Private lessons-Sunday @ my kwoon.
$100/lesson or $150/month Grand Master Mike P. I understand now what it means to invest in loss. This is as it should be.
to my body, mind and life. I could easily look at that injury and curse the fateful day when it first occurred. However, if I had not had my knee torn apart, I probably would not have found the martial arts and never reaped all the rewards that comes with this type of training. Martial arts has given me so much. I try to return the favor with my students and find rewards everywhere I look. I work with the senior citizens community teaching Tai Chi for Health for a living, teach kung fu students, practice and teach Reiki. I feel like a beginner and wish to maintain that attitude for as long as I live. When I met Master Day, I had been searching for a few years for a new teacher. My good friend Sifu Dennis, contacted me and told me that he thought He had found the teacher he, and possibly I had been looking for. I wrote a letter of introduction and made a video tape of myself doing some kuens for him to review. We talked on the phone and made arrangements for me to travel to Fort Walton Beach and meet. As soon as I met Master Day, I knew my search was over. There are many qualities I look for in a teacher and in Master Day I found those attributes. These are humility, kindness, and a real passion for the art. Knowledge of Kung Fu was obviously a consideration, but I could have gone to any one of many teachers for that. There is a wide world of Kung Fu available to us all, but finding a man who is willing to share that knowledge in an unpretentious manner is rare. One thing that made a giant impression on me during our first meeting was that he didn’t want me to prove myself to him. Instead, he made me feel honored to be accepted and appreciated as a martial artist. The freedom of expression that Master Day and I both cherish was something that had been missing in my prior training. More than the many forms he has taught me, I appreciate the freedom he grants me, also the respect he gives me. Each of us has unique gifts that we can offer. Two of my gifts are the ability to sense the chi flow of others and to communicate without words. When I interact with Master Day, I always feel a powerful ocean of chi energy that goes unnoticed by most. His ability to cultivate this wonderful force without feeling the need to show it off is a sign of a true martial artist. Thank you Lawrence Day, my teacher and my friend. STUDENT MANUAL
Shaolin Kung Fu and Tai Chi Chuan
Pelican Health and Fitness
Welcome and thank you for your interest in the martial arts. I will endeavor to make each class enjoyable and beneficial. I firmly believe that only if you enjoy what you do, will you reap the full rewards for your effort. If you like Kung Fu, it can work wonders for you. Each class will start with a simple bow. This is standard practice in various martial arts and the salutation differs from school to school. The principal is a simple one: show respect for each other and the art you practice. Also this is a way of preparing for learning: making a conscious effort to focus your attention. Instructors should be addressed by the title “Sifu”. Beyond that, you will learn as we go. I will not require you to learn Chinese words and a uniform will not be required until you decide that this is something that you want to stick with. With this art, as anything in life, it will be up to you to decide how far you wish to take it. Please enjoy your training and remember that the only dumb
Question is the one that goes unasked. Beginning Forms
Quan Nien Chi Kung 1-2
Blocking the Line #1
Blocking the Line #2
Blocking the Line #3
Fast and Accurate Fist
Long Fist
Eighteen Hands of the Lohan
Tai Chi Chuan Short Form {Pai Lum}
Great Bird Spreads Its Wings
Intermediate Forms
Quan Nien Chi Kung 3-4
White Lotus Eight Trigram
Flowing Seas
White Dragon
Dragon Plays with Seven Stars
The Tiger Goes Hunting
Lohan
Northern Fist
Strong Man Form
Bow Sim {7-Star-Whirlwind Stepping}
Monk’s Staff
Tapered Staff
Northern White Crane
Single Saber
Golden Tiger Descends Mountain
Foresight
Five Element Chi Kung
Burning Palms #1
Yang Tai Chi Chuan {Short 19}
Advanced Forms
Quan Nein Chi Kung 5-6
Plum Flower #3
Ghost Walking
Flowering Spear
