NEW ORLEANS NEWS:

updated 5/7/08

Beginner kung fu classes open for new students

I am currently starting a new class of beginners in our adult kung fu program. Over the course of the next week or two, I hope to get a small group of approximately 10 beginners to start a new class of students. Joining with a small group helps you motivate and inspire each other to acheive your goals in training.

In this free introductory class, we will learn some basic hand & leg attacks, do some light conditioning exercises and stretches, and practice a few self-defense techniques. Everyone is encouraged to move at their own pace, and modify exercises for their current fitness level.

Beginner kung fu classes meet Monday/Wednesday 6:30-8pm and Sat 12-1:30pm. If you can't make next Wednesday's class, just contact me to set up an alternate time for a free trial session.

If your schedule does not allow regular attendance in the evening classes, I am also taking clients for private fitness & self-defense instruction. In private classes, we can work on setting and acheiving your individual goals for fitness & self-defense skill..

Whether you are interested in group or private classes, the hardest part is getting started. Once you establish the good habit of coming to class 2-3 times a week, you'll be amazed at the improvements you begin to see in your health, attitude, and energy levels.

Feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. Hope to see you soon.

Here are some special events going on for May and June:
Seminars:

On Saturday, May 17, 1:30-3pm, I will teach an optional seminar on Tang Lang Ch'uan, Praying Mantis Fist. This is a high-level form from the praying mantis system that really emphasizes lower body strength, with many challenging kicks.

On Saturday, May 31, 1:30-3pm, I will teach Entwining Dragon Staff (Pang Lung Pang). This is one of the most advanced staff form Grandmaster Sin has taught to date, with many interesting striking techniques from all angles. It is a favorite of many of our Senior Masters.

The seminars are open to students of all levels for $25 each, or for $5 each if you have learned the form from me before and want an intensive review. Alternatively, first-time takers can volunteer 2 hours per seminar (1/2 hour for review students) to help me with various cleaning, painting, repair, and landscaping projects around the school.

These extra seminars are a way to challenge yourself with higher-level material. Once you have learned an advanced seminar form, you'll accelerate your ability to learn the forms at your level. You increase your movement "vocabulary" by taking on more intricate techniques and longer sequences.

Iron Palm Training:
Iron palm is an important part of our Shaolin-Do tradition. It conditions the hands, arms, and legs for powerful full-contact striking and also helps reverse the deterioration of bones, muscle, and connective tissue.

More importantly for the modern martial artist, it toughens your resolve and helps develop focus and determination against the most difficult obstacles. After doing iron palm for several months, you will begin to sound like Elder Master Bill Leonard (Grandmaster Sin’s senior student who runs the original Shaolin-Do school in Lexington, KY), when he says, “Pain is mostly irrelevant.”

Elder Master Leonard and his top students (5th & 6th degree black belts) are on the forefront of iron palm training. They roll 90 lb steel bars up and down their shins for 400 reps, strike a solid hardwood trunk with their fists, and thrust their fingers into barrels filled with large steel ball bearings. We will start off a little easier than that, with 30 pound steel bars, a redwood 4x4 with slots cut into it, and dried soybeans in a bucket.

By striking the iron palm post, we put a controlled level of stress on our limbs & joints that create denser bone mass and harder, stronger tissues without altering the outward feel or appearance of your arms, hands, shins etc. Not only is this important to help prevent injuries, and for self-defense, but it can help you age better. Here's some sports science jargon to back up my claim:

Drs. Verkhoshansky and Siff state in Supertraining, “…joints subjected to heavy impact are relatively free of osteoarthritis in old age and those subjected to much lower loading experience a greater incidence of osteoarthritis and cartilage fibrillation. . . . It appears that the cartilage of joints subjected to regular impulsive loading with relatively high contact stresses is mechanically much stiffer and better adapted to withstand the exceptional loading of running and jumping than the softer cartilage associated with low loading. Thus, joint cartilage subjected to regular repetitive loading remains healthy and copes very well with impulsive loads, whereas cartilage that is heavily loaded infrequently softens… the collagen network loses its cohesion and the cartilage deteriorates."

