Shaolin Temple UK

[golden monk]

Greetings to fellow forum peeps.

Would like to know if anyone has trained at Shi Yanzi's Shaolin Temple in the UK? Or is a current student ?

* Does he teach most of .. if not all classes?
* Is the majority of the training wushu or is there a strong focus on "Traditional Shaolin" forms or is it a mix of the 2?
* Are the classes mostly taught in Mandarin ?

Like to hear positive and negative feedback, as I am considering going to the UK to train with him.

Cheers

Golden monk

[qixingmantis]

Good day all

Yip have had the pleasure of training with Shifu shi yanzi

The yu bai ban classes which are the beginner classes are taught by his disciple monks....he does how ever interact.....after youve completed and done the grading he will instruct you.

all classes are taught in mandarin... the names of the runs and the first basic forms

element such as wulong panda, zou you kai gong shi, mabu jia da and the first basic form wubu chuan are all taught in mandarin...all names ie the stretches basic kick and flexability are given in chinese.

after the grading you do the first form xiao hong and various sanda elements...shifu shi yanzi says that if you dont know how to use your gong fu to fight you dont know gong fu....hes very much into the fighting side .....you will understand all the applications to xiao hong and the various elements within xioa hong such as silk reeling and the sanda fighting apps.....very potent form and i rekon if you just knew xiao hong youde kick anyones proverbial ass......he is very tough on students but hes the most awesome person ive ever had the pleasure of meeting in tha martial world.....he is very traditional...you can also learn the baduan qi gong as well as chan budhism and also rou quan.....do yourself a favour and train with shifu shi yanzi i got pics of him and you can see the size of his arms hes just awesome power...hes an amazing instructor...and a monk in the true sense

namo ami to fou

chris

[golden monk]

This is great information! At last .. some one speaks!

Have you seen how the syllabus is, I don't expect you to tell me word for word.

But is it mix of wushu and the "traditioanl forms".. or is it mostly wushu.

I know this question causes all sorts of ignorant and "monk" bashing people to start writing loads of unjustified responses.

Sorry! maybe best private message me to avoid this.

( I've seen other forums where there are like 10 pages or comments that are coming from possibly people who have never trained at UK shaolin Temple. )

[golden monk]

How about Chinese lion dance. Does Shifu Shi Yanzi teach this ?

[qixingmantis]

Hi there

yes have both those syllabus......all 1 have to say is that Shifu shi yan zi is from shaolin temple sent by the venerable abbot of shaolin at song shan...so as far as im concerned it's the real deal...I've seen wushu and know one or two wushu forms...and shi yan zi is def not wushu...he showed me an application using me as the attacker...and let me tell you he can generate massive power from where only he knows...it felt like my lung was gonna explode....1 weigh 92 kilos and he is shorter than me....but 1 went down like no man put me down before...1 wanna learn shaolin gong fu from a man like that....1 was a military paratrooper and we had to do many hand on hand combat scenarios .....I've never been punished that hard before as when shi yanzi demonstrated the seven star posture and application...so imagine he really meant to hurt someone...thats shaolin gong fu.

so any critic who wants to say any negative against shi yan zi ...step up to the plate...and this goes for shi yan ming and shi goulin the all 34 gen monks...you cant say anything till youve been in their presence....as for the monks who do the wheel of life show...those guys are also awesome...yes it's a show and lots is coreography...but I'vemet them too and played some forms with them...they also know their ****e...and they will also teach any of us westerners a thing or seven ....1 travelled 17 000km to train with yanzi...and 1 go back once a year...

so yes its as traditional as it gets....shi yan lei ...his gong fu brother...is also awesome...see if ya can get to work with him too...hes got the most hectic round house kick...and just by working with him my kicks have improved 100 times....and 1 thought 1 could kick...what a joke...

all 1 can say to those who have nothin good to say about the monks sent out by shaolin temple......rather respect what what you don't know......being a monk is about virtue and respect when you meet him youll see that hes a monk in the true sense

no i dont think he does lion dance...was none of that when i was there...he specialises in iron jacket

namo ami to fou

chris

[I Chin Ching]

Brilliant news! Whers abouts in the UK, does he teach?