Pe*****te the Wind
Praying Mantis
Four Faces Eight Direction Double Broadsword
Honan Temple Kwan Kung’s Knife
Dragon Guards the Palace Kwan Dao
White Lotus Katana Battle Set
Burning Palms #3
Iron Rings Box Set
Yang Tai Chi Chuan {Long 108}
Yang Tai Chi Chuan {Sword}
Walking the Circle-Pagua sword
Kung Fu Forms Training
Main Benefits of Forms Training
*Conditioning
*Concentration and focus
*Continuity of movements
*Understanding techniques
*Develop grace and poise
*Learn transitions
*Preserve style
Kung Fu forms, or Kuens, training is one of the most misunderstood topics among martial artists. Many believe that by doing forms one will learn to fight. This is true in a limited sense, but not for the reasons most think. In a combat situation, one will not “do your form”, but may rely on the many benefits of diligent forms training. In order to make use of any of the techniques one may have learned; being in good physical condition may be of prime importance. Granted, a real encounter should be over as quickly as possible, but Kung Fu is much more than fighting. Kung Fu forms are an excellent system of exercise. Strength, speed, balance, endurance and body control are the main physical benefits. In ancient China, when Kung Fu could save a person’s life, even the best martial artists realized that they would need to train far more than they would actually fight. Power in punches, kicks and stances translates to strength used for everyday activities. Continued practice will enable the body to remember the techniques, they become part of you, coming out without conscience effort. Repetition of the forms not only makes ones body strong, but also enlightens the mind. During the course of practicing forms, ones mind should be centered and focused on the task at hand. This is often more difficult than performing the physical movements. I’ve seen many martial artists demonstrate fancy forms with an obvious sense of detachment. Without the focused intent, the forms become more of a dance and not Kung Fu at all. As one moves past the first stage of memorizing the moves, then the real work of blending the movements together in a continuous flow begins. Learning single techniques is valuable, but with good Kung Fu forms, one learns how these techniques work together to form a coherent system. Most of us are not good enough that one punch will always do the trick. Learning the forms teaches us how techniques compliment one another. Another aspect of the forms training is to further ones understanding of the techniques in a particular style. Visualization is often used to increase ones intensity and can add to this growing level of understanding. The techniques in forms were often hidden, with each one having many possible applications. At one time, forms were not written down for fear of being stolen and the techniques on the surface could only be understood by in depth training and an advanced understanding of the approach and philosophies of a style. By looking for as many applications of a movement as possible, the Kung Fu student with a solid background and fundamentals can learn a great deal more than empty moves. Many have called Kung Fu forms, Tai Chi in particular, a martial art dance. This should not be taken as a slight of the art, but as a compliment. Developing graces and poise in ones forms is a trademark of Kung Fu and separates it from many of the “hard” styles of martial arts. “Flower fists and brocade legs”, refers to a form without substance, one that looks good but lacks true power. A good form should have both grace and power. This is not a contradiction, but a compliment. The Yin of grace and the Yang of power both can be developed through Kung Fu forms. This sense of grace is important to really learn the power and usefulness of transitions. Once again, single techniques are important, but learning to go from one to another in a smooth, flowing manner will greatly increase ones chances of actually being able to make use of them in a spontaneous situation. After all most real encounters are spontaneous and unpredictable. Each move holds a myriad of possibilities and the transitions are often downplayed. In my mind, the transitions are at the core of good forms. Finally, one other important function of forms is to preserve the rich heritage and tradition of your chosen style. As noted before, for centuries forms and styles were passed down in oral and physical tradition that kept the knowledge of a distinct style in tact. Someone, somewhere, had to create these forms and each time we practice we honor our Kung Fu ancestors. As the Tao Te Ching tells us, “A countries weapons should not be displayed”. So look deep into your forms and dig deep into your hearts when practicing forms, for there is much to learn from these misunderstood “dances”. LEARNING FORMS
