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How I got here
I have since trained with many Masters including Shifu Bing
Li (wife of Sha Guozhengs’ son), Shifu Deng Jie-wei and Shifu
Huang Pin, all brought over from China by Shifu Wen. They taught
me as part of a three-year instructor training Diploma which I started
in 1998. I studied Shaolin Quan (gongfu or kungfu) and Taiji Quan
(Tai Chi Chuan) as my major subjects.
This course included Staff (Pan Long Gun; Coiling Dragon Staff),
Straight Sword (Damo Jian; Bodhidharma Sword) broadsword (dao) and
spear (Qiang). A year into the course Shifu Wen asked me to start
teaching in Brighton. I have taught here for 5 years now and enjoy
it immensely. My senior students standards are high and help to
set a strong foundation for incoming pupils.
I eventually got my wish to train with real Shaolin Monks in 2001
under Shifu Shi Yanzi. I was mainly instructed by Shifu Shi Yan
Shang (who now teaches in New York with Shifu Shi Guolin), Shifu
Shi Yanqi and Shifu Shi Yan Jiang.
Training at Shaolin Temple UK was excellent and I enjoyed it a great
deal, but living in Brighton, I could only afford to travel to London
once a week.
For long periods I helped out at the Temple as I am a carpenter,
Shifu Shi Yanzi had a lot of work he needed doing. The office, the
counter & reception area and, my favourite of all, the big red
gates!
During this time my training advanced very quickly, training with
the Shifus' morning and night helps you remain focused, your stamina
& strength all increase. Once back in Brighton however, and
only training in London once a week, I began to realise I couldn't
continue with the level of commitment the Shifus' expected. During
my time there I learned a great deal and am very grateful to all
the knowledge shared by the Shifus. I would recommend training at
STUK to anyone with an interest.
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