Any real Shaolin teachers in Columbus Ohio?

[Wannabemonk]

A brief history of my martial art experience.

I first started out in Jeet Kune Do for about a year and half. While I was there I was also studying all of Bruce Lees books and couldn't help but to notice that they were going against the very thing that Bruce Lee preached. Bruce said no belt levels, instead this school used shirts. He said it was important to practice forums and stances when you are first starting. They said Bruce Lee was completely against them. The biggest of all, they were pretty much against full contact sparring. Bruce Lee would have compared it to learning to swim on dry land. Long story short, I ended up leaving seeking a better teacher.

One day when I was training in Jeet Kune Do the teacher assign me to practice with one of the new students. I thought, hey he's new and probably isn't going too hit or kick to hard. He used a skipping side kick. The sound of the kick was so loud it was like a gun had went off. The kick sent me flying for about 3 feet, then I hit the ground and rowed the next 10 feet stopped only by the wall. I had to find out how he did it.

I shared with him the problems I had about the current class I was in. He agreed and said he didn't know much but could teach me the little he did learn back when he had a real kung fu teacher.

A few months later he lets me know that he has located his kung fu teacher again and invited me to come train with him. The training only lasted for about 6 months. During that 6 months all he really thought us was the basics.

The training was like nothing else I've been through. Each and every class he reached the bar beyond what me and my friend thought possible but somehow we'd make it and he'd congratulate us on making it through training for that day. Our choice was simple. If you couldn't do something he'd beat punish you till you did if he thought you were holding back. If you didn't want to be punished you could either do what was asked of you or leave and never return.

Well, I don't really want to go into the reasons as to why I left. Lets just say our trainer was a little...on the weird side and made us feel really uncomfortable. If you want more info just pm me and I'll let you know.

After I left his class I learned of the "famous" Shaolin Do and how they were actually Shaolin Kung Fu. I trained there for a few months only because I couldn't find anything better. Finally I talked the teacher into letting us join in on the sparring matches even though we were only white slashes. That was the dumbest thing this teacher could ever do. The teacher had us all line up and fight against the highest ranking people in the class. Since the school was fairly new the highest ranking was only a second brown slash. I finally got my chance after he went through nearly the whole line. I wasn't even trying to hurt him. I was only playing around and he just bowed out right in the middle of our match. He told me that after training there for 4 year he didn't stand a chance against me.

Since then I went to quite a few different schools in Columbus. The result is the same. It would seem as if these teachers are only out to make money and not there to actually teach their students self defensive.

I've tried giving up on martial arts all together but somehow I just can't. I've stopped training but not a single day goes by that I don't think of the training I went through during that short 6 months of my life. Somehow it changed me. I just can't explain it.

Well, there is my introduction. Sorry for the length. I've giving up on looking for good trainers in the phone book. I've found two really good trainers and neither of them were in the phone book. My search has brought me here. I wonder how many others are here for that same reason.

[B-Rad]

lol, a good side kick is a great weapon ;)

The only really good teacher I can think of that's in the phone book is Tony Brown's kungfu school. He' a phenomenal Hung Gar teacher (also teaches southern mantis, I think), and former full contact fighting champ. Hung Gar is southern Shaolin related (at least through legend). It's an awesome system, you might like it. He's a very honest and high quality teacher too. For northern Shaolin styles, I know of two Chinese teachers who aren't in the phonebook, though they also teach other systems (baji quan and taiji quan for instance). One may have retired from teaching Shaolin related material though. You could also look into Muay Thai, as I think there's supposed to be a pretty good teacher in the area. Even if it's not a perfect fit for you, I think you'll learn some good basic fighting skills that will translate well if you do find your perfect kungfu teacher. There's a lot of alternative choices here in Columbus, I think.

[Immortal_Dragon]

Wannabemonk,

Wow.....I thought I was the only one who truly felt this way. Interesting story. I too sit in the same chair as you. I have had a long history of martial arts. I started out with a local Karate school in high school and eventually ventured out. I was always fascinated in the speed, power and grace of Kung fu. So my search began. I drifted through a few yellow page kung fu schools around my area. I found a school I liked but a year later he closed it and moved to the far north side of town which was out of my area. Then one day I found the ultimate school. Trained there for years only to be truly disappointed and left hurt in the end. For personal reasons, I will not disclose school names or persons involved.

