Abbot Shi Yongxin's 2023 West Coast visit & Shaolin Kung Fu Games

[GeneChing]

See the photos on our facebook album here.

I just got back from Los Angeles. More reports and pix on the way.

[GeneChing]

Shaolin monks bring Kung Fu to U.S.(1/6)
2023-11-14 10:54:33Ecns.cn Editor :Li Yan


Monks of the Chinese Shaolin Kung Fu group greet the audience after a performance at the Million Dollar Theater in Los Angeles, California, the United State, Nov. 12, 2023. (Photo: China News Service/Zhang Shuo)
Organized by the renowned Songshan Shaolin Temple in China, a series of martial arts-related activities took place in Los Angeles.


A martial arts student performs at the Million Dollar Theater in Los Angeles, California, the United State, Nov. 12, 2023. (Photo: China News Service/Zhang Shuo)

There are 4 more pix but they were tricky to cut&paste so I didn't bother.


Immortal-Shaolin-The-Past-Present-and-Future-of-Kung-Fu-Nov-12-Los-Angeles-CA
Abbot-Shi-Yongxin-s-2023-West-Coast-visit-amp-Shaolin-Kung-Fu-Games

[GeneChing]

See more pix here

[YinOrYan]

For the record, I did NOT see Grandmaster Sin Kwang Thé there. I was all over this event. If he was present, I'm sure someone would've pointed him out to me had I just not seen him.

Maybe he was wearing a disguise like me so the event would not turn into a brawl for the official Shaolin, haha

[YinOrYan]

See more pix here

Those shoes you are wearing are great for kung fu. They last about 5 times longer than any other shoes...

[GeneChing]

Maybe he was wearing a disguise like me so the event would not turn into a brawl for the official Shaolin, haha

That would've been cool. I've been witness to some Shaolin brawls. They are always fascinating.

Those shoes you are wearing are great for kung fu. They last about 5 times longer than any other shoes...

Keens. I luv Keens for street wear. Although I wear Feiyues for practice like all the other Shaoliners...

[GeneChing]

Posted to our facebook album. Please like & share!

[GeneChing]

These are in the same Facebook album.

[GeneChing]

...but it got posted on Shaolin's official site too.

Los Angeles to host 2023 North American Shaolin Games, promoting kung fu culture
By Li Hang
Published: Nov 09, 2023 11:27 PM

Photo: China News Service
Photo: China News Service

A decade since the first North American Shaolin Cultural Festival in 2013, the Shaolin Temple is once again hosting an official cultural exchange event in the US.

The highly anticipated "2023 North American Shaolin Games" and a series of martial arts-related activities are scheduled to take place in Los Angeles, the US, on November 11 and 12.

The announcement was made during a press conference held on November 7.

Organized by the renowned Songshan Shaolin Temple in China, in collaboration with the Shaolin North American Association, the games are expected to serve as a platform for kung fu enthusiasts to show off their skills and promote the popularization of the ancient sport in North America.

Approximately 500 Shaolin disciples from over 40 states in the US, as well as from countries *including *Canada and Mexico will *participate in the events.

Shi Yongxin, the abbot of the Shaolin Temple, said at the press conference that Shaolin kung fu is famous all over the world.

Kung fu not only strengthens the body, but also uses martial arts to achieve Zen and enlighten people through wisdom.

The kung fu competition is a long-standing tradition at the Shaolin Temple, which aims to enable Shaolin disciples to study more diligently and constantly surpass themselves, according to Shi.

During the opening ceremony, dignitaries from various fields will witness the top performers in various categories.

The 2023 North American Shaolin kung fu stars - the top three in each discipline - will receive medals, trophies, certificates, and accolades as encouragement.

According to Shi, the tradition of Shaolin kung fu competitions has flourished overseas since 2011.

Events like the European Shaolin Cultural Festival and the North American Shaolin Cultural Festival all regard the Shaolin kung fu competition as core content.

In 2022, the Shaolin kung fu online competition continued this tradition, uniting 5,320 participants from 94 countries and regions across six continents.

Before coming to the US in 2023, the Shaolin Games had already been held in Zambia in Africa, Singapore in Asia, and Argentina in Latin America.

Shi, leading the visiting delegation, arrived in Los Angeles on November 1 to kick off a series of North American visits.

During his visit to San Francisco on November 7, he delivered a speech titled "Zen Meets AI" at Meta's headquarters.

