Actually pronounced 'Gong Fu' Cambridge branch is the only school in the area to practice traditional form and training techniques
Dr Basil Hartzoulakis was encouraged by ShiFu YanZi to start teaching Shaolin Gong Fu in Cambridge as part of a drive to spread the benefits of the Shaolin culture in UK.
Basil has developed his martial arts and fighting skills for the last nine years following traditional Shaolin training methods under the guidance of Shifu Yanzi whom he met in London in 1999. In 2006 he was British National Champion in Sanshou (65kg) and since 2007 has been entrusted with running the Cambridge Branch of STUK. Basil started his martial arts and sports training in Greece. He studied Gong Fu there for 6 years and trained with a number of professional athletes in diverse sports disciplines, gaining extensive experience in a number of training regimes and injury rehabilitation.
CLASSES IN CAMBRIDGE – DESCRIPTION
SHAOLIN QI GONG LEVEL ONE
You will learn the most popular Qi Gong in the world. The Eight Treasures (Eight Pieces of Brocade, Ba Duan Yin) consists of a series of gentle movements designed to dramatically improve health, increase energy and revitalize the body.
SHAOLIN GONG FU LEVEL ONE
You will perform strength exercises using you own body, cardiovascular training, conditioning for flexibility, and speed training designed to give your muscles explosive power. This class will cover the fundamentals of Shaolin Gong Fu (traditional stances, forms, basic punches and kicks) which is key to understanding more advanced moves |
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The Shaolin Temple was founded in 495 AD by a Buddhist monk, Ba Tuo, with the support of the Emperor of the Northern Wei Dynasty. Situated at the Song Mountain, the Central Sacred Mountain, the temple was frequented by generals and Emperors and it is likely that martial arts were known and practised at the temple throughout its history. Bodhidharma (Da Mo), an Indian prince who became a Buddhist monk, arrived to the Shaolin Temple in 527 AD. According to the tradition he found the monks too weak to practise mediation and subsequently taught them external exercises and internal forms.
This tradition was expanded over the centuries and gave rise to the unique nature of Shaolin culture based on the combination of martial training with Chan (the Chinese equivalent of Zen) Buddhism. Slowly the art of combat integrated with the monks’ spiritual development and as the skill is refined, training becomes part of the practitioner’s progress in the Chan discipline. Violence is accepted within a moral framework and a monk cannot kill or use certain forbidden techniques.
The Shaolin Temple has suffered three major destructive persecutions and as a result most historical artifacts and documents have been destroyed. Fortunately official acceptance of the Temple came in the 1980s. The current Abbot Shi Yong Xin is working in strengthening the Shaolin reputation and bringing the various lines of traditional teaching back in the temple.
ACHIEVEMENTS
STUK is currently one of the biggest and the most successful martial arts schools in UK. Our fighters win national and international competitions, represent Britain abroad and fight in invitation-only tournaments against other top martial artists from various styles. Recently the TimeOut magazine voted STUK as the number 11 best gym/fitness centre in London, the highest ranking for a martial arts centre.
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SHAOLIN TEMPLE UK (STUK)
STUK was established by Shifu Shi YanZi, a 34th generation fighting monk from the Shaolin Temple. At the age of 16 he joined the Temple, where he spent 15 years studying and training to become a monk under his master, the current abbot of the Temple.
Whilst at the Temple, Shifu Shi Yanzi studied and excelled in Chan Buddhism and philosophy, Qi gong and Gong fu. He practised the Qi gong forms of Yi Jin Jing and Xi Sui Jing. In Gong fu, Shifu Shi Yanzi studied many traditional Shaolin forms. He became a master at the iron jacket and iron leg; he was eight-time national Chinese and twice world champion in Sanshou (free style fighting). He was given the mandate to teach authentic Shaolin Gong Fu and run STUK by the abbot in 1997.
to visit the Shaolin Temple mother site please click this link www.shaolintempleuk.org
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TRAINING SYSTEMS IN THE TEMPLE
The central idea in Shaolin Gong Fu is to help students understand the principles of Chan Buddhism philosophy through hard training and achievement of physical prowess. This insight is independent of religious associations and in due course delivers a natural balance and peace between the practitioner and the environment (social & physical).
The Shaolin training reflects this path by incorporating Internal & External drilling routines the Famous 72 styles. Internal training includes Qi gong forms and other types of exercises called “treasures” that promote muscle-tendon building, purify the bone marrow, increase energy levels, slow down the ageing process and help to strengthen the immune system. External training covers Gong Fu training, Sanshou (free style fighting), forms & weapons, and conditioning. All techniques and exercises are the result of an evolutionary process lasting more than 15 centuries. Accurate observation of the results and hard work has weeded out ineffective or unsafe methods or training protocols. Discipline and Perseverance are key in achieving results. |
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