The Growth of A.C.C.S.
Many
years have passed since the advent of this web page. Coming
from the old school of training, web page creation and web
maintenance were not things that interested me. However, many
students talked me into stepping into the new age of
communication namely, the internet. My computer-savvy students
explained to me how I would be able to spread the word about
Shao-lin Kung Fu training. Of course, on hearing that how could I
refuse?
Now, time has proved my students indeed correct in all their
assessments. Our humble web pages have put me in contact with
martial artists from all over the world, and with people who want
to study the Chinese arts. I have found so many of these email
questions to be both interesting and brain stimulating. I feel
very gratified to have been able to help some of these people
find answers. Of course, I ran into questions I had to research
myself to find answers. So to those people I owe a debt of
gratitude for making me do some homework.
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For more messages from Grandmaster, see the Archives.
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I am happy to say our schools have grown considerably in these
passing years. We now have locations in Westchester, New York,
Brewster, New York, North Carolina, and more are still springing
up as some of our advanced students move up to the level of
Teacher and continue to open schools for the propagation of our
art.
Now in America the knowledge of China's ancient marital arts and
Chi Kung practice is becoming increasingly known to the American
people. It is no longer surprising to see television commercials
depicting groups of people practicing Tai Ji Chuan, or movie
after movie depicting some form of martial arts. Many of today's
movie themes are based on Asian philosophy. Even the little
character of Yoda in the Stars Wars saga was proselytizing Asian
philosophy. It seems everywhere I turn someone is using some form
of martial arts on a tv show or in commercials.
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All this happens because of the teacher's heart. If it burns hot,
then things happen.
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I am so happy not to be alone anymore, meaning that when I
started training, the term "Kung Fu" was unknown and mysterious
to most Americans. Now many people know of this practice. Even
doctors are sending their patients to Tai Ji schools to learn the
healing art of Tai Ji Chuan, or to meditation classes to gain
mastery over the mind and find inner peace.
Still others are finding the external hard styles of Shao-lin
Kung Fu to be a great way to strengthen the body, lose weight and
get the cardio workout that makes them feel so good. Truly, our
arts have something for everybody, if you but look. Not to
mention, in this day and age it is just a good idea to know how
to handle yourself in the streets, if that need should ever
arise.
Shao-lin self-defense is both effective and interesting to learn.
Men, women and children can enjoy learning some form of our arts.
Indeed, age, sex, weight are non-factors. The study is so
diversified we can all find our niche in the arts. In my schools
we have students who range in age from six to eighty. You're
never too old or too young to start the journey. I am not saying
that everyone who trains will be a great master of Kung Fu. There
are requirements to attain this status. However, everyone can
find something that will enhance this or her life for the better,
or even awaken the inner spirit, which will enlighten those who
find it.
The email testimonials I have received from people proclaiming
the wonders of the arts and how the training has changed their
lives for the better are too numerous to mention. However, many
center around how training cured them from physical problems that
had plagued them for years. The most common were lower back
problems with which so many suffer. I am not a doctor, but I can
attest to the fact that I have seen people change their entire
lives for the better due to traditional training.
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As we grow in physical skills our mind also grows to new levels of understanding.
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I recall some who were headed for self-destruction due to drug
use and bad lifestyle, that made a complete turn-around for the
better. I know of a few who advanced themselves from the title
of "drug addict" to the title of "doctor." If you ask them how
they did it, they would tell you it was the training of the mind,
body and spirit that helped them see clearly and make the
necessary changes.
Life is tough. It's lonely, and it's sad. The Buddha knew that
even before he attained enlightenment. He found the way out,"
which he called "Da Dzwo," the Big Sit, or simply, Zen in
Japanese, or Chan in Chinese. This kind of training exists in the
Shao-lin training. In fact, everything you ever learn in Shao-lin
will focus deeply and intently on you, reaching to your deepest
levels. It is the spiritual aspects of our training that can
bring an inner calm and satisfaction rarely experienced by
non-practitioners. It can reveal a part of us that we seldom look
at or which we even know exists.
This stage of Shao-lin training
is the root of why we even train at all. As we grow in physical
skills our mind also grows to new levels of understanding.
Through our consistent perseverance we can arrive at the very
edge of the mundane human mind and enter into the superconscious
mind. At this level of inner viewing there is nothing that cannot
be achieved or known.
That is our growth report. I feel it is a good one. I do believe
we have made our contribution to the growth of Shao-lin in this
country. If we have encouraged just one person to train and reach
teacher level, then our art will remain alive and well for others
to learn. One good teacher can teach many students. And from
those many, another teacher can be born to carry the Shao-lin
touch into eternity.
For those of you who are not in training,
let me ask one final question: How can you waste your time
reading this article when, in fact, you could be living this?
Shao-lin is calling out to you with an offer that can't be
refused. So, what are you waiting for? You've got a lot to learn
and your local Shao-lin school has lot to show and tell you. So,
let's go! Get it before you lose the chance!
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