Anybody know if this school is legit?

[Mr. President]

http://www.shaolins.com

They have "testimonials" (could be stock photos) and all that, plus Shaolin monks who teach there, according to them, but I wouldn't know whether or not they're trustworthy. Does anyone know them?

 

[Xue Sheng]

It is likely as legit as any other Shaolin academy in China. Shaolin may be mostly Wushu and performance these days but you do not go publically claiming lineages you don't have on mainland it can be costly either financially when Shaolin sues them, Credibility wise when shaolin forces you to make a public statement as to you being a liar or physically when they sane there Sanda champs to have a talk with you.

But for some reason Shi Deqian sound familiar but my forgetful old brain can't seem to remember why

 

[Mr. President]

It is likely as legit as any other Shaolin academy in China. Shaolin may be mostly Wushu and performance these days but you do not go publically claiming lineages you don't have on mainland it can be costly either financially when Shaolin sues them

So they're a bona fide satellite school of the temple or something?

 

[Xue Sheng]

You are looking at this wrong.

They were likely trained at Shaolin or trained in Shaolin arts and someone in a position of authority (a known Sifu of the style of Shaolin itself) said they could teach. Therefore they can make the claim they are making and open a school. Otherwise they could not make that claim in China without problems.

This does not make them a satellite school of the temple, as far as I know there is really no such thing. There is the Shaolin School (more school/tourist destination than Temple) and there there re those that teach Shaolin elsewhere.

 

[Mr. President]

Well, here's a quote from the website:

Please send all enquiries regarding the academy to it's chief manager, Mr. Che, (Shi Xing Kuo) who is a layman-disciple of the great grandmaster Shi De Qian, previous chief manager of the Song san mountain Temple (note: written Song shan temple below - either way is Ok). Mr. Che has been authorized by the Song Shan Temple authorities to invite the protection monks or their diciples to live and teach shaolin martial arts to foreign students who enroll at the Siping City Shao Lin Martial Arts Academy, located next to the Ye He ancient castle, which is located approximately 5 kilometers (or 3 miles) from the ancient Jai Lan Temple near Siping City, Jilin province, in the Chang Bai mountains of northern China.
We received verification of Mr. Che's credentials from the last Fang zhang (first abbott) of the Song Shan mountain temple, Shi Yong Xin, who has re-confirmed Mr. Che as a shaolin layman monk during the mid-part of November, 1999.




Well, that's a fairly detailed explanation of how they get to teach. Does it pass the smell test as far as you're concerned?

 

[Xue Sheng]

That just brings me back to "It is likely as legit as any other Shaolin academy in China" which is what I said in my first response

 

[mograph]

In other words, the school may be official Shaolin, but official Shaolin isn't what it used to be?

 

[Instructor]

This seems pretty steep.

[SIZE=+1]TOTAL FEES[/SIZE]

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• NOTE: If you feel you might not be accepted due to a physical condition or for some other reason, Email Mr. Che to find out, first, before submitting the application and paying the reservation fee.
  

One-time non-refundable Reservation Fee (paid along with submission of the Academy Application Form): $150.USD
One-time Academy Administration Fee paid when the student arrives at the Academy: $360.USD
Monthly Tuition Fee - paid when the student arrives at the Academy: $200.USD
Monthly Room and Board: $100.USD - paid when the student arrives at the academy (includes meals, lodging, hot showers, training equipment such as mats, pads, gloves and body protection).
Academy escort service from Chang chun airport: $100.USD. Escort from Siping train station to the academy is free.
Students who wish to stay at the academy for one year or longer (and pay up-front for 12 months each year) will receive the following annual discounts:
Total discounted cost for the first year, including the one-time online reservation fee, (which includes food, accommodations, training, and administration fees): $4,110.USD.
Total discounted cost for the second year: $3,560.USD.
Total discounted cost for the third year: $3,060.USD.
Total discounted cost for the fourth year and thereafter: $2,560.USD.
Note: Students attending the academy for longer than 6 months must purchase a major medical insurance policy to pay for major illness or injury the student may incur while in China and provide a copy of the policy to the academy when the student arrives at the academy. Students who cannot find temporary major medical coverage on their own before coming to China must purchase an annually-renewable accidental injury only policy when they arrive at the academy, issued by a China Life Insurance Company. The premium is $100.USD.
Note: Except for the the payments shown above, there are no other administrative, tuition, or other fees. Of course, students are expected to pay for their personal needs like toiletries, use of academy washing machines, casual clothing, and gifts to send home, etc..
Since no one can know the future state of the economy, the academy's rates are subject to change according to inflation and the cost of living in China.
Refunds are not given to students who book for 1 month, or less. If a student (training for more than one month) leaves the academy for any reason, they will be given a refund of their remaining payment. Students can decide their length of stay after spending a few days of training at the academy before paying for the full desired training period.
Please Click Here to view student's comments about their training while at the academy.
Access to the internet including WIFI access (within the academy's living quarters only) is free. Because the academy is located in the mountains, the internet is slow (because high-speed cable is not available). There is a 220-volt electrical outlet in each room so if your computer requires a 110-volt connection you will need to purchase a voltage converter. Minimum payment is for one month of training , even if the student wants to train for a shorter period of time.

