Shaolin Kung Fu has improved my life on several levels. The focus on making everything modular without loosing view of the whole (Gak Mat Ji Ji, Know everything in a given bound) has had the greatest impact. I have been conditioned to look at everything in my life, break it down into easily handled parts, and work with it on my terms. My health has also been greatly influenced. I've acquired an exercise routine that I can do anywhere, required no equipment, doesn't consume all of my free time, and provides continually improving results. I have learned breathing exercises to increase my lung capacity and also help me relax. As simple as relaxing sounds, it becomes a very important thing when it comes to combat, which brings me to my final point. The combat concepts covered in Shaolin Kung Fu have brought me to understand combat in a more quantitative manner. It's less about applying force, and more about applying the right amount of force at the right time in the right place. It's more about taking ground and defense from your opponent. I have learned techniques and concepts that I have applied in real experiences and worked very well. These tools are simple, direct, practical, and, most importantly, EFFECTIVE. Together these different influences on my life have been very substantial and are the reasons why I will continue to train in Shaolin Kung Fu.

- John Kilburn

 

I recommend Meng's Martial Arts of Cincinnati to anyone who wants to grow.  I have been a lifelong fan of the martial arts, but I was never a practitioner, I was attracted to the practicality of the Shaolin Warrior program and it's comprehensive covering of martial arts basics, i.e. self defense that can be effective on the street or basic skills that can be effective in the ring.  Also, the study of Martial arts theory, history, culture and internal medicine has helped nourish my mind, body and spirit, contributing to my overall health.  In the last year and a half I have learned so much more.  I have learned what motivates me, what is truly important, and currently, I am learning how to teach. 

- Paul Mason

Meng's Martial Arts of Cincinnati has been great for me, a learning experience I treasure so much. I have learned about philosophy, science, history as well as how to take care of myself and know my body.  It all ties together in helping you to protect yourself and what is yours. I personally feel the information I am getting from this school are concepts you can apply to all aspects of life such as work and life style, not just fighting. Anyone can start to learn these concepts at any age and see the values in them to enrich their life. If you come see for yourself you will never regret it and be just as grateful as I am.

 

- Michael (Mic) Harden.

 

The Shaolin Warrior program at Meng's Martial Arts of Cincinnati conducted by Sifu Lambert has separated itself from my other martial arts experiences in that it not only offers a complete self-defense package and internal health training, but also challenges students to learn about the traditions, lineages, philosophy, and roots of Wing Chun Kung Fu in order to discover their own path of experience.  It quickly became apparent that Hung Fa Yi is not a sport and not for show, it is a deadly art honed over centuries by Masters with the sole purpose of survival driving its evolution.  I look forward to each opportunity to work in class and at home to become a more focused, disciplined, and complete fighter. 

 

- Jeff Denny

 

Sifu John Lambert is an excellent instructor who focuses on the development of the body, mind, and spirit of his students. Meng's Martial Art's of Cincinnati is an excellent place to acquire the skills needed to improve your internal health as well as the skills required to effectively defend yourself.

 

- Phil Holt

 

If you want to learn to kick and punch and break bricks with your bare hands, then Meng’s Martial Arts of Cincinnati may not be for you.  I’ll admit that’s what I was looking for when I first joined.  I expected to be drilled endlessly on how to throw the perfect punch and look good while doing it.  I’m glad that I was wrong.  If you seek to gain a deeper understanding of your identity and the fundamentals of combat in all ranges, then you’ve found the right place. 

“Sifu” means “teacher” or “father” in Chinese, and the term is very appropriate applied to Sifu John Lambert.  Sifu Lambert treats his students as his inclusive family.  During my first free class, having had no prior martial arts experience whatsoever, I was nervous and intimidated, but Sifu Lambert and his class made me feel very welcome, and by the end of the first week I felt like I was part of the family.

I have been challenged at Meng’s Martial Arts, and you will be too.  The martial arts are not easy and you will have to work hard.  One evening after a class that I found particularly difficult,  Sifu Lambert asked me if I was frustrated, to which I replied “yes sir.” “Good,” he said. “That means you’re learning.”  As frustrating as it may get, there comes a point where you have a paradigm shift and it all makes sense.  Now I’m not claiming to have reached that point, but after just a few weeks of studying under Sifu Lambert I understood more about combat than I ever had before.

I feel like I am a better person for having joined Meng’s Martial Arts of Cincinnati.  Through the qigong instruction and Shaolin Warrior program I feel healthier, more energetic and more confident.  I’m a student who goes to school in Athens, Ohio, hours away from Cincinnati, but in my time at Meng’s Martial Arts Sifu Lambert was able to plant within me the seeds of knowledge and give me the tools to cultivate them on my own.  I recommend this school to anybody interested in the martial arts, or in just improving themselves physically, mentally and spiritually.

-- Andy Brownfield

 

I have trained in several traditional martial arts.  I have also studied several others.  I have seen the revival of mixed martial arts.  I have also studied the Buddhist and Taoist traditions underlying many of the martial arts.  I am 40 years old at this writing.  Here is what I have learned:

 

1. Your martial arts must be about more than punching, kicking, submitting, footwork and fighting.   Although there may be an infinite number of techniques to be learned, the endless pursuit of techniques, or perfection in training and execution, or opponents, is a path that leads nowhere.  Martial artists on that path will never quench their thirst, become frustrated, and ultimately quit.  How many 70+ year-old martial artists do you know?  Chances are not many – primarily because their martial art experience was focused on styles and techniques.  In order for your martial arts to be complete and endure throughout your life, it must include more than punching and kicking, it must include health, internal training, and philosophy.

