THE GRANDMASTERS

Shaolin Temple Tai Chi and Kung Fu

L.A. Shaolin Studios Ltd. is an official school under Grandmaster, Master Sin Kwang Thé. We trace our lineage to the Fukien Shaolin Temple, through a succession of three remarkable Grandmasters: Su Kong Tai’jin (1849-1928), Ie Chang Ming (1880-1976), and Sin Kwang Thé (1943-present).

Thanks to heroic efforts by these Grandmaster monks, and the continued dedication and training of current Grandmaster Sin Kwang Thé, we have access to perhaps the most complete and traditional compilation of Shaolin Temple Tai Chi and Kung Fu existing anywhere in the world today.
 

Master Sin is still busy transmitting some of the only true, pre-communist, Shaolin Temple Tai Chi and Kung Fu available. All of our instructors are certified by Master Sin and there are many opportunities for everyone to learn from the Grandmaster in person.

The Internal and External Styles

Nei Chia Ch'uan and Wai Chia Ch'uan

The soft or internal styles (Nei Chia Ch’uan) of the Shaolin Art include such well known styles as Tai Chi Chuan, Pa Kua Chang, and Hsing I Chuan. The application of the techniques of these styles are in no way obvious to an observer and the movements are visibly relaxed and supple. 

The hard or external styles (Wai Chia Ch’uan) of the Shaolin Art include such well known styles as Northern Fist and Southern Fist, Chin Na, Fist of Hua, and the 18 classical weapons. The application of the techniques of these styles are obvious to an adequately informed observer, and they are visibly powerful. 

The internal and external arts, soft and hard, compliment each other like Yin and Yang in the traditional Chinese symbol. External without internal skills is crude and self limiting, while at the same time internal without external skills create 'Flowery arms and embroidered legs'. 

ANECDOTE OF THE RICE BOWL

An enduring first lesson for anyone and everyone

One of the first lessons great grand master Ie Chang Ming taught to our current grandmaster is recorded and recounted in many places. It is useful for anyone starting something new, or facing a daunting task.

One evening, Grandmaster Ie spilled a bowl of uncooked rice grains on the training hall floor. He told young Sin Thé to find and count all 855 grains, dust them, and return them to the bowl.  The young boy tried, but would lose count and have to restart each time he got to a hundred. Eventually, the boy admitted that he didn't think he could count high enough to accomplish the task set before him.

Grandmaster suggested that he count a hundred, then set a grain aside and count a hundred more. When he tried it this way, young Sin Thé easily counted higher than he had previously believed he could, and (though it took him a while) he accounted for and returned all the grains to the bowl.

Breaking dauntingly large tasks, (such as changing your life) into smaller manageable pieces, (such as changing your day) allows you to persevere and achieve even that which, at first, may seem impossible.