Typical schedule
Martial arts training
05:30 - 07:30 Exercises and training
07:30 - 08:30 Breakfast
08:30 - 10:00 Training
10:00 - 10:30 Rest
10:30 - 11:30 Training
11:30 - 12:00 Lunch
13:30 - 15:30 Training
15:30 - 17:00 Rest
17:00 - 17:30 Dinner
17:30 - 18:30 Free time
18:30 - 19:30 Training
19:30 - 21:30 Free time
21:30 - 05:30 Bed time (lights out)
Martial arts training and language
05:30 - 07:30 Exercises and training
07:30 - 08:30 Breakfast
08:30 - 10:00 Mandarin class
10:00 - 10:30 Rest
10:30 - 11:30 Mandarin class
11:30 - 12:00 Lunch
12:00 - 13:30 Rest
13:30 - 15:30 Training
15:30 - 17:00 Rest
17:00 - 17:30 Dinner
17:30 - 18:30 Free time
18:30 - 19:30 Training
19:30 - 21:30 Free time
21:30 - 05:30 Bed time (lights out)
Program description
Beginners
Students who have never studied martial arts before should not expect to perform intermediate or advanced Kung Fu in one or two months. However, they will be introduced to the basics of Shaolin traditional Chi Kung, two short Shaolin fist forms, one weapon routine, elementary combat, and 1 - 2 Tai Chi forms.
Alternatively, students can choose Wingchun, BaJi, Xingyi, Bagua, or Preying Mantis and will learn basics, a routine, one weapon form, and Chi Kung. They should be able to grasp Wingchun, BaJi, Shaolin, Xingyi, Bagua, or Mantis boxing basic Kung Fu, and decide whether what they have learned is the right path for them to follow in the future, training for longer periods of time.
Experienced students
Students who have already seriously trained in Shaolin Kung Fu for several years or more can expect to learn and perform some of the more difficult Kung Fu movements, combat skills, higher internal Kung Fu, as well as developing the underlying morality of the martial arts. The academy also welcomes advanced students wishing to learn through challenging the masters.
Customized training
Training schedules and exercises are customized to fit to you, according to your needs and abilities. The fighting / protection monks may instruct foreign students from beginning to higher levels of Shaolin arts, depending upon the student's ability, self-discipline, and willingness to learn. There is no maximum of age to come, but there is a minimum of it. You must have an escort if you are not able to travel alone.
Don't worry about age holding you back if you are middle aged or elderly. Many Chinese martial arts are suitable for middle age and older people to learn, such as ancient Qi Gong (Ba duan jin, yi jin jing, five animal style, and meditation that is not only good for health, but also helpful for your level of Kung Fu and for healing illnesses), Tai Chi fist / straight sword / fan, Xingyi fist, Bagua palm, Ba Chi fist, and Mantis boxing.
Students can study mandarin Monday through Friday full time, or study Mandarin half of the time and Shaolin martial arts the other half of the time. Training is offered to foreign students year-round at the academy.
Because of the high ratio of teachers-to-students, most of the students who attend the academy express they feel lucky to have been given such high quality instruction without a lot of other students around; which was a great benefit to them because they received more personal attention from the masters who taught them than is normally the case.
Length of stay
Many students ask how long they can stay at the academy. The length of a student's stay at the academy depends upon how they get along with the teachers, the academy's staff, and with the other students, and how much sincere effort they put into their training.
In Chinese Shaolin Kung Fu, the western belt-ranking system is disregarded. Longer training periods are available for those who find they want to advance their skills in higher levels of the martial arts. At the end of each year the monks teaching the students will decide if the student can continue to train the following year, depending upon the student's positive physical and mental growth, and their good character.
Academy overview
After students arrival, students will be issued a monks training suit for free. The academy provides tableware and bedding, Washing machines and hot shower facilities. Items of personal hygiene and grooming are the students responsibility. On arrival at the academy, the new student will be assigned a translator to make the transition to academy life as smooth as possible.