When you use the 3-part iron palm herbal medicine that is unique to our tradition of kung fu, you get a training regimen that really helps strengthen you up in these often vulnerable areas of joints and connective tissue.

I am offering 6 months of iron palm training, including all the herbal medicine you need, for $125. This includes initial instruction in how to use the equipment, an information handout on training, and any follow-up instruction you need. I'll give you bottles of the tinctures & bags of the internal medicine to use as you need. Each bottle should last you at least 2 months, and I'll refill them up to 3 times as you need them. You can train on your own schedule, using the iron palm post, rock bags, bricks and iron bar in the weight room before or after class as often as you like.

Contact me if you're interested in signing up.
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Big congratulations go out to Dr. Isolde Butler, who tested for her black belt 4/22/08!
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I now have a blog on kung fu, self-defense, health, and functional fitness training. View it here: http://neworleansfitness.wordpress.com/ I'll be posting some more updates soon. Hopefully it will spur some thought and give you some ideas for taking more control over your life, setting goals, and optimizing health and happiness. I welcome any questions and feedback.

Our Grandmaster Sin Kwang The' now has his own personal website! Check it out at http://www.shaolingrandmaster.com/

Missing class: To the students out there who have missed a few, or more than a few classes lately, please don't get frustrated or embarassed. Everyone has interruptions in their training from time to time, and we're always glad to see you back and ready to encourage you to get back on the ball. The Mon/Wed/Sat classes are for beginners and are always a good place to start if you've been out for an extended period.

New! Personal Fitness Training with an exciting martial arts emphasis

--Boxing, kickboxing & kung fu techniques, Chinese yoga, & the evil power of Russian Kettlebells!

Click here to contact us and ask about a free consultation!

For more information on kettlebells, including the highest quality kettlebells and best instructional materials available, visit www.russiankettlebells.com

You can also find other exceptional fitness & health information at www.dragondoor.com

Current Class Schedule :

Mon/Wed

Tues/Thurs

Sat

Click here for information or to schedule a free introductory class.

News Archive

2008 Shaolin-Do Spring Festival--Recap
This year’s Spring Festival, hosted as always by my teacher, Master Joe Schaefer, 6th degree black belt in Austin, TX, was possibly the most exciting and smooth-running martial arts event I’ve ever attended.

Six New Orleans students, ranging in experience from white to black belt, made the trip out with me to take part in the weekend’s events. Congratulations go out to J.T. Palacio who successfully tested for 2nd degree black belt.

For a complete recap of the Spring Festival, visit my blog http://neworleansfitness.wordpress.com/

Click here to see pictures from our 2007 New Orleans Halloween Festival!

Beginner Tai Chi Workshop
This Saturday, March 1, 2-3:30pm I will start teaching a 5-week introductory tai chi workshop. Over the course of 5 Saturdays, students will learn the entire 24 Posture Tai Chi form, the most popular tai chi form world-wide. Once you have learned this form, you will have the most essential tools for a life-long tai chi practice to realize the benefits for joint health, balance, flexibility, inner strength and mental tranquility.

The seminar will run at the same time (2-3:30pm) on the following Saturdays: 3/1, 8, 15, 21, 28. If you have to miss one of the classes, you can either pick that section up by watching the instructional video, or you may want to schedule a private lesson, which I would discount for you. I may schedule additional practice sessions if necessary.

The $129 seminar fee will include the five Saturday classes plus an instructional DVD to help you learn and practice the 24 Posture Form with proper posture, stance, breathing, and movements. Once you have learned the form, you are welcome to join our tai chi program (classes Tues/Thurs 7:30-9pm) for further instruction in the health and self-defense aspects of tai chi, or to take private instruction with me for pursuing your individual goals in tai chi training, or even just practice on your own with the video until you feel ready to move on with more instruction.

