Coaching Plan
Shaolin kung fu has been widely practiced and studied for many centuries. It is an undeniably unique and extremely traditional style of wushu, and serves to both enhance health/fitness and fulfill performance purposes. Shaolin Kung Fu International is pleased to present what we believe is our perfect coaching plan, after eight years of training and experience.
Basic Training has been classified into four stages:
Basics generally refer to the very essence of wushu studies; every part of the body is challenged and forced to its maximum capabilities. Basics include: handwork and legwork, footwork, bodywork and eye work, complimented by kicking, striking, throwing, seizing, and stabbing, smoothly integrated as series or forms.
Form studies are classified into 16 stages.
We believe in the concept of building a strong basic foundation for our students before advancing to more difficult techniques. Although training may be difficult or challenging to students, the key to success is perseverance. Your mindset determines your potential.
We teach a variety of forms including open hand, weapons, sparring, and animal imitations. As students improve on their technique and master each level, they will learn increasingly challenging hand and weapon forms.
Basic Training has been classified into four stages:
Basics generally refer to the very essence of wushu studies; every part of the body is challenged and forced to its maximum capabilities. Basics include: handwork and legwork, footwork, bodywork and eye work, complimented by kicking, striking, throwing, seizing, and stabbing, smoothly integrated as series or forms.
Form studies are classified into 16 stages.
We believe in the concept of building a strong basic foundation for our students before advancing to more difficult techniques. Although training may be difficult or challenging to students, the key to success is perseverance. Your mindset determines your potential.
We teach a variety of forms including open hand, weapons, sparring, and animal imitations. As students improve on their technique and master each level, they will learn increasingly challenging hand and weapon forms.
Black Belt Program (1st to 4th degrees)
The black belt program at Shaolin Kung Fu International consists of the following 4 forms.
1st Degree Spear
2nd Degree Dagger
3rd Degree Double Dagger
4th Degree Nine-section Whip
After obtaining the 4th degree black belt, students are privileged to take classes free of charge in exception to private lessons and any other specially arranged classes. However, students age 14 and above must volunteer to teach classes or to perform other services one hour a week (or 36 hours a year) to promote Shaolin Kung Fu International and Chinese martial arts (e.g., participating in performances, etc.) as directed by Master Ben. Shaolin Kung Fu International will issue a certificate of verification for your volunteer hours.
The black belt program at Shaolin Kung Fu International consists of the following 4 forms.
1st Degree Spear
2nd Degree Dagger
3rd Degree Double Dagger
4th Degree Nine-section Whip
After obtaining the 4th degree black belt, students are privileged to take classes free of charge in exception to private lessons and any other specially arranged classes. However, students age 14 and above must volunteer to teach classes or to perform other services one hour a week (or 36 hours a year) to promote Shaolin Kung Fu International and Chinese martial arts (e.g., participating in performances, etc.) as directed by Master Ben. Shaolin Kung Fu International will issue a certificate of verification for your volunteer hours.
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Beginners:
Stance, handwork, and legwork basics learned as a beginner are essential to future success as a martial artist. |
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Shaolin Five Motions (White Belt)
The Shaolin Five Motions form imitates the movements of the dragon, tiger, crane, snake and leopard. This form is beneficial for proper body posture and strengthening the waist, leg, shoulder, and back muscles. |
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Shaolin Xiao Hong Quan (Yellow Belt)
Shaolin Xiao Hong Quan is considered the “Mother of 18 Forms”, referring to the incorporation and connection of many basic movements. Students are challenged to synchronize the motions of their entire bodies, including handwork, footwork, bodywork, and stances in this form. |
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Shaolin Broadsword (Green Belt)
The Shaolin Broadsword is a primary weapon of the Kung Fu family. A single edged blade, whose primary techniques include thrashing, cutting, slicing, and thrusting, broadsword movements usually move close against the practitioner’s body. As with any single weapon, the practitioner must also be aware of the rest of his or her body, particularly the left hand (must always be in a palm or similar hand formation). |
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Nunchakus (Purple Belt)
The two-section staff (better known as nunchakus or nunchucks) is a powerful and practical weapon. Once a martial artist is familiar with this weapon, it becomes an elongation of his or her own arms. This weapon is useful in building one’s hand/eye coordination, flexibility, and agility. |
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Shaolin Kung Fu Fan (Purple-Blue Belt)
The Kung Fu Fan is an ideal weapon for beginning to intermediate martial artists. With many movements deriving from basic Kung Fu, Tai Chi and dance, fan practitioners must learn to move with grace and ferocity while handling this weapon. |
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Shaolin Staff (Blue Belt)
The Shaolin staff is sometimes referred to as a “cudgel”, and often mistakenly deemed “stick”. Although simple-looking, the staff is a surprisingly damaging weapon. Staff practitioners usually pair their abilities with the broadsword, as both share similar strong and ferocious qualities. |
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Shaolin Straight Sword (Blue-Brown Belt)
The Shaolin straight sword wields a double-edged blade. With movements slicing away from the body, damage is usually inflicted by its flexible tip. Unlike the broadsword’s thrashing, ferocious techniques, a straightsword practitioner must move in an agile and graceful manner. As with any single weapon, the practitioner must be aware of the rest his or her body, particularly the left hand (must always be in the “sword finger” or similar formation). |
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Shaolin Double Broadsword (Brown Belt)
The Double Broadsword is an impressive weapon, focusing on one’s footsteps and movement along with managing of two weapons. A true test of one’s hand/eye coordination, the double broadsword challenges its practitioners to execute proper footwork, stances, and body work while maneuvering weapons in each hand. |
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Shaolin Southern Fist (Brown-Red Belt)
This open-hand form is a particularly fierce style, in which the practitioner must use inner energy to focus on low and strong stances, “iron fist” punches and strikes, and effective jumps and kicks. This style is often paired with loud and menacing-sounding screams and shouts to add to its ferocity. |
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Shaolin Sparring Set (Red Belt)
Sparring sets are what you see in kung fu movies; impressive choreographed fight sets. A sparring set requires accurate kicks and punches to be coordinated with your partner, or “opponent”. The athlete must be brave, agile, and trust his or her own movements as well as their opponent’s. |
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Shaolin Pu Dao (Red-Black Belt)
This sword variation requires both hands to maneuver, as it is a powerful and effective weapon. Fierce and strong, the martial artist carries a long weapon of overwhelming power in his or her hands, with the potential to leave devastating effects in their wake. |
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Shaolin Spear (Black Belt)
Many techniques of the Shaolin Spear are derived from its relative, the staff. While all staff movements utilize its entire length to strike, many spear movements also involve accurate strikes with the weapon’s most powerful edge; its tip. Spear practitioners must keep in mind that its movements are much more intricate and precise than that of its long weapon counterpart. |
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Shaolin Dagger
The Shaolin Dagger, in practicality, is a difficult weapon to use, as attacks must be carried out in short range. Mentally dividing the opponent’s body into three parts (upper, middle, and lower), the practitioner must be agile and nimble in order to attack with this short weapon. |
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Shaolin Double Daggers
Shaolin double daggers embody similar techniques to the single dagger. The practitioner must be well coordinated to maneuver both weapons while remaining agile, nimble, and quick. |
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Nine Section Whip Chain
The nine section whip chain is a difficult weapon to handle because of its flexible nature. The martial artist must take great care in handling the speed of the swinging weapon as well as their kicks and body movements. |