So needless to say It feels like I have embarked on my search again. I have been out of a school for a few months now....but I practice what I have learned. Looking back at my experience I have questioned if there are truly any martial arts school out there that teach to pass the lineage or teach to make money, use people or invent the next big "craze". I don't know. I find a lot of martial art schools lack the spirit, tradition and discipline that was once associated with martial arts. In the age of modern technology and guns it almost feels like there isn't much need for martial arts. I can drive a few miles and see the "Fitness martial art clubs" or see Olympic Tae Kwon Do schools around every corner. Now, wushu itself is going down the same road when it becomes an olympic sport. Is this really martial arts?

In answer to your question, I never been to Columbus Ohio. I can't tell you if there are any good schools there. But for now keep searching. You will get that right feeling when you find the right one.......if the right one exits.:)

[Pearsof]

I know this post is quite old, but has anyone discovered a solid school for Kung-Fu training? I'm relocating to Columbus, OH and would like to continue my Kung-Fu training but I am a bit dubious in trying the schools that I've seen...

[Raipizo]

I know this post is quite old, but has anyone discovered a solid school for Kung-Fu training? I'm relocating to Columbus, OH and would like to continue my Kung-Fu training but I am a bit dubious in trying the schools that I've seen...

I don't know of any in Columbus per se but I'm sure there is, ask Ginosifu or even Mooyingmantis who is in the Akron area, Gino teaches northern shaolin he may have friends or knows someone in the Columbus area, just be patient. You should come to the Great Lakes kung fu tournament sometime in Cleveland there's a topic on it now in the Kung fu training section I think.

[bawang]

I know this post is quite old, but has anyone discovered a solid school for Kung-Fu training? I'm relocating to Columbus, OH and would like to continue my Kung-Fu training but I am a bit dubious in trying the schools that I've seen...

find a chinese cultural center/hometown association

im assuming by "avoid dubious" you mean you want the hardcore sh1t

[Raipizo]

find a chinese cultural center/hometown association

im assuming by "avoid dubious" you mean you want the hardcore sh1t

I'm sure there is, O.S.U probably has a martial arts club/team also.

[Pearsof]

Thank you for the recommendations, Raipizo and Bawang.

Great Lakes Kung Fu in Cleveland sounds like a great way to integrate myself a bit more in the midwestern community for martial arts.

And yes... I do want the hardcore stuff :)

[Lucas]

This is the part where bawang tells you to bang trees and squat.

[Shaolin Rasta]

Wannabemonk, I live in the Dayton area, and I have a lot of contact with Columbus with friends, other martial brothers & cousins, etc. I personally don't know of any legit teachers of Shaolin quan (by that I assume you mean the Songshan Shaolin Si curriculum like hong quan, louhan, tongbei, etc. and weapons like yinshhou gun, meihua dao,etc.). That's not to say you won't find some individual practitioners and so forth, just maybe not actual teachers with schools, programs and such. There could be, I just haven't discovered them.
OSU does, I believe, have a wushu team, Dragon Pheonix Wushu Team. Don't know for sure if they're still doin their thing, but you could check.
There are other CMA in Columbus tho. Some good Chen taiji from some of my gungfu cousins,and others.
What you should do, is go check Asian Festival in Franklin Park this weekend. Fri.Sat. & Sun. I think. You should see martial arts demos and be able to bump into all kinds of people who may be able to steer youin a good direction. Just google it.Columbus Asian Festival. You shouldfind all kindsa info.
At the very least, you could link up with me sometime as I practice various forms of Shaolin Quan, but I am not a teacher or anything, but I have over 30 yrs CMA experience and I'm really into Shaolin everything! I am willing to share my meager knowledge on a mutual basis,until such time that we uncover some real Shaolin wuseng somewhere nearby. Herndon VA. has a good representative but I don't know of anything closer.Maybe ChicagoI believe. Anyway, peace. Amitofo.