 

[Mr. President]

I've spoken to the actual Shaolin temple. They told me I can't live in the temple, but in a nearby village, a walking distance away. For a year, it's $10,000. No way I can swing that.

Does anyone here know a Shaolin school they trust?

 

[Xue Sheng]

I've spoken to the actual Shaolin temple. They told me I can't live in the temple, but in a nearby village, a walking distance away. For a year, it's $10,000. No way I can swing that.

Does anyone here know a Shaolin school they trust?

Since that question has been answered as best as I can answer it already lets go with this.

Do you speak (at least) Mandarin? Are you close to fluent?

If yes you may get a slight discount, if know they will gouge you on price if you are American, all Americans are rich, just ask any Chinese person on mainland you meet and they will tell you that. Accept the fact right now that if yuo are from the USA and do not speak mandarin you are only a payday to them and not to be taken seriously

Now if you want to learn Shaolin and be able to say it comes from Shaolin you would likely be better off moving to NYC and studying with Shifu Shi Yan Ming, he is a Shaolin Monk, is in the USA, speaks English and likely will charge you less than $10,000 for a year.

If you want what Shaolin will give you, which is performance Wushu and Sanda then there are many Physical education universities in major cities in China that you can train at that will likely be a little more honest about it. A guy near me trained at one of those and his Performance Wushu is amazing, his Sanda is incredible and they taught him Mandarin too. Likely Shaolin will as well but I have to tell you I trust a university more…only a little more…but more than Shaolin if for no other reason than they are telling you exactly what they are going to teach you and not cloaking it in the Ancient Reputation of Shaolin which to be honest is absolutely nowhere near what it used to be.

Or you could find a school that is run by a person that is like the guy near me and again train with someone who speaks English and is in the USA and will not charger you $10,000 for the year.

You really need to research living in China before you run off and live there because it ain’t what many think it is both good and bad. Hell I have family there and a house and I don’t want to live there.

 

[Dirty Dog]

I've spoken to the actual Shaolin temple. They told me I can't live in the temple, but in a nearby village, a walking distance away. For a year, it's $10,000. No way I can swing that.

Does anyone here know a Shaolin school they trust?

Have you considered becoming a monk?

 

[oaktree]

Kick one of them in the balls if he falls over you know
He is not a real xaolin.

 

[Mr. President]

you would likely be better off moving to NYC and studying with Shifu Shi Yan Ming, he is a Shaolin Monk, is in the USA, speaks English and likely will charge you less than $10,000 for a year.

Yeah I know Shi Yan Ming. He "upgraded" Bruce Lee's one inch punch. Here is the real deal, but so is NYC's cost of living. I have to find a relatively good paying job before I can even think about moving there.

As I understand, he's working on opening a live-in school upstate, but that would likely cost a lot more than his current annual fee.

Have you considered becoming a monk?

Two problems with that: I don't have the requisite amount of money required, and they won't let me live in the temple.

 

[Xue Sheng]

Yeah I know Shi Yan Ming. He "upgraded" Bruce Lee's one inch punch. Here is the real deal, but so is NYC's cost of living. I have to find a relatively good paying job before I can even think about moving there.

As I understand, he's working on opening a live-in school upstate, but that would likely cost a lot more than his current annual fee.

It is cheaper to train here if you know a good teacher than it is to go train in China. And if you are willing to go thousands of miles to China, a good teacher here is closer to travel is not as much of an issue.

There also use to be a guy in the Boston area that had live in students but I know little about him or his school and he was not Shaolin.

But these are questions you need to think about, and answer if you so desire

Do you speak (at least) Mandarin? Are you close to fluent?

Why do you want to go to Shaolin?

If you want what Shaolin will give you, which is performance Wushu and Sanda. And it will be as good as what you get at Shaolin, then there are many Physical education universities in major cities in China and they have dorms.

There are Wing Chun Schools in Hong Kong that allow you to live there as well and I think Yao in Beijing has dorms for his Yiquan students.

Two problems with that: I don't have the requisite amount of money required, and they won't let me live in the temple.

And two more problems. if you are a westerner they will not allow it and your age could be an issue as well. You may want to look to Wudang, they have foreign students but I am not sure where they live

 

[clfsean]

There's a school that won't mind taking your money, letting you shave your head & call you a monk. They're called "blah blah blah" Shaolin. They'll let you run around in saffron robes, learn Shaolin jibengong, taolu & even call yourself a disciple of the temple. They don't care. They will laugh all the way to the bank.

