Yung's Shaolin-Do Martial Arts Page

	One of my many interests is martial arts; Chinese martial arts in particular. Chinese martial arts has a history that is long and rich. In general, any form of martial arts that originated from China is called Kung Fu (or Gung Fu - following the spelling used by Bruce Lee, which is actually closer to the correct pronunciation.) But what is Kung Fu? Literally translated, it means "skill from effort" and, in that sense, it can be used to described most anything that requires a large amount of investment (both in time and effort) in training to acquire a certain skill. It was during the mass influx of Chinese immigrants into the United States in the 1800's, that the term kung fu gained its current widespread reference to Chinese martial arts. Kung Fu is different from the more mainstream martial arts (like Karate, Judo or Tae Kwon Do, etc.) because it encompasses both the hard/external as well as soft/internal styles and is, therefore, a broader and more complex system of combat. There are literally hundreds of styles and sub-styles of Kung Fu and within those, countless more "family" styles (i.e., special modes of combat that was the forte of the individual family/clan of yore.) Two major styles of Kung Fu are the internal and external. The most prevalent internal Kung Fu styles are the Pakua Chang, Tai Chi Chuan and Hsing Yi Chuan. External Kung Fu consists of Shaolin Kung Fu and all its derivatives. But if one were to study all the internal and external styles, one will discover that they each appear as elements of the other. Currently, I am a student in the Shaolin Kung Fu discipline. I have wanted to learn Shaolin Kung Fu ever since I was little but various circumstances prevented me from doing so until now. By luck, I spotted an ad stuck to the window of an empty building. Something about the ad caught my eye and I had to have a closer look. I am glad I did because it turned out to be an ad announcing the opening of a Kung Fu school at that very location! How fortuitous for me. After talking to the instructor, Sifu Andy Van Arum, and observing one of his advanced classes, I was sure this was definitely for me. If this art is of interest to you, feel free to stop by to observe one of the classes or to speak to Sifu Andy Van Arum. The school (Chinese Kung Fu School of Martial Arts) is located at 2906 4th Street, Lubbock, TX. Click here for a map showing the location.
	In general, Shaolin Kung Fu is divided into the Northern and Southern styles. In the ancient days, Shaolin temples were a great tome of martial arts training. Each monk studied under a master (usually an elder monk) who specialized in a particular style of Kung Fu, such as Praying Mantis, Shaolin Long Fist, Wing Chun, Shuai Chiao, etc. There were too many styles for one person to fully absorb and master in one lifetime. All except one - Su Kong Tai Djin (pictured right) of the Fukien temple in South China. Su Kong Tai Djin was not a Shaolin monk but he resided and grew up in the Fukien Shaolin temple, having been left there by his parents who believed they had spawned a devil child. (Grandmaster Su Kong Tai Djin was born with a genetic disorder called XXX that promoted heavy growth of hair all over his body.)
	The Shaolin schools of today, under Grandmaster Sin Kwang Thé, can trace their lineage all the way back to the Fukien Shaolin temple and to the first Grandmaster, Su Kong Tai Djin. With his natural aptitude, dedication and enthusiasm, Su Kong Tai Djin internalized all the many forms and styles of Shaolin Kung Fu; later becoming the Fukien Grandmaster. The Fukien monks' increased popularity with the people earned them the wrath of the Emperor and in the early 20th Century, Grandmaster Su Kong Tai Djin and his disciples razed the Fukien temple to the ground and retreated to the Fukinese mountains to elude the Emperor's attack on their temple. In the calm of the mountains, Grandmaster Su Kong Tai Djin and his disciples continued their training in the Shaolin art.
	One of his disciples, Ie Chang Ming (pictured right), would succeed him as the second Grandmaster. Due to an unfortunate incident that resulted in the death of 11 soldiers, Grandmaster Ie Chang Ming became a wanted man. He then escaped to Bandung, Indonesia, where he started a Shaolin school as well as the use of the belt ranking system. Enrollment into his school was tough. The waiting list was long and each student had to prove him/herself worthy to be accepted as a student. One such worthy soul (after several difficult tests) was Sin Kwang Thé - the third (and current) Grandmaster. For a more complete historical account, please visit the official Shaolin-Do site or the Shaolin Do of North Austin site. What do the Shaolin students learn today?