[Shaolin Rasta]

I guess I should have directed my reply more towards Pearsof than wannabemonk, since the thread was started more than 6 years ago! Got to pay more attention. But, actually, I just discovered today a school that says they teach Shaolin Quan in Columbus. They are called Huiguang Martial Arts Association. Here's a link:
www.huiguang-martialarts.com
They're going to be doing a demonstration at Columbus Asian Festival this weekend. You can google the schedule. Hope this helps your search.

[bawang]

I guess I should have directed my reply more towards Pearsof than wannabemonk, since the thread was started more than 6 years ago! Got to pay more attention. But, actually, I just discovered today a school that says they teach Shaolin Quan in Columbus. They are called Huiguang Martial Arts Association. Here's a link:
www.huiguang-martialarts.com
They're going to be doing a demonstration at Columbus Asian Festival this weekend. You can google the schedule. Hope this helps your search.

looks fake

[Shaolin Rasta]

looks fake

Yea, Bawang, I'm naturally skeptical most of the time too. Only thing to do is go check them out. And if they aren't legit - I will challenge them to death match!

[bawang]

you dont need to go check it out. click on the webwsite gallery. its full of skinny old people.

[pazman]

its full of skinny old people.

Welcome to the world of Traditional Chinese Martial Arts.

[Scythefall]

you dont need to go check it out. click on the webwsite gallery. its full of skinny old people.

This school seems to know what's up with traditional China. At the top of their page they say Traditional Chinese Martial Arts but if you look at the school photos it shows a Korean flag. This is legit because Chinese people like Taekwondo more than gong fu.

OP, you should go to this school. You'll have a genuine Chinese experience.

[LFJ]

This is legit because Chinese people like Taekwondo more than gong fu.

Sad but true. :(

[Shaolin Rasta]

So the short answer to the original question seems to be - no.

[Empty_Cup]

So the short answer to the original question seems to be - no.

based on a fully exhaustive glance at their website and the infinite wisdom of bawang :rolleyes:

My recommendation to the OP: go check out a class or two and decide for yourself

[bawang]

based on a fully exhaustive glance at their website and the infinite wisdom of bawang :rolleyes:

My recommendation to the OP: go check out a class or two and decide for yourself

better listen to my wisdom than a shaolin do crackhead like you.

[Kymus]

Generally, i always avoid a place if I can't read the instructor's bio, but if you don't mind stopping by in person to watch a class, then it can't hurt.

Some schools are cool and just let you watch and give you a brochure. Then there are some that will try to pressure you in to trying a class... even when you tell them you're busy.

[LFJ]

Some schools are cool and just let you watch and give you a brochure. Then there are some that will try to pressure you in to trying a class... even when you tell them you're busy.

You're too busy to participate but you can sit there and watch?

This kind of person never comes back because their only motivated enough to come in and look once. They're more comfortable sitting at home watching movies and daydreaming. Only those who DO the class end up joining, because they are the motivated ones anyway.

Martial art is about movement. If you go to check out a class, be prepared to do something.

[Kymus]

You're too busy to participate but you can sit there and watch?

This kind of person never comes back because their only motivated enough to come in and look once. They're more comfortable sitting at home watching movies and daydreaming. Only those who DO the class end up joining, because they are the motivated ones anyway.

Martial art is about movement. If you go to check out a class, be prepared to do something.

The school in question that did this to me was terrible, and telling them I was "busy" was my excuse so I could avoid saying "your school is real sh!tty; there's no way I'd train here".

Generally speaking, I think that when you try to abruptly make plans with someone and you tell them you're "busy" and you "aren't sure when you'll be free", it's considered rude to pry.

My old school offered anyone that came in a free lesson. If you wanted to sit and watch, they were OK with that. They didn't try to verbally drag you on to the floor. The assn't instructor at this other school kept trying to find a hole in my argument to schedule me to come in to try a class another day.. eventually, after the 3rd try, his teacher told him to leave me alone... thank god.

addendum: just to be clear, I watched a full class, and it was afterwards that they kept trying to schedule a day for me to come in and try a class.

[LFJ]

I see. He was just trying to follow up and get his enrollment bonus from you.

I'd always suggest participating first if the school offers a free trial. If they don't then they obviously have a problem with new enrollment and need or want money too badly and are tired of training people for free who never come back.