No Chinese students live "at the temple". They live near & around, but not there. Hell even the abbot doesn't live there. He's got a spot not far from the Temple with his wife & kid(s??) & commutes everyday in his bullet proof Abbot-mobile Benz.

There's no reason to go & "live" there when there's better & cheaper TCMA here. Unless you just have to, then I'd suggest speaking the language. Regardless that there are more Chinese that speak English than US citizens, you don't speak Chinese, I don't suggest anything other than sightseeing on a guided tour.

Neih sihk ng sihk teng-ah?

 

[mograph]

There is a funny thing many of us Westerners see in things "Eastern:" we see them as strange. They're either weird or magical, or somehow "special" for reasons we really don't understand. This is why some in the Far East make fun of us and take our money. We're rubes.

An example of such a Westerner would be someone wanting to go to China and learn Shaolin because it's, well, Shaolin ... without doing research, and I'm not talking about going on an internet forum. I'm talking about finding out what good Shaolin really is, and what good martial arts really are ... and learning enough Mandarin to know when someone is making fun of you or ripping you off. That includes knowing enough of the culture to know where you stand, and learning the non-verbal cues as well.

I hope that you're not one of those Westerners who is fascinated with the strange ways of the East.

In my experience, it takes a lot for a Westerner to be accepted enough to be trusted; to really be in. (Everyone in my group is really nice to me, but I'm clearly not in.) You have to show that you have spent a lot of time studying their culture, their language, their interests. They're used to Westerners throwing money around and expecting the real deal. Since those kinds of Westerners haven't actually taken the time to learn about the culture (etc.) I'd imagine they see this behavior as disrespectful, and believe the Westerner gets what he deserves.

You may have images of David Carradine (or that Mountain Dew spot) in your head. You may think that because you're a Westerner, they'll be impressed that you came all this way. You may think that they'll give you the same instruction as everybody else. You may think that they'll be grateful for your interest. That may happen. But other images may be more accurate: you may get robbed. You may be stuck doing exercises that have no point. You may be stuck cleaning the place. You may be sent out into the tourist areas to encourage more Westerners to join up (ka-ching!), but not allowed to actually do any martial arts. You may find that after one year, you get fed up or run out of money and go home. You may get very sick. You may not know how to talk to people. You may be very alone.

But it comes down to Xuesheng's question again: "Why do you want to go to Shaolin?"

 

[Mr. President]

They're either weird or magical, or somehow "special" for reasons we really don't understand.

It's not about magic. I prefer Chinese martial arts because it seems clean, thorough and methodical in the way they practice the art. The moves are very impressive. Why is anyone attracted to one martial art instead of another? It's a personal preference thing.

Why Shaolin specifically? Well... why not Shaolin? Is there a better place to learn Kung Fu?

You may have images of David Carradine

Who?

you may get robbed. You may be stuck doing exercises that have no point. You may be stuck cleaning the place. You may be sent out into the tourist areas to encourage more Westerners to join up (ka-ching!), but not allowed to actually do any martial arts. You may find that after one year, you get fed up or run out of money and go home. You may get very sick. You may not know how to talk to people. You may be very alone.

I think you just broke a record of the number of assumptions made in one minute.

 

[clfsean]

It's not about magic. I prefer Chinese martial arts because it seems clean, thorough and methodical in the way they practice the art. The moves are very impressive. Why is anyone attracted to one martial art instead of another? It's a personal preference thing.

That's about the most honest & forthright thing without being loaded you said. Congratulations.

Why Shaolin specifically? Well... why not Shaolin? Is there a better place to learn Kung Fu?

Lots... A few... Guangzhou, Foshan, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin, Cangzhou, Chenjiaguo, X'ian, Chengdu, Changsha, Hong Kong, Macao, Serawak, NYC, San Francisco, Vancouver, Montreal, Ontario, Los Angeles, London, etc...

I think you just broke a record of the number of assumptions made in one minute.

I think you still have that from some of your earlier posts... don't be to hasty in trying to rid yourself of the mantle.

 

[Mr. President]

Lots... A few... Guangzhou, Foshan, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin, Cangzhou, Chenjiaguo, X'ian, Chengdu, Changsha, Hong Kong, Macao, Serawak, NYC, San Francisco, Vancouver, Montreal, Ontario, Los Angeles, London, etc...

I was probably unclear. I was referring to the method, not the location. Regardless of where, I want to learn Shaolin Kung Fu. Is there another "style" or another way of learning Kung Fu? Are there those who learn Kung Fu that isn't Shaolin oriented? If so, are there better methods or styles of Kung Fu?

 

[mograph]

I was referring to the method, not the location. Regardless of where, I want to learn Shaolin Kung Fu.

Ah, now you're talking. I think there were some stateside recommendations made in an earlier post, no?