In-person classes at Shaolin Temple UK

Classes are taught by Shifu Shi Yanzi, and his Shaolin disciples ,and western students. The Temple emphasises balanced training both in the external and internal martial arts. Students typically train both in Gong Fu and Qi Gong.

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Shaolin Temple UK is most well known for Kung Fu , and participates in national and international fighting competitions, as well as interclub fights with Muay Thai fighters. Kung Fu classes focus on Sanshou training – one to one hand-to-hand combat – which can be considered to be China’s form of kickboxing. This is the style of fighting which the temple’s students use in competition.

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The temple’s founder and main teacher Shifu Yanzi was Chinese National Champion for more than 40 years in the art. Students first train for three months in “Preparation” beginners' class, with a focus on building strength, stamina, flexibility, and learning fundamentals. Beginner level students train without contact. Students are encouraged to try to pass a quarterly grading exam at their first opportunity. Shaolin Temple UK’s higher classes are semi-contact and full-contact, students train with gloves and pads, and also spar.

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Learning Kung Fu Today ,Kung Fu has a long history and everyone agrees that the original Gong Fu is from China to learn Gong Fu people understand the need to learn forms – fist, weapons, dual person etc because hidden inside the forms are applications and techniques. That’s why people learn forms and why when they learn forms they can be good at Kung Fu.

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But people forgot that to learn Kung Fu you need to gain Kung Fu. Learning Kung Fu and gaining Kung Fu are different. Now many people keep learning but do not try to digest/ assimilate. They do not go deep enough. Maybe they know some application as well but they did not prove this by real combat. 

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They think they are too good or scared to prove so just stay in one place going round in an endless circle. Then some in this position start to teach and teach the same thing so many people stay in the same area.

There are three ways to teach/learn most people follow the wrong way than the right way. That’s why there are not very many successful Kung Fu practitioners. We hope more people go to the right way if they want to gain good Kung Fu.