Shaolin-Do students practice open-hand forms, self-defense, weapons, sparring, meditation, strength training and aerobic conditioning. This dynamic approach allows for rapid advancement in fighting skill, balance, dexterity and endurance.

                                 

Before attaining black belt, the student will learn 21 long forms covering seven different open-hand systems and six weapons. This curriculum provides a rich background of techniques and styles to call upon.

 

A Typical Class

Class begins with a formal bow-in. As a group, students are led through drills consisting of kicking, punching, sweeping and blocking. The instructor then teaches or reviews forms that represent the core of the material for the belt rank.

Within this section of the class, there is normally dedicated time for students to practice individually. These are either empty hand or weapons forms. Students also work with partners on self-defense techniques and forms applications. Most classes end with sparring exercises and sparring practice.

 

Prior to Black Belt you will learn ...

30 Short Katas

The original 108 short katas, created at Shaolin Temple in the Honan Province of China, form the basis of Okinawan Karate. These powerful and dynamic forms are one of the cores of Chinese Shao-Lin training.

20 Sparring Techniques

Sparring Techniques provide practical combinations of blocks, punches and kicks from a basic fighting stance.

9 Ippon Kumite - Short Distance Fighting Techniques

Ippons teach one step responses to short range attacks. Emphasis is placed on angular stepping, along with proper blocking and striking procedure and technique.

10 Techniques - Close Range Fighting Techniques

Techniques teach one step responses to close range at­tacks. Emphasis is placed on proper footwork, utiliza­tion of opponents' force against them, close quarter traps and close quarter take downs and finishes.

30 Chin Na - "To Capture and To Hold"

Chin Na is a very old system of Chinese martial arts that combines pressure point manipulation with grap­pling holds and escapes.

Weapon Training

Weapon training is an essential part of traditional Shao-Lin training. It teaches concentration and focus. It improves conditioning and teaches the Shaolin Do practitioner to utilize his entire body. 16 Nunchaku Spins - "Single Jointed Stick" Se Pa Pong - "Four Faces Eight Direction Bo" Hal Lung Chang - "Sea Dragon Cane" Se Pa Kuen - "Four Faces Eight Direction Staff" Kwan Kung Tao - "Kwan Kung's Knife" Je Chan Pa Huang Tao - "Night Battle Broad­sword" Tai Che Chien - "Sai Form " Pei Huang Chi Kai Pang - "Stick Of The Northern Beggar"

Chi Kung

San Njig Chien - "Iron Man Form"

Iron Man training, sometimes referred to as Iron Shirt training, was developed at Fukien Temple. It teaches its practitioners to concentrate and center themselves and resist strikes with both empty hands and weapons.

Crane

The Crane system is one of the five major animal sys­tems of Shao-Lin. Its techniques come from circular movements that are soft and relaxed, yet these move­ments explode with quick, sudden power upon contact with the target.

Pai Ho Chuan Tse -"White Crane Circles The Wings" PaiHo Chan Tse - "White Crane Flips The Wings" Pai Ho Chuan Chiao - "White Crane Circles The Legs"

Tiger

The Tiger system is one of the two oldest Shao-Lin Styles. The tiger system is famous for its tiger claw strikes, tiger palm strikes, evasive footwork, flying kicks, rolls and cartwheel kicks.

Fei Hu Chu Tung - "Flying Tiger Comes Out Of The Cave" Ching Kang Fu Hu Chien - "Golden Metal Man Tiger Trap Form "

China Hand

The China Hand system, developing from the Tiger system, was one of the very first styles developed at the Shao-Lin Temples, and it evolved into the basics of the monks' martial arts training. The China Hands ingrain the concepts of striking, sweeping and avoid­ance, while also teaching the basic palm and fist strikes of the tiger system.

Lian U Chang - "Five Directional Palm" Chie Chien - "Connecting Fist"

Shaolin Bird

The Bird system is one of the two oldest Shao-Lin Styles. The Birds teach utilization of stances, circle blocks and deflections, kicks, elbows, pulls, along with a variety of finger strikes and grabs. Tai Peng Sin Kune - "Great Bird Spreads Its Wings" Lou Tien - "Descent From Heaven" Chan le - "Spreading Of The Feather" Yen He - "Performing Dove"

Praying Mantis

The Mantis system created by Wang Lang is based upon on precise hand and foot techniques in combination with strong stancing and agile footwork. Lo Han Ch'uan - Fist of Lo Han