2. Your martial arts must be YOURS.  Do not follow the crowd, or a martial arts master.  You are your own best instructor.  You can and should be your own master.  You can spend a lifetime learning the martial arts of others.  But this leads to the endless pursuit of techniques or forms.  You can learn a lot from others, but ultimately you have to define your own way of training.  Do not be afraid to explore or develop your own "forms" and your own understanding of your body. 

3. Your martial arts must somehow connect your body and mind and spirit.  In fact, that should be the sole goal of your martial arts training.  If you simply want to be able to defend yourself, then techniques are good to study.  If you simply want a health exercise, then forms or conditioning are good to study.  If you want to be a fighter, then techniques and competition are good to train.  If you want all of these things, then you must train in all these things.  But this training is focused on the body.  This type of training does not connect the body and the mind and spirit.  In order to make those connections, you must be deliberate and considerate about every aspect of your martial arts training.  Every movement you make in the ordinary course of your day (every step) must be deliberate and treated like part of a form you created.  Every breath you take in the ordinary course of your day must be deep and feel the same as the same breath you take when you face and engage an opponent.  Every technique that you train must be calm – but your mind must focus on imagining and visualizing the requirements for perfect execution, and your body (heart, lungs, muscles) must simulate (body imagine) explosive execution.  The training of every technique must be very slow and deliberate.  Training a technique fast or with power does not permit the mind and body to understand and absorb the technique.  If you deliberately try to execute a technique with speed or power, you miss the point.  Your body needs to execute the technique without deliberation – only then will your body's true power and speed be expressed.  The best martial arts teacher is the one that helps you help yourself and helps you to discover your own martial arts identity.

4. If you can connect your body and your mind and your spirit, they can enhance and support each other.  Once this connection is made, when you body is weak, your mind and spirit can make it strong.  When your mind or spirit are weak, your body can make them strong.  Your martial arts training should try to make this a subconscious connection.  Most martial arts training focuses solely on the training the body.  Your martial arts training should include yoga, tai chi, meditation, prayer, charitable service, compassion for others, rest, diet, humility.  If you train in all these areas as rigorously as you train your body, the connection will happen.  Your martial arts training should include the study of the philosophies that underlie and understand the connection between the mind and the body.  Good examples of such philosophies include tai chi, yoga, meditation, zhang zhuang, zen, Taoism, etc.  But there are countless other philosophies that incorporate the concept of the connection between the mind and the body.  There is no ancient Chinese secret to be learned – there is only your own martial arts identity to be discovered.

5. Sparring is essential for training.  Sparring teaches humility and vulnerability.  You should seek to lose every sparring match.  If you win, you have imposed your will, and by imposing your will, you become deaf to the movements and strategies of your opponent (because you are too busy imposing your will to satisfy your ego).  It is better to lose, even if you have to hold back.  Because losing forces you to listen to what you did right, and what you did (or could have done) wrong.  For me, the only thing that sparring tests is my ability (or inability) to stay calm and regulate my breathing under stress and allow my martial arts to express itself unencumbered by fear of anxiety.  I accept pain and defeat as the outcome, then I can engage my opponent calmly and without fear – and allow my body to act and react freely.

 

My martial arts training includes the training of techniques.  But more importantly, my martial arts training seeks to connect and support a healthy mind and body.  When this connection is made and cultivated, every movement and breath becomes an expression of my martial arts understanding.  I fear no combat situation because, since every movement and breath is an expression of my martial art, I have essentially trained in every movement and accepted every outcome.  I know my body will deliver the culmination of my training, including the techniques, the footwork, and the energy.  More importantly, my body will be unimpeded by anxiety or fear because my mind and spirit have already accepted every outcome.  You will either understand this article, or you will not.  In either case, you must find your truth for your self.  Meanwhile, hard beats none.  Soft beats hard.  None beats soft.

 

- Nick Schmelzer

 

I have become a more focused and disciplined individual.  I have learned to change outcomes by changing the way I think about the situation."

 

- Mitchell Binford

 

As I waded through the endless lists of martial arts and schools, what made Meng's Martial Arts of Cincinnati stand out to me was it's emphasis on philosophy and efficiency in combat. I was at a point in my life, that I wanted to learn real self defense but more importantly I needed an internal change.  With my first class I knew I was not to be disappointed. Everyone was very friendly and welcoming. The discussions in class focused not just on combat, but Chan philosophy and how it applies for real life skills. I knew this was the place for me.    As I continued to attend class my life did truly change. I lost weight, began sleeping better, and even my work and home life became easier. The combat skills are nice to know but it's the foundation of philosophy that's made the difference in my life. Even my friends and family have noticed I seem more calm and at ease.    I feel the goals and benefits of our school can best be summed up by our school's creed; Harmony of body, mind, and spirit. To build true confidence through knowledge in the mind, honesty in the heart, and strength in the body. Keep friendship with one another and to build a strong and happy community. Never fight to achieve selfish ends but to develop might for right.

 

- Christopher Conaway

 

I began the study of Wing Chun in June of this year. Sifu Lambert puts 100% into his teaching of his students and expects the same dedication from each and every one of his students in return.  The study of the Shaolin Martial Arts is not easy, but the rewards are great.  The three treasures of Shaolin: Chan (zen), Health and Combat are the core of our training and can improve your life in many ways.  I'm proud to be one of Sifu Lamberts students.

 

- Gary Ray