Shaolin Temple UK

Shaolin Temple UK is a martial arts school and centre for study of Shaolin culture, in particular Gong Fu-Ch'an, Qi Gong and Ch'an Buddhist Meditation. It was founded in 2000 by Shaolin monk Shifu Shi Yanzi, and is located in North London, between the Tufnell Park and Archway Northern Line tube stations.

Shaolin Temple UK is an official emissary of the 1,500 year old Shaolin Temple in Henan Province in China, by direct mandate from the Abbot Venerable Shi Yong Xin.

Classes are taught by Shifu Shi Yanzi, Shifu Shi Yan Lei, as well as by senior students of the two Shifus, who include disciples from Shaolin in China, and western students.

The school emphasises balanced training both in the external and internal martial arts. Students typically train both in Gong Fu and Qi Gong.

Gong Fu-Ch'an

Shaolin Temple UK is most well known for Gong Fu (or Kung Fu), and participates in national and international fighting competitions, as well as interclub fights with Muay Thai fighters.

Gong Fu classes focus on Sanshou training - one to one hand-to-hand combat - which can be considered to be China's form of kickboxing. This is the style of fighting which the temple's students use in competition. The temple's founder and main teacher Shifu Yanzi was Chinese National Champion for 15 years in the art.

Students first train for three months in "Preparation" class, with a focus on building stength, stamina, flexibility, and learning fundamentals. Beginner level students train without contact. Students are encouraged to try to pass a quarterly grading exam at their first opportunity. Shaolin Temple UK's higher classes are semi-contact and full-contact, students train with gloves and pads, and also spar.

In the past there was a twice monthly "fight-night", held on Friday evenings instead of fight training, where more experienced students fight three rounds of two minutes in the ring. However, this was discontinued due to too many students becoming injured and thus needing time off training in order to recover.

Qi Gong

There are beginners and advanced Qi Gong classes. Beginners practice a form (sequence of movements) called Ba Duan Jin, which translates as "Eight Pieces of Brocade", so called because the form consists of 8 movements. While advanced students will practice body conditioning using bamboo sticks, and an advanced form featuring 12 movements.

Ch'an Buddhism

Ch'an Buddhist training involves sitting meditation (Zazen in Japanese) and walking meditation.

Although there are also separate Ch'an Meditation classes held, it is also emphasised that Gong Fu training is in fact inseparable from Ch'an Buddhism in its essence and goal.

Other activities

Other activities taught at the Shaolin Temple include:

·Tai Chi forms

·Weapons forms

·Mandarin Chinese lessons

·Chinese Calligraphy

Sources and reference materials

Combat Magazine (UK) April 2000, May 2000, Nov 2001

Front Magazine (UK) July 2003

External links and articles

[http://www.shaolin-overseas.org/ Shaolin Temple Overseas Headquarters]

[http://www.shaolintempleuk.org Shaolin Temple UK Website]

[http://www.shifuyanlei.co.uk/ Shifu Yan Lei's website] - Master who teaches at STUK has a separate website, which includes training plans

[http://www.shaolinbrighton.co.uk/ Shifu Yan Lei's Brighton Martial Arts Club]