Meng’s Martial Arts of Cincinnat
Shaolin Warrior Program
Welcome to the Shaolin Warrior Program. Admission to this program is your first step towards living the Kung Fu Life. Our Art is more than just fighting. It is designed to improve your life as a person, as well as, your knowledge and abilities as a complete Martial Artist. This program has two areas of study, the Academic Requirements and the Shaolin Halls method of training, which includes Qi Gong, San Shou, and Wing Chun. After completion of this program you will be certified as a Shaolin Warrior and will have earned your Black Sash. After receiving your Black Sash you will embark on a personal journey into specialized Wing Chun training. If you are dedicated to the arts this will be the beginning of a lifelong journey.
Code of Conduct
All of the students of Meng’s Martial Arts of Cincinnati must adhere to our Code of Conduct. Our code provides you with a complete understanding of the essence of your training, as well as, the protocols and etiquette of our martial arts family.
Curriculum
Upon enrolling in our school you will receive your Curriculum. Your curriculum is to be used as a study guide as you progress through the program. There are three separate levels covering the complete Shaolin Warrior training, going from (1) Novice - Foundation, (2) Blue Sash - Development, and (3) Green Sash - Effective. In our System, after completing the first three curriculum levels, you will have completed the Shalin Warrior training and will receive your Black Sash.
Fees
We have a standard monthly Membership fee of $108.00 dollars. The fee is due and payable on the first of day of each month, regardless of your attendance. There are no fees for promotion tests until you receive your Black Sash.
Confidential Training Materials
Your curriculum and the other written materials that you will receive are confidential to Meng’s Martial Arts of Cincinnati, Ltd. You are to place your confidential training materials into your personal training notebook. Your notebook is called your “Kuen Po” and should contain four sections; (1) Personal Information, (2) Chan (Philosophy), (3) Health (Diet, Exercise, and Rest), and (4) Combat (Curriculum and Detailed Training Materials). You are to keep and maintain your personal Kuen Po throughout your training. If you discontinue your training you are to return the materials to Meng’s Martial Arts.
The Shaolin Halls
Our training is based upon the Shaolin Halls. The following is a brief outline of the training:
The “First Hall”
The student learns Gei Bun Gong, (Basic Exercises) which includes; strength, flexibility, and endurance training. During this training the relationship between the Body, Mind, and Spirit is forged in preparation for more advanced training
The "Second Hall"
Training in the Second Hall is called Gei Bun Dong Jok (Basic Movements) and includes; hand work, body work, leg work, stances, fighting postures, fighting strategies, and forms practice to develop the students Body Mechanics and is advanced beyond Basic Exercises.
The "Third Hall"
In the Third Hall the student begins their martial arts training to develop fighting skills and becomes combat ready. It is here that the student is taught the practice to Heaven, Human, and Earth combat training. We teach the student “Application Training”, based upon the Four Combat Skill sets; Kicking (Ti), Striking/Pressure Point (Da), Throwing/Wrestling (Shuai), and Seizing/Submissions (Na) developing the students Combat Skills to produce a fighter with San Shau (Free Hand) abilities (today it is mimicked by
Ti – Kicking
Kicking involves using the legs as an impact weapon, transferring the energy of your body through your leg and into an opponent. This skill requires the ability to generate force while standing on one leg or no legs. Kicks can be delivered with the ball, heel, instep of the foot, the shin, or the calf of the leg, or the knee
Ti or Kicking
Da – Striking
Striking involves using the arms and trunk as an impact weapon, transferring the energy of your body through your arms and into an opponent. This skill requires the ability to generate force while standing or moving, utilizing the footwork learned during your Gei Bun Gong (Basic Movement training). Strikes can be delivered with the fist (face, heel, or back), palm (front, back, or side), fingers (straight or formed into a fist such as phoenix fist, dragon fist, monkey fist, ginger fist, double-knuckle fist, leopard fist), wrist (straight or bent), forearm, elbow, shoulder, head, or hip.
Da or Striking
Shuai – Throwing
Throwing covers the skill of unbalancing an opponent and using the ground as an impact weapon. Throwing includes sweeps, takedowns, tackles, and pounces. This skill requires taking control of an opponent's center of gravity, closing distance, and getting under an opponent's center of gravity. This skill can be applied standing or on the ground.
Shuai or Throwing
Na – Control
Controlling is the skill of using the parts of the body (hands, feet, elbows, feet, knees, hips, trunk, or head) to control an opponent's limbs or torso for the purpose of traps, locks, submissions, chokes, and breaks. This skill requires taking control of an opponent's center of gravity, closing distance, and leveraging the joints of the body in a way never intended by Nature. This skill can be applied standing or on the ground.
Na or Controlling
Chi Sau – “Sticky Hands”
Chi Sau or “Sticky Hands” is the “Hand to Hand” part of close combat. In our Wing Chun system we specialize in this close quarter combat. We have identified Chi Sau as having FOUR timeframes:
- San Da, using the hands and feet to strike the opponent
- Kiu Sau, using the forearms in the bridging of the opponent
- Chi Sau, using the wrists in maneuvering the opponent to control space
- Chi Kiu, using the hands in capturing and controlling the opponent
Our students learn how to recognize the four ranges of combat and how to use the realistic weapons in the proper timeframe within each range.
Heaven, Human and Earth
Heaven, Human, and Earth has many layers of understanding. Martial Arts is 70% mental and 30% physical. Studying at this level means progressing spiritually as well as mentally and physically. On the literal level, Heaven, Human, and Earth refers to ranges of combat and the appropriate use of techniques within these categories.
Heaven (Spirit), Human (Mind / Emotions), and Earth (Body)
Heaven techniques are based upon longer distances and include long-range kicks and strikes. Human skills are based upon mid-range distances up to and including anything in the range of placing both hands on the opponent, such as bumps, traps, grabs, locks, clinches and breaks. Human distance is the most versatile because the maximum number of limbs can be employed simultaneously, creating the most options for use of techniques and tactics. The Earth brings the “Body’s” into direct contact and includes takedowns, throws, sweeps, submissions, and breaks with body contact.
At this stage the students learn skills that they can use to participate in sparring matches ranging from light to full contact. With the knowledge of all four ranges of combat and a scientific approach they can compete with all opponents.
After the Third Hall the students focus is on maximum efficiency, and economy of motion. This is the highest level of training in the
Health and Fitness Training
The Three Treasures of Shaolin are Chan (Philosophy), Yi (Health, including Diet, Exercise, and Rest), and Wu (Combat or Surviving in a Life Threatening Situation). To really learn a Shaolin Martial Art you cannot separate these three. In our school you will learn all three during your Shaolin Warrior Kung Fu training. In our health and fitness ("Qi Gong") training you will learn to develop your energy called Qi. Qi means "energy" and "Gong" means "Skill" or "effort". Qi, in Cantonese is called "Hei", and serves to connect the Body, Mind, and Spirit. Qi also connects the triad of Heaven, Human, and Earth in the Chinese worldview and Traditional Chinese Medicine (
Human beings are the only life form that is capable of cultivating their Qi. It is through the cultivation of your Qi that you connect to your Body, Mind, and Spirit. The cultivation of your Qi can increase your vigor and you can achieve a level of understanding that is not available to the average person.
I personally invite you into our Shaolin Kung Fu family and wish you success as you prepare yourself to embrace the Kung Fu Life.
Regards,
Sifu John Lambert
Head Instructor