Students at the Siping Shaolin Martial Arts Academy study in modern facilities with a big training hall, and training is conducted outside in the clear air as well. Every student agrees where the academy is located is the right environment to train in. It is in the mountains near the home town of China's last queen, Chi Xi, and is the Qing dynasty home town.
At any time, there are about 10 - 30 foreign students studying Shaolin Kung Fu at the academy with from 3 to 6 monks to teach them Taiji quan, Qi Gong, Shaolin Kung Fu, Wudang Kung Fu, Sanda, etc. The academy's yard is approximately thirty-thousand square meters, and there are ten-thousand square meters of living and training facilities on the mountain.
Most of the teachers do not speak English, so the academy provides English translators during training times. Mr. Che and some of the office staff speak English and most of the foreign students speak English, either as their primary or as their secondary language. A few people have expressed disbelief that the academy actually exists, or is licensed and approved by the Chinese government. Therefore, the academy provides the English translation of the license.
Academys timetable
Academys internet room is open from 5 - 8 p.m.
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday: on these days lights out and quiet time is to be observed by 9.30 p.m. to prepare for training the next day and to respect other students and staff.
Monday and Friday during winter, all new students who have been attending the academy for less than one month wake up at 5.30 a.m. and go to the training hall for their Qi Gong practice, while other students may choose what they wish to do in the way of practice.
Saturday and Sunday all students are to return to the academy before 11 p.m. Those wishing to stay overnight away from the academy need to be accompanied by at least one other student and must complete a sign-out form before leaving.
The academy cannot accept any responsibility for what may happen when students are away from the academy for personal reasons. However, the academy will try their best to help in whatever situation may arise.
The quiet meditation room is open 24 hours a day for meditation. All students in this room must keep silent. This room is open all of the time during the day and is heated. Saturday and Sunday is free time for everyone at the academy except for the kitchen staff.
Academys regulations
In order to keep the academy's environment positive for the serious students who go there to study, if the academy manager feels for any reason an applicant or student does not meet the academy's requirements, or learns of anything he feels would not be in accordance with the academy's rules or ways he may reject the applicant at any time; even if the applicant or student had earlier been accepted. The academy is not responsible for any expenses an applicant may incur on their own behalf to prepare for training at the academy, before they actually attend the academy, or for any other reason.
Students may bring their laptop computer, but may not use it for any other unsocial, immoral, or illegal use. Abuse in this area could be cause for confiscating the computer, or dismissing the student from the academy, or both, and in some instances if the activity of the student is not allowed by the Chinese government criminal charges with resulting severe penalties may ensue.
Gambling, Drugs (including marijuana), tobacco, and alcohol, or visiting prostitutes in villages or towns when the student is away from the academy are prohibited. Breaking these rules will mean immediate dismissal from the academy and a forfeiture of 20% of the balance of fees paid by, or for, the student.
Regarding male and female cohabitation, there is no cohabitation or sexual activity allowed at the academy; regardless of whether it's boy and girl friend, fianc, or spouse.
No religious activities are allowed, other than personal prayer before or after training times so the student's training is not disrupted.
Students are not allowed to have animals, birds, or other pets at the academy.
The academy does not welcome student who is a show-off, or a bully; lazy and unwilling to clean up after themselves (regarding their living quarters and/or personal hygiene); unwilling to participate in early morning or other training; lies, or attempts to cover up for another student who has lied; unfriendly or insolent to others (to students, teachers, or any other person), or presumes to be better than other students in any way, or who tries to create disharmony between others, for any reason.
Facility
Power training equipment, a set of fitness equipment, wooden dummies, punching bag, mats, pads, gloves, and bodyguards are provided for by the academy. However, you can buy some other kinds of weapons by yourself when you need them in practice.
Students at the Siping Shaolin Martial Arts Academy study in modern facilities with a big training hall, and training is conducted outside in the clear air as well. Every student agrees where the academy is located is the right environment to train in. It is in the mountains near the home town of China's last queen, Chi Xi, and is the Qing dynasty home town.