The cost for enrollment in our tai chi program, if you want to continue past the seminar, is $89/mo or $250 for 3 months. If you are already enrolled in our kung fu program, adding tai chi is only $30/mo. Private instruction is $50 for a one hour session or $150 for four sessions, is scheduled at your convenience and focused on your goals and interests.

Please contact me if you would like to reserve a spot in the Saturday workshops.

Master Joe Schaefer Sparring Seminar Wed, Nov 14 7:30-9:30pm Recommended seminar fee: $65 sliding scale accepted: $20 and up

I'm very excited to announce that my teacher, Master Joe Schaefer, 6th degree black belt from Austin, TX, is coming to the New Orleans school in 10 days to lead a seminar on sparring skill and how to use a meditative mindset to take your sparring to a whole new level.

Master Schaefer is one of the most respected upper level black belts in our system, among our best fighters, and one of our most dynamic and effective instructors. This seminar will be valuable for students of all levels.

He will start by teaching basic concepts and techniques for sparring that will give beginners some tools to begin building confidence and ability levels. And for us advanced students, I'm sure it will be instructive to see how Master Joe lays those foundations.

Then he will share some techniques for bringing the mind into a meditative, open state of focus for sparring. The result will be faster, more effective, and more adaptive and surprising techniques. He has been evolving these methodologies over the last couple of years, and it has really accelerated the development of many of his senior students in Austin.

I want to make this seminar available to students of all levels, and all financial standings. This is a great opportunity, and I would ideally like to see every student in the school take advantage of it. Unfortunately for me, this plan only came together today, so I am having to pay a higher than usual air fare to bring Master Schaefer out for the class.

The last time Master Schaefer taught a sparring seminar in New Orleans, the late registration price was $65. This time, I'm going to make the fee a sliding scale. Pay what you are able to afford for the seminar, starting at $20 and sliding up to $65.

The day after Master Schaefer's seminar, Sat Oct 27, will be our Halloween Festival. You will have a chance to take part in several short seminars, to compete in empty hand and weapons forms and sparring, and see some exciting competitions from the upper belts. Early registration for the day's events is only $20, $25 for late registration the week of the tournament.

If you are going to participate in the sparring, you need to get sparring gear if you don't already have it--$65.40 for women, $76.30 for men, including sales tax.

Feel free to contact me with any questions. See you soon!

click here to see Master Joe sparring against 7th degree black belts in the Master's Sparring Division
(Master Joe is in the black gi)

New Orleans Halloween Tournament. Three years ago I started an annual tradition (skipping '05 for obvious reasons) of holding a tournament on the Saturday closest to Halloween. We started out with sparring competitons in the first year, then expanded to add empty hand forms competitions for the various belt levels as well as divisions for weapons and tai chi forms. Each year, we've had senior black belts come in from Texas schools to perform demonstrations, teach seminars, and compete. This year's tournament will be held at the school on Sat, October 27. It's fun, inspiring, and educational for all levels, and I'd love to see everyone participate.

Free introductory kung fu class Wed, Oct 3, 6:15-8pm:
A fun, motivational way to get in shape, learn self-defense, challenge yourself to grow, and create a positive attitude.
Click here to contact us to reserve a slot in the free workshop!!

School News for September
We will have all our regular classes Labor Day weekend. I realize that most people will be vacationing or being social or just taking it easy, and that's fine, but if you want to come in for class on Sat, Sun and Mon, we'll still be there kicking away!


Drunken Broadsword seminar, Sat March 31, 1:30-3pm $25 or work trade (see below)
Open to students of all levels. Free for black belts.

The broadsword (tao) is one of the most popular of the traditional Chinese weapons, It is a thick, single-edged sword with a curved blade. It was the standard-issue weapon for Chinese soldiers for centuries.

