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What is the Difference between Karate and Kungfu?
Karate
and Tae Kwon Do are considered 'hard styles' whereas
Kungfu is considered to be a 'soft style'. In hard
styles, when executing punches they are isolated
to just the upper body and emphasize rigidness of
the shoulders to show power. Northern Shaolin on
the other hand, utilizes the leg stances and twisting
of the waist to express explosive power. With the
twisting, the power of a punch is emphasized through
the legs, waist, torso, shoulder, and finally the
arm. Many of the Shaolin hand movements are not
linear and require more indirect applications. Northern
Shaolin has a very good proportion of upper body
and lower body applications which include punching,
kicking, jumping, crouching, sweeping, throwing,
and qin na, just to name a few. To read more about
the basic Tan Tui routines, click
here.
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How
are Shaolin classes
classes structured?
Students
stretch and do basic kicking drills as a group at
the beginning of the class. After the warm ups,
they run through the basic Tan Tui sets and every
form in the school curriculum afterwards. New students
will work one-on-one with instructors to learn the
necessary material in order to train with the group.
They will train with the group as far as thay can
and break off when they have exhausted the material
they learned.
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How
do I test and what is the ranking set up?
The
progress of the student is individually based since
when they learn, they learn as an individual and
the train as a group. The Academy follows a standard
school sash system and the student will learn the
required material and test under the discretion
of the instructor. The sash tests are based on forms
and weapon routines. Sparring is not required for
sash testing. Click
to see our comprehensive Shaolin curriculum.
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When
would I learn weapons?
There
are 3 basic weapons of Northern Shaolin: the staff,
broadsword (sabre), and spear. The staff is learned
in the beginner level, sabre in the intermediate,
and spear in advanced level. The students will initially
learn basic routines and eventually learn the advanced
routines in the upper sash levels. Refer to our
Shaolin Curriculum
to see the comprehensive training guide.
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What
other things do you offer, because I see you teach
Wushu and other weapons.
Northern
Shaolin is the basis of our focus and specialty,
so we train just that in the group classes. However,
we do teach and train the International Wushu Compulsory
sets and other Traditional forms such as praying
mantis, double swords, kwan dao, 9-section whip,
monkey staff, dagger fighting set, and many others.
These styles and sets are extra-curricular and are
available for the students to learn through private
instruction and workshops.
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What
is the age requirement or recommendation that you
take in kids?
We
normally recommend kids joining Shaolin classes
at 5 or 6 years old, but we do screen kids at the
younger ages and let them participate in a trial
class to see how they do with the other kids and
instructor.
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What
is the age breakup of the classes?
In
the kids classes, the age ranges from 4 to 12. Once
a student in the kids class reaches 12 years old,
we allow them to move into the adult classes to
train. The age range in the adult classes typically
go anywhere from 13 to 45 with the majority of the
students being 14 to 30.
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What
is the Difference between Kungfu and Tai Chi?
Kungfu
is considered an external style and tai chi an internal
style. Tai Chi moves at a slow meditative pace and
focuses on the mind and body and inner energy referred
to as 'qi' (chi). Tai Chi is known as the 'ultimate
boxing' and is practiced for several reasons, depending
on the individual. Not only does Tai Chi teach theories,
applications, and body mechanics, it has also been
known to develop coordination, strengthen the body,
improve energy levels, improve eating and sleeping
habits, reduce joint and back pain, and much more
health improvements are attributed to consistent
Tai Chi training. When training the Tai Chi forms,
the mind and bocy is relaxed, the joints are slowly
moving and the vital organs are being massaged with
each movement, overall improving and balancing the
body and mind for optimal health.
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How
are Tai Chi classes structured?
At
the beginning of the class, the students do group
stretching and basic footwork that are relevant
to the Wu (Hao) Tai Chi system. The Tai Chi forms
are performed starting with 13 Movements, 24, 32,
then 36. New students will work one-on-one with
instructors to learn the necessary material in order
to train with the group. They will train with the
group as far as thay can and break off when they
have exhausted the material they learned.
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What
about Tai Chi applications, I heard that Tai Chi
has applications to it other than being trained
for health.
Tai
Chi is initially trained to develop coordination
and awareness of the body and inner energy. The
Tai Chi forms are practiced and eventually lead
you to Tai Chi applications and push hands. Push
hands applies the movements and mechanics in the
forms for offensive and defensive applications.
Push hands requires developing the 'listening skills',
which means that you can detect the opponent's attack
upon the touch of their hands or arms in the drills.
The attack or reaction to the attack uses the opponent's
force in equal amounts against them with the intent
of throwing them off balance or uprooting them.
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Are
there any Tai Chi weapons?
At
the Academy, we currently teach the Tai Chi Straightsword
and that is learned after completion of the 36 movement
set.
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What
is the age range of the classes?
The
classes range from people in the ages of 25 to 70
and there are occasions when there are younger people
in the class, but there are instances when there
are younger students in the class, but hardly ever
under 15 years old.
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Can
I come in and watch a class or try a class out?
Visitors
are always welcome to visit the classes, talk to
the instructors, and tour the school. We encourage
visitors to let us know when they plan to visit
and whether or not they plan to try out a class.
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If
I wanted to try out, what should I do and what should
I wear?
You
may call the school and let us know that you will
be visiting so we will be prepared to have an instructor
on hand to assist you for the introductory lesson.
You may wear any type of workout pants that are
loose and comfortable, a t-shirt or sweatshirt,
and athletic shoes with rubber soles.
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How
is tuition and payment set up?
Tuition
is determined monthly and depends on how many classes
are attended per week. The number of classes attended
is up to the student and payment is due at the beginning
of each payment period. The fees are paid every
quarter, so students are required to pay 3 months
at a time, unless they prefer to pay monthly, which
the fee is higher if they choose to do it this way.
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Is
there a contract that I am obligated to?
No,
there are no contracts that bind you to the classes.
The only thing we ask is that tuition is paid 3
months at a time unless the student requests to
pay monthly at the higher rate. We encourage a trial
class so that the student will get a better idea
of how many classes they would like to sign up,
so they can determine their fee & training schedules.
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Do
I start at a certain time or can I come in at anytime?
There
are no specific times in the month that we take
in students. They can come in at anytime they wish.
If they come in during the middle of the month,
then 1/2 the month's tuition does not apply. The
fee will be pro-rated in the next payment period.
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What
could I do about missing classes?
Classes
can be made up and the schedule is flexible to accomodate
the students because we understand that there may
be time conflicts or other personal reasons to miss
a class. If a student commits to coming on monday
and Wednesday and have to miss a Wednesday class,
then they are welcome to come in on Friday to make
up the class. If they miss a week, then they are
welcome to double up on classes in a single day
to make up for classes missed. If a student needs
to be absent for an extended period of time over
2 weeks, then they will have to make arrangements
with the instructor.
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