In his address, he emphasized that while AI possesses remarkable data processing and analytical capabilities, and may display similar human perceptions through programs and algorithms, but it cannot replicate the awakened consciousness advocated by Zen Buddhism.

He encouraged human beings to seek inner wisdom and *transcendence, even in the face of AI advancements.

According to Shi, Zen *Buddhism emphasizes that Zen practitioners can gradually improve their state of enlightenment through their own efforts.

As a tool, AI can search and find relevant classics to solve various doubts that Zen *practitioners encounter, providing assistance and convenience to Zen practitioners.

[GeneChing]

Abbot Shi highlights the shared values of Shaolin culture in the U.S.
2023-11-17 09:14:42 Global TimesEditor : Li Yan


Shi Yongxin (back row, center), Abbot of the Shaolin Temple, poses for a photo with guests and participants of the 2023 North American Shaolin Games in Los Angeles, the US, on November 10, 2023. (Photo/Courtesy of the Shaolin Temple)

Drunken fist, spear techniques, staff techniques… these are the Shaolin kung fu skills traditionally showcased in Hollywood movies. These and other kung fu techniques were demonstrated at the 2023 North American Shaolin Games held in Los Angeles.

Approximately 500 Shaolin disciples from over 40 states in the U.S., as well as from countries and regions including Canada and Mexico, participated in the event.

A decade since the first North American Shaolin Cultural Festival in 2013, the Shaolin Temple, renowned for its centuries-old tradition of martial arts, is once again hosting an official cultural exchange event in the U.S., featuring performances and competitions for all ages from 4 to 60.

"Shaolin culture, as a representative of excellent traditional Chinese culture, conveys values of compassion, peace, health, and harmony that everyone can accept and feel. I believe Shaolin culture can establish positive connections with people from countries all over the world," Shi Yongxin, Abbot of the Shaolin Temple, told the Global Times.

In his opening speech at the games, Shi expressed the hope that through this event, the values of Shaolin kung fu - physical fitness, clarity of mind, and harmony - could be showcased.

"We hope that overseas Shaolin kung fu practitioners will actively inherit and disseminate Chinese culture, promoting the understanding and appreciation of Chinese culture among people of various ethnicities and contributing to the deepening of the friendship between the Chinese and American peoples," remarked Wang Taiyu, Cultural Counselor of the Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles, at the opening ceremony of the games.

The examination of practice is a tradition at the Shaolin Temple. Every year, the temple assesses eight kinds of practice, including preaching, chanting, and the etiquette of the disciples over the past year. The Shaolin kung fu examination, known as "kaogong" in Chinese, is one of these eight components.

Flourishing overseas

The tradition of Shaolin kung fu competitions has flourished overseas since 2011, according to Shi. Events like the European Shaolin Cultural Festival and the North American Shaolin Cultural Festival all regard the Shaolin kung fu competition as core. In 2022, the Shaolin kung fu online competition continued this tradition, uniting 5,320 participants from 94 countries and regions across six continents.

The North American Shaolin Games is one of the events jointly organized by the Shaolin Temple and the Six Continents Shaolin Federation for the 2023-2024 World Six Continents Shaolin Kung Fu Examination Competition.

The games aim to "promote the organization of the competition, increase the autonomy and enthusiasm of all continents and countries and regions, facilitate multilevel participation and exchanges, and realize the normalization and sustainability of Shaolin kung fu competitions, while enhancing standardization, internationalization, socialization, and Shaolin kung fu brand reputation," according to Shi.

Prior to the North American examination, past editions of the Shaolin Games were held in Zambia in Africa, Singapore in Asia, and Argentina in Latin America.

In the current North American examination, over 500 Shaolin disciples participated in nearly 2,000 matches. "Shaolin kung fu and tai chi style are something the West can learn from the East," Grandmaster Sin Kwan Thé, leader of a number of Shaolin centers across the U.S., told the Xinhua News Agency.

He added that one of the best effects of Shaolin kung fu is physical fitness, and regular practice can increase cardiovascular fitness, improve muscle tone, enhance flexibility, and even better one's posture.

According to Shi, currently, the Shaolin Temple has over 300 overseas Shaolin cultural centers in more than 100 countries and regions.

In the U.S. alone, more than 40 states boast Shaolin cultural centers, some operated by monks sent from the temple and others established by overseas disciples, Shi told the Global Times.

