wushu.

She and her father were involved in the standardization of wushu - Wang Ziping was one of the voices calling for the full retention in Wushu of Art, Health, AND Martial Use. Although Madame Wang taught things lie Wu Bu Quan, there was always a distinctive Traditional approach that never strayed far from her Cha Quan roots.

In fact, aside from learning 24, 48, and 42 Posture Taiji forms, about the only contemporary routine she taught in something like 10 years in a general class was the 32 posture changquan and the old compulsory routine.

Both were taught with a traditional flavor. In fact one time I recall that she showed us one technique in changquan and then came back next class and corrected herself. She had shown us how the technique would have been done in a traditional Cha Quan set and there was a simplification (and also a removal of a bit of application or use) in the way the complusory did it. Even so, she never said much if someone did that techniue the old way :)

zhugeliang

12-26-2007, 07:33 AM

This may be getting somewhat off topic but are there any martial arts supply stores in San Antonio? Or nearby? I've been looking for black gongfu shoes with the Chinese characters for Shaolin embroidered onto the shoe.

GLW

12-26-2007, 11:38 AM

To correct a misconception...Madame Wang Jurong was as close to apolitical as you could get.

She had a deep love of Chinese Culture and her heritage in China. She was connected to the martial world there until her death and counted numerous of her generation, her father's generation, and even the following generations as friends and colleagues.

Her teaching was all about controlling ones self...physically and emotionally. She always saw through the emotional BS and focused on the positives.

In over 15 years with her, I NEVER heard her speak disparagingly about the PRC - there were times she spoke with regret over things that happened but she was never one to focus much on the negatives...unless you are talking about a good tearjerker movie...she loved those.

Her motto and that of her father's was (excuse the spelling) "Yi Wu Wei Yu" Through martial arts make friends....

She was proud of being traditional but made no distinctions. I recall learning the old changquan compulsory from her. She taught one section as it would have been done in Cha quan...and then corrected herself a couple of classes later. She showed how the new way was easier and made the jump easier and higher but lost the application hidden the the old way. After that, if you did it the old way, she would smile and correct you...but never in a harsh way.

When learning things like even 24 Posture Taijiquan, she went into the roots of the form...what part Wu style played in 24, the influence of Sun, and how mostly it was based on Yang but was NOT Yang - and WHY it was NOT Yang. She did the same with things like 48 and 42...emphasizing the change of flavors as you went from style to style...and how you had to tie them all together with Taijiquan basic principles and good jiben gong. So...even when teaching a 100% Modern routine, she ALWAYS tied it back to its roots and the traditional - IF you were listening. If you were not, after about three times, she quit talking about it with you and merely showed a movement. She was patient but did not keep saying the same things over and over if you weren't listening.

What a lot of people mistake as modern is her not talking much about applications...at least in regular class. She would not go there unless she felt your basic understanding and abilities were up to par. But if you ever had her show the application of something on you (in private class) - you remembered it...she was like a medium sized tree in her rooting...totally solid and EXACT.

As for martial arts supplies...not much in San Antonio - but you can get things from Beijing Imports in Houston...3 hours away. not to be rude here since MartialARts Mart sells a lot...basically it boils down to what is available, how much shipping is, and who has what you want and need. There is no single supplier in the US that has everything. So it is good to know all of the suppliers.

zhugeliang

12-26-2007, 01:04 PM

Hey GLW

Isn't Beijing Imports in Bellaire somewhere. I may be in Houston in mid-March, planning to take some wushu classes there and buy stuff and job hunt for a few days.

I like her motto Yi Wu Wei Yu though it's getting harder and harder to make friends through what (few) wushu there is here in San Antonio.

GLW

12-26-2007, 08:56 PM

Beijing Imports is on Jackwood...which is about a 3 blocks or so south off of Beechnut...which is the next major street south of Bellaire Blvd. Typically, Nelson Chin keeps regular hours and is usually not there on Saturdays...so you would have to contact him first. It is always a good idea anyway because sometimes he may steer you to come later due to having a shipment tied up in customs - and it is usually worth the wait when you hold off going on such notice from him.

chud

12-28-2007, 08:58 PM

GLW, thanks for the stories about Madame Wang. Good stuff. If you're ever in San Antonio shoot me a PM or email.

zhugeliang

12-29-2007, 07:30 AM

I agree with Chud, we do like those stories about Madame Wang. A great tribute to her and I trust her students will continue her legacy. Chud where are you training now in San Antonio?

GLW

12-29-2007, 04:18 PM

this is a rough time of year - she passed away 2 years ago on Christmas day..and her funeral was the 29th... today two years ago.

zhugeliang

12-29-2007, 05:43 PM

GLW,

I was thinking the same thing too. It is tough on a lot of people in Madame Wang's circle.

chud

01-10-2008, 10:21 PM

Chud where are you training now in San Antonio?

Mostly with Sal de la Rosa doing Chen style right now. I also train with Dr Gary Stier in Wimberly, but haven't been to see him in a while due to family/life issues (he's an hour and a half away). I also know some TST Xingyi folks.

chud

06-08-2008, 03:20 PM

There is apparently a push hands group in San Antonio now. I haven't been yet, but it should be a good way to practice and meet people: click here (http://emptyflower.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=271)

chud

06-25-2009, 05:12 PM

Texas Tang Shou Tao Association (http://txtsta.org/) presents:

Xingyiquan classes in San Antonio!

Time: Saturday mornings at 10 am. Class is approximately 1 hour.
Location: Lady Bird Johnson Park (http://www.sanantonio.gov/sapar/lbjparkreservations.asp?res=1280&ver=true) (near Wurzbach Parkway and Nacogdoches). Drive to back of park and look for the covered pavilion.
Instructors: Currently we have two instructors teaching; both received their black sashes from Sifu Harold Bellamy. Other alumni of Sifu Bellamy's old school may be making occasional guest appearances.

Feel free to PM me with any questions.

Thanks,

Chris

zhugeliang

06-28-2009, 06:18 PM

Thanks for posting this chud.

So far I'm not seeing much in San Antonio in the way of modern wushu and Shaolin gongfu, except at Dragon Martial Arts, but I wish San Antonio would get more of what I'm looking for.

As a result I've been going to Houston some weekends to get what I want.

chud

06-28-2009, 09:19 PM

Thanks for posting this chud.

You are quite welcome sir. I am just a beginning student; I posted this on behalf of the instructors, who are very good. Hope to see you there.

So far I'm not seeing much in San Antonio in the way of modern wushu and Shaolin gongfu, except at Dragon Martial Arts, but I wish San Antonio would get more of what I'm looking for.

As a result I've been going to Houston some weekends to get what I want.

Understood. Things are getting a little bit better though.

zhugeliang

07-11-2009, 07:34 AM

There seems to be a Chun Sul (sp?) martial arts school opening on NW Military Drive near the Beijing restaurant. Anyone know about this place, what it is, etc?

Pork Chop

07-11-2009, 09:30 PM

wow, can't believe i missed this thread.
hope RFM can swing back this way some day, I owe him some dim sum - gonna have to ask for the secret menu at golden wok.

As far as other members from the board, Water Dragon and Vankuen I know personally and would hang out with more if i had the time. I'd like to check out that 8 step class in the park, seems like fun. Kinda in between training right now, trying to focus on fitness & slowly transitioning to boxing. Would like to eventually do Judo on Saturdays and will probably go back to muay thai with Kru Phet if only casually.

More than willing to hang out with anybody else from here, even if only to grab some tea or show off what little forms I still remember.

i thought that chun sul place was korean?