Drunken style kung fu is a very fun fighting style to learn. It is based on unpredictable, erratic, unorthodox movements, evasion, surprise attacks, cross stepping, and flexibility. Drunken broadsword employs some very odd movements, such as passing the sword from hand to hand, kicking with the sword between your legs, and wielding the sword by pinching the back of the blade.

Most drunken forms are very advanced and require extensive conditioning to perform the movements. This drunken broadsword form is an exception. It is a first degree black belt form, and kung fu students of any level will be able to learn and perform it.

Let me know if you would like to purchase a broadsword. They range in price from $20 for a wooden sword, $65 for a good aluminum sword (recommended), to $120 for combat steel. The tao is probably the most versatile weapon in our system, so you will definitely be using it a lot in the future. Just off the top of my head, the broadsword forms in our system include: Night Battle Broadsword (a required form at 3rd brown), Drunken Broadsword, 4 Faces 8 Directions Double Broadswords, Shaolin Broadsword, Second Level Broadsword, Tai Chi Broadsword, Tai Chi Broadsword 2 Man set, Green Dragon Broadsword, and Chain Whip and Broadsword.

This will be the first in a series of optional Spring seminars, and will cost $25 (free for black belts or students who took this seminar before). I will also accept a work-trade if you can commit 2 hours of your time on a weekend to help me clean, paint and/or make small repairs at the school. Just let me know if you want to go this route.

Shaolin-Do Spring Festival in Austin, TX
(click on the poster for registration & more info)

February is here, and that means it's almost time for my teacher, Master Joe Schaefer, to hold his annual Spring Festival in Austin, TX. The head of our system, Grandmaster Sin Kwang The will be in attendance, as always, to conduct testing, teach a seminar (Dragon Pa Kua this year), and preside over the tournament. A few of us from New Orleans make the pilgrimage every year, carpooling for the 9 hour drive to participate in the big event. The tournament will be on Sat, Feb 24 and the seminar on Sun, Feb 25. Let me know if you're interested or want more information. In addition to sparring, forms, and weapons competitions, the tournament always features several short seminars with senior black belts on various special topics. I'll send out a more detailed description of the events in the coming weeks.

February and August are typically the big times for testing, because Grandmaster Sin is in the area (I think we will get him to come to New Orleans again in August for testing and a seminar). It's good for brown belts and above to have the experience of testing in front of the grandmaster. Even though he tests thousands of people every year, he will remember your name after he has seen you test. Everyone testing for 2nd degree black and above must test with Grandmaster Sin.

As always, please contact me with any questions about the above, or questions about your training, goals, etc. Let's keep the good momentum going!

New Orleans Shaolin-Do Halloween Festival, Sat Oct 28 10am-3pm

Information & Registration Form, click here
Flyer, click here
Fun things to do and places to stay, click here

We've had several sparring tournaments at the New Orleans school, and now it's time to "kick it up a notch." Are you a New Orleans student, and you haven't had the opportunity to travel to Austin or Lexington for the events there? Or maybe you have, and want to "spread the love" and show those who haven't gone how fun & inspiring it is? Or maybe you are a student in Texas, Kentucky, or elsewhere who's itching for a fun getaway with a little kung fu thrown in for the bargain?

It's time for our first ever full New Orleans tournament, with forms, weapons, sparring, possibly demonstrations, mini-seminars, and who know know what else? I spoke to several Kentucky & Texas black belts this weekend who expressed a desire to come participate. I chose Halloween weekend because it's a fun time to visit New Orleans. Rather than have the typical Saturday evening demonstrations, I plan to leave the evening free for participants to experience the costumes & festivities in the Quarter. I would, however, like to work in a fun demonstration, and possibly a seminar for Sat or Sun during the day. If you know of any public events going on that weekend (for example, the NOLA book fair, etc.) that would welcome an exciting martial arts demo, let me know about it. Pre-registration will be around $25 for the whole shebang, $35 for last-minute registration. More details very soon!