not only that, you need to sink your elbows...
...but you're right. That was another major point I was making with the third wave - the cooperation heretofore unseen with the Shaolin brotherhood.
We'll see if Chen Fei makes it into the fourth wave. I think I know what the fourth wave will be, and I'm not sure he'll qualify. Then again, Toffler only went to three, so I may abandon the concept entirely. ;)
Shao-Lin monk 'image',...
To answer another part of the question,..I think that the 'monk' image as a selling point is BAD for business, as a long term projection. Too many people are buying 'robes & beads', claiming 'Monk-hood', and dirtying-up the name of Shao-Lin! Most people ,(the media driven public), don't even know that the words mean 'small - forest',...LOL'! Since 'most' American students don't speak Chinese,..I think it's kind of funny/sad that they chant Buddhist sayings, light & bow with incense,...etc.' Sort of' like the hip-hop/Rap kids' that aren't from the American Afro-American culture, getting all 'jiggy wit' it up in da hood',...yikes! Now, I'm not saying you have to be Chinese only, but if you are Seriuos about it, then learn how to speak Chinese,..learn what the cultural influences are to and behind such actions/rituals as; lighting incense and bowing three times,..or before you put a picture of the 'Kitchen God' (Tsoa Chun),in your house, understand why,..learn his name,..put it in the 'proper' place. Don't just take some Fung-Shuai practicioner's word for it. (But, that's just my opinion) I remember my Si-Fu travelling to China and being disalusioned' by the Non-Shao Lin appearence of the 'Coaches',...cigerette hanging from his lip,..old' American 80s' T-Shirt that said; Disco-Fever,..or something just as campy',..but Si-Fu said this Teacher/Coach was Excellent!! Look for the 'goods' not the cover'. Gong Xi, Li Ma-Keh
Shaolin Village : Houston
hasayfu,
I train at Shi Xing Hao's school in Houston. I been there for a few years now. One of the main factors I started training there was yes because he was a "monk" (using the term loosely). I also researched the shaolin monks which peeked my interest before I started training there. I was already in martial arts (karate) when I found a Shaolin monk school. I started training Shaolin when Xing Hao was with Shi Deshan and there was only one shaolin school in Houston. For reasons that be, there are now four shaolin schools (led by four different monks) within close proximity of one another here in the China town area.
The Training
When I joined Shaolin here in Houston, I got a reality check. Here I was a karate student of two years learning kung fu. So I thought to myself "no problem" I can do this....even when it came to sparring. After my first week, I never experienced such intensity, hard work or sweat during training. Every part of my body literally hurt and was sore. "San Da" was basically our sparring at the monks school. Shi Deshan is a awesome sand da coach. Every karate technique I threw out there was countered by a take down and suddenly I was flat on my back...lots of times. It was something totally unexpected because take downs were not "legal" in karate sparring. I been hooked ever since. So I stayed with the school, learned shaolin, realized I didnt need a gym membership because I got a good complete packaged work out training at a Shaolin school.
I can't begin to tell you what a difference there was when I was training at a Western martial arts school compared to a TCMA school. The quality was different. It made me question the validity of some of these so called martial arts schools that exist around here.
The Monk Issue
As far as the monk issue goes....I get the feeling that the chinese community here in Houston recognizes the "monks" as Wuseng from Shaolin, nothing more. Houston is home to a very large and growing chinese community. Its Chinatown is nationally known for being one of its largest (aside from Ny and Ca). The Chinese community recognizes the "monks" as coming from Shaolin but focuses mainly on the martial arts/kung fu aspect.....not the monks as being these ordained religious monks. So there is a understanding of this here in Houston and for the most part the real vs fake monk debate is left alone. The majority of the student base here for the shaolin schools are Chinese.
As far as Xing Hao is concerned the monk issue is not "forced". Students are not required to shave their heads, wear robes or have to study Buddhism. The focus is more on Kung Fu and training. I know there are students of the other monks that post around here so they may give you insight about their school.
The Bottom Line
I hope this answered some of the questions you had. There are slim pickings here for TCMA schools in Houston. I can't help to get a chuckle out of those that flame shaolin and say its all wushu, fake, etc. They just don't have a clue. I think too many people focus on the wrong issues of the monks rather than what they have to offer.