Originally Posted by qixingmantis
good day to all
Im south African...and they welcomed me when 1 was there, there was Australians so anyone can come visit the temple....but you have to pay per class when you get there...there's a sign at reception that says no payment no gong fu....and one that says and 1 quote “ if you are late come early” which 1 thought was classic...
repetition is a big factor so be prepared to do drills over and over...in the foundation class...shifu yanzi will take 3 movements from xiao hong and you'll drill those moves over and over....
h's about 30 id say hard to tell but don't worry he's got heaps of energy and you wont tire him...you'll be finished long before he will...remember he coaches all day everyday...
shifu Shi yan li now runs the Birmingham branch to he is no longer based at STUK but maybe you'll be lucky and heel be in London when you get there......
1 knew xiao hong, da hong, etc before 1 got to STUK but when 1 left there 1 understood it...big difference between knowing and understanding it...1 find many that many seminars I've attended and forms I've learned...have just been empty hand and leg movement many instructors know these empty shells...yan zi shifu made me understand the forms.....he taught me to be substantial and insubstantial...now 1 feel 1 can move....to be in one place and then just by shifting your weight appear in another......1 found we as westerners forgot how to walk we just want to run...so go there with an empty cup....
you are not forced to study chan Buddhism .....but yan zi shifu says you can not separate chan and gong fu.......so 1 think it's a good think to understand chan....not saying you need to be Buddhist...but see why shaolin gong fu is what it is because of chan.
in south africa we have the biggest chan buddhist temple outside of china...1 go there a few times a year to retreat...and simply calmness of mind will let you over come even the biggest problem.
namo ami to fou