Shaolin kung fu is a representative of Shaolin culture. Shaolin culture encompasses various forms of expression, including health preservation, martial arts, medicine, and Zen art, Shi said, adding, "The rich tapestry of Shaolin culture allows individuals from different walks of life to experience its unique charm," in response to why Shaolin culture is popular in Western countries.

The North American Shaolin Games is one of the many events Abbot Shi has taken part in during his 13-day North American tour which kicked off on November 1.

Shi's visits have included participation in various celebrations hosted by Shaolin Temple USA, such as the 15th and 16th anniversary celebrations of the San Francisco Shaolin Cultural Center and the Fremont Shaolin Cultural Center, respectively.

At Fremont, Shi hosted prayer ceremonies, introduced his new English book The Shaolin Temple Story, held book signings, and visited the Chinatown of San Francisco. Additionally, Shi provided guidance during visits to several Shaolin academies in the San Francisco Bay Area.

'A standardized system'

Looking ahead, Abbot Shi shared the Shaolin Temple's plans to promote systematic and scientific learning of Shaolin kung fu by introducing the "Shaolin Duanpin system," a rating system for the evaluation of Shaolin kung fu practitioners.

The promotion of the system "aims to establish a standardized system of Shaolin kung fu routines, promoting the dissemination of Shaolin kung fu both domestically and internationally. This is to achieve the goals of promoting traditional Chinese culture and enhancing the health of people worldwide," Shi told the Global Times.

This year, the Shaolin Temple staged the first Shaolin Duanpin workshops. "The promotion and development of the standardized "Shaolin Duanpin system" will propel Shaolin kung fu into a new historical development stage," Shi said.

Abbot Shi Yongxin's 2023 West Coast visit & Shaolin Kung Fu Games
Is-Shaolin-Do-for-real

[GeneChing]

Again posted to our Facebook album.

[GeneChing]

Posted to out Facebook album once more.

[GeneChing]

... for posterity.