Stages of Learning
• MEMORIZE
• PERFORM
• EXECUTE
Learning forms can be broken down into three distinct stages that can apply to most any type of learning. The Tai Chi Classics tells us to “forget form”, but before one can forget something, one must know it. So, as one begins to learn a form, memorizing the movements comes first. It will be next to impossible to further ones understanding of the form if one is constantly having to search the mind to remember the next move. This is one prime reason for the necessity of repetition of the forms. Once the movements are memorized and the techniques are no longer question marks, one can move on to the second stage; performing. By performing the form, I mean working to make the moves and the techniques stronger, faster, and more accurate and the transitions more precise. This is the stage in which a martial artist will spend most of his or her time. Identifying which stage you are in is important and will lend power to ones concentration and awareness to self. Ex*****on is the third and final stage, which is one seldom, reached by most martial artists on most of their forms. To fully execute a form means to deliver each and every technique with full power, intense focus and emotional content. When one no longer has to think about movements and each one is performed to perfection and the mind and body re one, the ex*****on of the form is realized and one can “forget form”. It is vital to the progress of ones training to stay honest with ones self and properly acknowledge the stage one is working on. It is okay to stay at the second stage for extended times with some forms; one may never reach the third stage. Even when this stage is reached, continued practice will be needed to maintain ones skills. The student is likely to go back and forth from stage to stage. Think about this and see how this can apply to any type of learning, not just Kung Fu forms. Ranking Requirements under Master Glynn
Ranking and testing for Kung Fu in my school is optional. One may train for as long as one wishes and never have to test, as rank is not a measure of a man but rather a convenient way to monitor ones own progress. Ranking for Tai Chi is separate and also optional. If a person wishes to be called Sifu, however, that person will need to go through the ranks and testing to understand and appreciate what students will go through. Weapons Training
Main benefits of weapons training
*Coordination
*Confidence
*Concentration
*Extended Chi
*Preserve History
Recently I had the privilege of teaching a student a sword form. I was greatly surprised that many fundamentals of weapons training were unknown to the student, as this was not she first time to train with weapons. I had to start from the beginning, with basic understanding of weapons theory, which was a very good thing, as that is always the best place to start. Much like people’s view of the empty hand forms; many are under the impression that weapons training is for learning how to fight with a particular object. This is true, again in a limited sense, but there are far more reasons to include this type of training in your Kung Fu workout. Training with a weapon, whether it be a stick or sword requires a greater amount of coordination than the empty hands sets. That is not to say that one is superior to another, just that with the added weight and dimension of the weapon, an added level of agility is often needed. This sense of agility and coordination will not be reached without the basic understanding that the weapon is an extension of the practitioner’s body and not a foreign object. Instead of moving the sword through the air, one should endeavor to move the body and allow the sword to move along with it. To the trained eye, it