[qixingmantis]

he teaches in london...in tufnell park......

chris

[golden monk]

Good info!

And what about class sizes?

Are they huge?

I think from what you have written that it would be an advantage if you spoke mandarin?

What are your thoughts?

[qixingmantis]

classes are not that big...but you have to be there a bit earlier or they wont let you in....id say about +- 10 per class sometimes more sometimes less....see its not a set class...so anyone can join the yu bai ban clas (beginner) that is generally taught by disciple monks....then with shi yan zi the disciple monks are in the class with you......those classes have about the same no. of students

yea it does help to speak or understand basic mandarin...shi yan zi not so hot at english.....but you get a very good idea of what hes saying coz. he demonstrates really well....

you can do as many classes a day as you like....its better that they small get better tuition....just be a bit fit and a bit supple before you go...coz. you will take strain if ya unfit....specially with shifu yanzi...there a small hill that goes past the front of the temple....more of a driveway...but sprints up the hill and down for a few minutes takes its toll...make sure you got good gong fu shoes...you can buy fei yues at the temple...and they are a life saver...

[Shaolin101]

I remember looking there when i started training - i was prevented by the cost though.

I saw on the site that you can pay month or year upfront and do as many classes as you want but only in your level - so expect to stay at the basics for a bit before moving to foundation classes!

They also teach Mandarin if you need it! i bet most of the people that go dont speak mandarin - being english etc. Dont let that prevent you.

As far as i am aware the training can be tough sometimes - like anywhere though and is also a bit repetative (or at least used to be). If you dont need to change to something new every 5 minutes it shouldn't be a problem!

[golden monk]

The repetition is understandable. I think it is a good indication that the foundations are drilled at early stages.

The classes sound promising. So long Shifu is teaching and holding the classes himself most of the time. Everyone's allowed a break! We are all human, after all!

Have any of you tried the classes held by Shi Yanlei ? Are they similar to Shi Yanzi's?

I figure that you guys are living in the UK or nearby, are there any other " monks" that have the equal passion, teaching qualities and martial explosiveness as Shi Yanlei and Shi Yanzi ?

How old are the 2 Shifu's ? I ask this as, I've seen how older Shifus sometimes tend to slowly teach less and less.. so senior instructors take over.

Is there any emphasis on Chan Buddhism. Or is this up to the student to request for it ? I'm not sure whether in the UK .. there is any interest in this aspect of Shaolin.. or is everyone more keen to get into the San Shou?

I read a lot about Shi Yanzi been a very good San Shou coach and achieveing some good results for his students.

Cheers!

[golden monk]

Anyone train with these monks ?

Please PM me

Thanks

[qixingmantis]

Good day all


yes have trained with shifu shi yanzi.......most awesome experience ....if you ever get tyhe chance...i say train with shi yanzi

all the best
chris

[GeneChing]

...as if the S.F. Bay Area needs another Shaolin rep We're like at three dozen plus now. I've totally lost count. Nevertheless, Yanlei is now teaching in Berkeley, CA. He's come across the pond from the UK (two ponds if you go all the way back to China) and he's submitted an ezine article for us.

Check out The Shaolin Dharma of Fighting by Shi Yan Lei

[shaolinexecutioner]

Calling BS on this 'monk'.

He says that "most fighters don't train in qigong and body conditioning". WTF? They might not train 'Shaolin Steel Jacket' but they sure as hell train body conditioning. A Shaolin monk would say something that idiotic? And he says "I started off by allowing my opponent to attack me. I didn't defend and I didn't block. Because I had trained so intensely in Shaolin Steel Jacket, I found that I could harness my qi immediately. " If he just let his opponent hit him, the judges don't score on how much pain he can endure. You score points in modern sanshou every time you deliver a solid hit. It doesn't matter whether your opponent can take it or not, with the exception of a knock-out. That's absurd. I didn't see any titles on his website. There are plenty of Shaolin monks that have entered sanshou competition. They all have titles and are up front with them. Did Shi Yan Lei ever win anything?