2023 North American Shaolin Kung Fu Game Rules (2023 首届北美洲少林考功大赛规程)
Compe��on Categories:
There are Individual events (个人项目), Figh�ng form (duilian) events（对练项目 2-3 人）and group compe��on
（集体项目/家庭组 4-16 人）.
Individual Compe��on (个人项目): The individual compe��on is divided into 210 divisions by age, level, and gender.
Age Divisions: A: 7-under, B: 8-9, C: 10-11, D: 12-13, E: 14-17, F: 18-40, G: 41＋
Note: Age calcula�on is based on the par�cipant's actual age on November 4, 2023.
SKILL LEVELS
Beginners: < 2 years of prac�ce
Intermediate: < 4 years of prac�ce
Advanced: 4 and above years of prac�ce
Compe��on divisions
Songshan Shaolin Fist (嵩山少林 - 拳)
Other Shaolin Fist (其他少林拳术(自選套路)
Songshan Shaolin Long Weapons (嵩山少林 - 長兵器),
Songshan Shaolin Short Weapons (嵩山少林 - 短兵器),
Songshan Shaolin Other Weapons (嵩山少林 - 其他兵器)
1. Songshan Shaolin Fist: include any of the major forms taught as part of the common curriculum at the original
Shaolin Temple on Songshan (Song Mountain) today. This includes but is not limited to: Xiaohongquan (小洪拳),
Dahongquan (大洪拳), Tongbiquan (通臂拳), Liuhequan (六合拳), Changhuxinyimen (长护心意门), Qixingquan
(七星拳), Meihuaquan (梅花拳), Lohanquan (羅漢拳), Taizu Changquan (太祖长拳), Paochui (炮捶), Xinyiba (心
意把), Shaolin Rou�ne (少林规定拳)，Shaolin Five Elements (少林五行拳)，Shaolin Thirteen Fist (少林十三
拳), Shaolin Chaoyang Fist (朝阳拳)，Shaolin Lianhuan Fist (连环拳), etc.
2. Other Shaolin Fist: Tongzigong (童子功), Drunken Fist (醉拳)，Animal Fist (象形拳)，Ditang Fist (地躺拳)，
Shaolin Zixuan Fist (少林自选拳)，Shaolin Zixuan Nanquan (少林自选南拳), etc.
3. Songshan Shaolin Long Weapons (嵩山少林 - 長兵器): Weapon length is higher than shoulder height, such as
Staff (棍), Spear (枪), Guandao (關刀), Pudao (扑刀), Tiger Fork (大虎扒), etc.
4. Songshan Shaolin Short Weapons (短兵器/嵩山少林 - 短兵器): Sword (Jian 劍), Broadsword (Dao 刀),
& any short single weapons of comparable length to a single-handed sword such as: short s�ck (短棍), hard
whip (鋼鞭) , cane (拐杖), single daggers (单匕首), etc.
5. Songshan Shaolin Other Weapons (嵩山少林 - 其他兵器): Two-handed swords (双手剑)
Three-sec�on Staff (三截棍), Shepherd’s Whips (牧羊鞭), Rope Darts (绳镖), 7 or 9 Sec�ons Whip Chain (七节/
九节鞭 ) etc. as well as Double Weapons such as Double Broadswords (双刀), Double Straight Swords (双劍),
Double Hooks (虎头双钩), Double Daggers (双匕首), Sword and Shield, etc.
（二）对练 Figh�ng Form (2-3 persons)
（三）集体套路/家庭组 Team/Family Compe��on 4-16 persons)
Each athlete must choose 2 events (can also apply for team or duilian events)
Time to complete the rou�ne: 1. Shaolin Fist, all the Weapons, Figh�ng forms are not to exceed 2 minutes 2. Shaolin
team events: 2-5 minutes; If less than or exceeding 2 seconds including 2 seconds, the chief Judge will deduct 0.1 point,
and the accumulated points will be deducted.
Compe��on results and awards
1. Division Champions (普通奖项): The compe��on results are ranked according to the score. Gold, Silver, and
Bronze medals will be awarded to the top 3 contestants in each individual event. Others were awarded the
"Outstanding Award" cer�ficate. If there are too many par�cipants in the division, they will be divided into
groups as appropriate.
2. Individual Overall Grand Champions (個人全能奖): To qualify for Individual Overall Grand Champions,
compe�tors must compete in the advanced level and in three divisions: Songshan Shaolin Fist Form and 2
Weapon Forms (each Weapon Form must be of a separate Weapon division). Individual Overall Grand
Champions earn points for placing in each of these three events. Individual Overall Grand Champions Points are
awarded as so: 4 points for each 1st place, 2 points for each 2nd place, 1 point for each 3rd place. The 3 highest
points score will get Overall Grand Champions Gold medals, Silver medals and Bronze medals respec�vely; the
others will get the cer�ficate of "Shaolin Kungfu Excellence Award". Should a �e occur, the winner will be
determined by comparing the total scores of the three divisions that garnered the Overall Grand Champion. If
s�ll �ed, add back the eliminated highest scores. If s�ll �ed then, add back the eliminated lowest score. If it’s s�ll
�ed, the rankings are �ed.
3. North American Shaolin Kung Fu Stars (北美少林功夫之星): It is the highest award in this compe��on, and the
winner can represent North America to par�cipate in the "World Shaolin Kung Fu Test Compe��on".
Par�cipants must be the top three (regardless of gender) in the individual Overall Grand Champions of each age
group before they can par�cipate in the "North American Shaolin Kung Fu Show". The judging commitee sent
by Songshan Shaolin Temple conducts the judging, regardless of gender, age, project, or content. Finally, 7 to 9
"North American Shaolin Kung Fu Star" will be selected to advance to the World Shaolin Kungfu Compe��on in
China, 2024
4. Award Cer�ficates: 1. All par�cipants can get the electronic cer�ficate issued by Shaolin Temple, which can be
registered in the official Shaolin Temple Website direct download and print; 2. The award cer�ficate shows the
signature of Abbot Shi Yongxin of Shaolin Temple; 3. The award cer�ficate shows the only code approved by
Shaolin Temple; 4. The awardees who go to the Shaolin Temple to receive the award cer�ficates can take a
photo with Abbot Shi Yongxin. In addi�on to the list of athletes' results, which will be announced by the
compe��on organizing commitee on the compe��on website, a series of publicity reports will also be carried
out through domes�c and foreign professional media co-organizers and mul�media networks.

[GeneChing]

Read The Shaolin Temple and the Shaolin Diaspora ~ my latest feature for YMAA.com



Abbot-Shi-Yongxin-s-2023-West-Coast-visit-amp-Shaolin-Kung-Fu-Games
Northern-Shaolin-styles

[GeneChing]

Posted to our Facebook album again.

I always add a photo sample from these fb collections even though they only last for a few days until fb shifts its URLs and it disappears.