is fairly easy to see the difference. Having gained a new sense of body control leads to a greater sense of confidence. Whipping a staff around ones body and overhead, helps to bring that confidence to the surface. If one is not confident when dealing with weapons, one can expect injury, drop the weapon repeatedly and have it fell awkward and alien in ones hands exactly the opposite of the goals of weapons training. One should not fear dropping or losing grip of the weapon. Don’t we lose our balance and fall down when practicing empty hands forms? Have enough confidence to go all out with weapons training and be willing to invest in loss. If someone were to tell me that they had never dropped their weapon, I would wonder if they had ever really tried there hardest. Weapons training can be dangerous and therefore, it is necessary to improve ones concentration. We can afford to mistakenly slap ourselves or bang our elbows and knuckles, but with an extension of wood or metal, less room is available for mental error. Training in any martial art without proper focus will yield little benefit, but with weapons, extra attention is necessary to ones mental state. It has been said, “Never draw a sword unless you are prepared to use it.” There is much knowledge in this simple statement. Having gained greater coordination, confidence and concentration leads to one of the more fascinating and overlooked areas of weapons training and that is extending ones chi. We learn that when a punch or kick is delivered, the chi energy should pe*****te the target and does not stop at the hand or foot. The same holds true with weapons. Each weapon has distinct characteristics and one can feel the difference in a slashing saber and a cutting gim. Not just the physical movement, but the energetic movement can be felt. Just as a pecking crane strike and a shocking palm feel quite different, one should strive to sensitize ones self to the different feel of weapons. Try holding a sword in your hand and think if it as a lump of metal separate from yourself. Then hold the same sword and extend the chi through your arm and sword to make it part of you. This simple exercise can yield benefits almost immediately for most students. In today’s world, many think that training with a weapon used to fight soldiers on horseback is obsolete. The practical advantages of improved mental and physical abilities have little to do with fighting and more to do with self-improvement, one of the true goals of a martial artist. These methods have worked for so many of our ancestors for so many centuries that I do not think they should be abandoned just because it is unlikely that one will ever experience a kwan-dao fight. I could elaborate for hours, but I’ll leave with this. Take pride in the art and it’s rich history and enjoy training with weapons. l Yang Long Form
1 Beginning
2 Ward Off Left
3 Ward Off Right
4 Roll Back
5 Press
6 Push
7 Single Whip
8 Lifting Hands to Clouds
9 White Crane Spreads Its Wings
10 Brush Knee Push
11 Play Guitar
12 Brush Knee Push
13 Twist Step Brush Knee Push
14 Twist Step Brush Knee Push
15 Play Guitar
16 Brush Knee Push
17 Intercept, Deflect and Punch
18 Withdraw and Push
19 Close Cross Hands
Part Two
20 Carry Tiger to Mountain
21 Grasp birds tail (rollback, press, and push)
22. Single Whip
23 Fist under Elbow
24 Repulse the Monkey 1,2 &3
25 Slant Flying
26 Lifting Hands to Clouds
27 White Crane Spreads its Wings
28 Brush Knee and Push
29 Pick up Needle from Sea Bottom
30 Fan Through the Back
31 Chop with the Fist
32 Intercept, Deflect and Punch
33 Step, Ward Off Right
34 Grasp Birds Tail
35 Single Whip
36 Wave Hands like Clouds 1,2 &3
37 Single Whip
38 High Pat on the Horse
39 Separate, Right Leg Kick
40 Separate, Left Leg Kick
41 Turn and Kick with Sole of Left Foot
42 Brush Knee and Push
43 Twist Step, Brush Knee Push
44 Planting the Fist
45 Fan Through the Back
46 White Snake Darts out its Tongue 1-2
47 Intercept Deflect and Punch
48 Rock Back Kick Right
49 Hit the Tiger Left-Right
50 Kick with Toe – Right
51 Double Wind to the Ears
52 Kick with Left Heel
53 Turn (360) Kick with Right Heel
54 Step Down and Punch Right
55 Withdraw and Push
56 Close, Cross Hands
PART THREE
57 Carry Tiger to Mountain
58 Grasp Birds Tail
59 Diagonal Single Whip