If they're good enough they can afford to give prospective students a free trial knowing they'll probably enroll after the good experience. My school always gave 3 free trials so they could get a sense of a normal week of training. It usually didn't take that long to enroll them with no effort beyond allowing them to join in.

[Wannabemonk]

You guys thought I was gone. I did find a few trainers outside of Columbus. Bunch of places 2.5 to 3 hours away. I tried it but it was just too much. I'd drive there, train for 2 to 3 hours and then drive back. It took up my whole day.

I did finally managed to find a private training here in Columbus who has taken me on as a student. I'm not 100% sure but I don't believe he'll be taking anyone else on at the moment. Good luck to anyone else.

I wonder if I know Pearsof.

[Miqi]

Well that's just not the attidue, is it? Lol. My old coach begged his father to let him train at Shaolin - they lived 'relativey' near, but it was a serious walk to get there - but his father used to walk him there, and he'd stay there for a few weeks, then his father would come and pick him up and they'd walk back. And then they'd do it again. Have you ever read Gichin Funakoshi's autobiography? - he used to walk for hours to get to training everyday. It all depends how much you really want it.

[Wannabemonk]

Well that's just not the attidue, is it? Lol. My old coach begged his father to let him train at Shaolin - they lived 'relativey' near, but it was a serious walk to get there - but his father used to walk him there, and he'd stay there for a few weeks, then his father would come and pick him up and they'd walk back. And then they'd do it again. Have you ever read Gichin Funakoshi's autobiography? - he used to walk for hours to get to training everyday. It all depends how much you really want it.

Not going to disagree with this at all. I seriously love kung fu but it isn't the only love of my life. Traveling out every week gets hard and expensive while also attempting to work and manage a family.

I haven't read Gichin Funakoshi's autobiography but he sounds like he took this a lot more seriously than I have.

[Shaolin_614]

[QUOTE=Wannabemonk;1262976]Not going to disagree with this at all. I seriously love kung fu but it isn't the only love of my life. Traveling out every week gets hard and expensive while also attempting to work and manage a family.


Hello Wannabemonk, I rarely, if ever go on forums, which would explain my delay in responding to your post. However, I want to respond first by saying, I am a instructor at Huiguang in the Columbus area and I am very fortunate to study Shaolin, traditional Shaolin. I have had the good fortune of studying with some very good and very well know Masters, in and outside of Shaolin. So, to respond to one of the other people who posted in this thread, I would say that my "Bio" is, I started as most of us did in the 80's in Tae Kwon Do, then later I happened upon a school in Reynoldsburg, Ohio about 25 years ago. I found them after I was watching old Kung Fu movies and I remember the movie was "The Yellow River Fighter", I decided to go and find a school. This was a decision that would change my life...I will spare you the story for now, but it is enough to say that because of my choice to find a school I have been blessed to study with Masters such as: Master Chan Pui, Chen Dao Yun, Chan Sau Chung, Chen Bing, Zhang shijie and Zhu Tianxi. With all that, I have been focusing on Shaolin for about the last 15+ years mostly working in Jingang quan, Luohan Quan, Shaolin QiGong and Shaolin weapons. If you would like to see an example of some of what is taught at the school you can go to youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cr3q4vhzr58 or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tlHmh29FYo I have had the great opportunity to travel several times to China to continue with my training. We try to go to China every year to our sister school in China which is headed by Zhang Shijie and then we also have them come to Columbus as well. So, as far as traditional, we are very traditional. In my school, we take all kinds of students from young to old. There is no requirement, I also find it very interesting that for Martial Artist, as some of the people who responded to your post claim to be, can look at some pictures and out of that snap shot judge a school. Last thing, I want to respond to the individual who pointed out the Korean Flag, yes it was, but we at the time were sharing the space with a Tae Kwon do school, enough said. I extend a welcome to all who are interested in training in Shaolin Kung Fu, we accept all, no one person is ever excluded. I always say, " If you want to train, if you want to learn you will find the way and no obstacle will stop you from achieving what you want." Wannabemonk, though as mentioned before it has been a while since your first interest, I always extend the offer to come and study with us, but if you have found a school I wish you the best of luck in your studies.