60 Part the Wild Horses Mane-Right
61 Part the Wild Horses Mane-Left
62 Part the Wild Horses Mane-Right
63 Ward Off Left
64 Ward Off Right
65 Grasp the Birds Tail
66 Single Whip
67 Wave Hands Like Clouds 1-2-3
68 Fair Lady Works the Shuttles-left
69 Fair Lady Works the Shuttles-right
70 Fair Lady Works the Shuttles-left
71 Fair Lady Works the Shuttles -right
72 Ward Off Left
73 Ward Off Right
74 Single Whip
75 Wave Hands Like Clouds 1,2,3
76 Single Whip
77 Snake Creeps Down
78 Golden C**k Stands on One Leg-Right
79 Golden C**k Stands on One Leg-Left
80 Repulse the Monkey 1,2 & 3
81 Slant Flying
82 Lifting Hands to Clouds
83 White Crane Spreads its Wings
84 Brush Knee Push
85 Pick Up Needle from Sea Bottom
86 Fan Through the Back
87 Chop with Fist
88 Intercept, Deflect and Punch
89 Step Forward, Ward Off Right
90 Grasp the Birds Tail
91 Single Whip
92 Wave Hands like Clouds 1,2 & 3
93. Single Whip
94 High Pat on the Horse
95 White Snake Darts out Tongue-1-2
96 Turn, Cross Kick Right
97 Step Down and Punch Low
98 Step Forward, Ward Off Right
99 Grasp Birds Tail
100 Single Whip
101 Snake Creeps Down
102 Step Forward to Seven Stars Stance
103 Retreat and Ride the Tiger
104 Turn, Horizontal Kick (whipping kick)
105 Shoot Tiger with Bow
106 Intercept, Deflect and Punch
107 Withdraw and Push
108 Close, Cross Hands
First Level (Gold) Requirements
Stances
Square Horse
Side Horse
Long Bow
Hidden Step
Blocks
Upward Gong Chuan
Downward Gong Chuan
Outward Gong Chuan
Inward Gong Chuan
Punches
Ram Punch
Back Knuckle
Sun Fist
Hammer Fist
Kicks
Front Snap
Side Heel
Roundhouse
Crescent
Forms
Quan Nien Chi Kung #1
Blocking the Line #1
Second Level (Orange) Requirements
Stances
Cat
Crane
Leopard
Coiled Snake
Blocks
Upward Yuen Chuan
Downward Yuen Chuan
Outward Yuen Chuan
Inward Yuen Chuan
Punches
Chops
Ridge Hand
Knife Hand
Elbow Smash
Kicks
Stomp
Rear Thrust
Wheel
Reverse Crescent
Forms
Quan Nien Chi Kung #2
Eighteen Hands of Lohan
Miscellaneous
Five Self-Defense Combinations
Spar with Sifu
Third Level (Purple) Requirements
Stances
Pigeon
Stretching Tiger
Reverse Cat
Crouching
Blocks
Crane’s Head
Double Brushing
Cross Wings
Inward Parry Snaps
Punches
Tiger Claw
Heel Palm
Butterfly Palms
Upper Cut
Kicks
Knife Edge
Snap-Wheel
Crescent-Side Heel
Spinning Rear
Fourth Level (Blue) Requirements
Stances
Seven Star
Low Cat
Golden C**k
Twisting Horse
Blocks
Windmill
Retreating Elbow
Tiger Plays with Ball
X-Blocks
Punches
Pecking Crane
Multiple Short Wings (Elbows)
Lunging Fist
Dragon Head
Basic Cutting
Kicks
Chicken
Spinning Crescents
Snap-Knife-Rear
Knee Smash
Sweeps and Takedowns
Back Thigh Trip
Hip Throw
Forms
Quan Nien Chi Kung #4
White Lotus Eight Trigram
Miscellaneous
Five Self-Defense Combinations
Sparring with and without pads
Minimum 6 Months at 3rd Level
Fifth Level (Green) Requirements
Stances
Dragon Drop (Inward Horse)
Improved transitions
Blocks
Monkey Paw
Retreating Elbow
Begin Snake Hand
Punches
Snake Hand
Spear Hand
Corkscrew
Willow Palm
Kicks
Flip
Hook
Scoop
Tan Tui Strikes
Basic Cutting
Sweeps and Takedowns
Monkey Rolls
Dragon’s Tail
Leg Hooks
Forms
Quan Nien Chi Kung #5
Golden Tiger Descends Mountain
Tiger Goes Hunting
Miscellaneous
Sticking Hands Sparring with Sifu
Minimum 6 Months at 4th Level
Sixth Level (Brown) Requirements
Stances
Sleeping Crane (two minutes)
Blocks
Intermediate Snake Hand and Sticking
Walking the Circle
Punches
Dragon Claw
Mantis Claw
Falcon Claw
Eagle Claw
Kicks
Axe Cutting Log
Jumping Spinning Crescents
Intermediate Cutting
Sweeps and Takedowns
Axe Sweep
Iron Broom
One Hand Throw
Forms
Quan Nien Chi Kung #6
Staff (Tapered or Rattan)
Dragon Plays with Seven Stars
or
Praying Mantis (Tung Long Kuen)
Miscellaneous
Chin Na with Sifu
Double Attacker Self-Defense
Minimum 6 months at 5th Level
Seventh Level (Brown & Red) Requirements
Stances
Horse Riding Meditation (ten minutes)
Blocks
Advanced Snake Hand
Trapping, Shadowing, Circling
Punches
Phoenix Eye
Spear Finger
Shocking Palm
Kicks
Show improvement, continuous combinations
Sweeps and Takedowns
Scissors Leg
Part Clouds
Double Shoulder
Forms
Single Sabre
One of Sifu’s Choice
Miscellaneous
Advanced Sparring Skills
Seven Star Training
Chin Na Sparring with Sifu
Intermediate Iron Palm
Tamo Faces the Wall
Minimum 6 months at 6th Level
Paradigm Combat Sports Training Center - Houston