You will find the many and exciting possibilities that open up once you are a Shaolin Academy Black Sash. Teaching is just one of these, there are many more.
Overview
At the Shaolin Kung Fu academy, there are many, many options, paths that you can follow after achieving Black Sash. You are now considered a senior and your Kung FU and skill development can go in many directions; it is your choice. Your training is now predominately one-on-one with a senior Black Sash or Master level instructor. For fitness and maintenance you will continue training in normal classes, but at least once a week you will focus on training at the Black Sash Level towards your second degree. As there are many possibilities, let's have a look at students who have achieved 2nd and 3rd degrees in the past.
Sifu John P
When john reached his Black Sash he had several targets in mind. He was very interested in specializing in Panther Kung Fu; all his life he has been interested in the Wrestling & Grappling aspect of martial arts and he wanted to teach children.
The Shaolin Academy only taught students from the ages of 13 as it was traditional; so we did not have any experience teaching Children. After some experimentation John was accepted by Shihan Paul Ceberano from Ceberano Martial Arts Academy and started training there as a student working towards his Karate Black Belt. As part of the payback for the training, he first assisted and then teach children's classes under the guidance and training of Shihan Paul. He continued his Karate Training and teaching Children for 18 months when he was invited to grade for his full Karate Black Sash.
Shaolin Academy will recognise any Martial Art Black Sash from a know, registered or associated martial art style and will automatically acknowledge. When you reach your 1st Degree Black Sash in Shaolin 5 Animal Kung Fu or Traditional Chinese Weaponry, you will automatically be promoted to a 2nd Degree Black Sash!
But this is only the beginning. From a very young age, John was interested in Grappling, real grappling as he called it (independent of clothing such as a solid Gi to grab) and wrestling. This is one of the aspects of the Shaolin Snake Kung Fu. For the next 2½ years he consolidated his knowledge and skills and proved of a period of a week that he was very proficient. As one of the check points for this was the teaching of a student to a demonstrable level proficiency; so not only showing that he has the skill an ability but also showing that he can pass this on. He was promoted to 3rd Degree in Shaolin Snake Kung Fu Grappling.
Each animal aspect has many specialization possibilities, not just the standard Kung Fu, you as a Black Sash student work out with Sijo what you wish to develop from within the Shaolin Animal Styles.
Sifu John is not focusing on two aspects of his training. He is seeking to complete his Traditional Chinese Weaponry Black Sash which he started 5 years ago and he is working on his chosen style of Shaolin Panther Kung Fu. This is not an easy style and may take a while. Just below you will see his 1st Form, the Shaolin grass Puma.
Sifu Chris S
Chris was a very talented martial artist who after achieving his Black Sash choose first to work on his Panther Kung Fu style. he was dedicated in this pursuit over a period of 3 years. He chose to express his aspect in the development of 5 Panther Kung Fu Style forms, each expressing a different part of the Animal. As a Diabetic, he was not able to consume alcohol; as he wished to experience this, he developed a Drunken Panther Form which he even got to demonstrate in the Shaolin Temple in China! Below is his first Panther form the Stalking Panther.
You not only have the choice of which direction you study as in Animal Styles, Shadow Styles, Traditional Chinese Weaponry, but you also have a lot of choice how you express and grade your subject.
Sifu Chris was a consummate martial artists, keep an eye out on his other works scattered through our WEB page.
Sifu Vanessa C
Vanessa had the perfect body for the Crane but a very much go-getter attitude. Although she had all the grace and beauty of movement that any Shaolin Crane practitioner would want, she also had a direct and strong way about her. This allowed us to explore her Crane and seek to define the her personal crane style which we then aptly title Raptor (Crane). Yes, there is not such animal yet, it suited how she performed her Kung Fu exceeding well.
With her Iron Wing, twin Broad Sword Form and her Raptor Crane form, Vanessa was able to win most of the events she entered, even sparring where she used her superior movement and direct attacks to her greatest advantage.
Once you have graduated as a Black Sash in Shaolin 5 Animal Kung Fu you have a great latitude in choose and developing "your' form.
Sifu Wayne N
Wayne was the 2nd Shaolin Academy Instructor. In a lot of ways he was the street wise, hard knocks type of person. He worked on his sparring until he achieved a National Title and took on some of the heaviest hitters around at the time in Traditional Martial Arts and Kick Boxing. Even though he had this great dedication, form work was not his strength. He understood the contents and techniques of the form, was able to use and apply the learning's derived from this but performing pattern workk was always a challenge.
You may not be the person who can win a Championship in Traditional Form work, but that does not mean you do not grasp what it means and can make it work for you! What you learn and achieve on the whole is more important than the any single individual part..
Many Options
There have been a number of students who have taken this Journey option to achieve higher degrees in proficiency, some returned back to the academy, some did not. We are not sad about those who did not return as the aim of the Shaolin Academy is to achieve what is best for the student. We would always support their choices. And there are many choices.
Now that you have an idea how this can work, let's list some of these;
Journeyman/woman where you achieve a Black Sash/Belt/Singlet or equivalent with another style; with a reputable and registered martial art style. (Students who come to us from other styles who already have achieved an equivalent rank will have this recognized upon achieving Shaolin Academy Black Sash.)
Animal Kung Fu specializations; as you progressed pass Red Sash (half way mark) you will have had a solid introduction to the Shaolin Animals, you may choose to specialize in one of these.
Self Defence Specialist; or you devote yourself to becoming a specialist in defence such as you may need to be a professional security person or body guard. This would include fighting skills, protection skills, human control skills, Weaponry control skills and the like.
Non Shaolin Animal specialist; a number of student have chose to specialize in the Shaolin Shadow Animals such as Eagle, Monkey, Mantis to name a few. Usually, this requires someone to learn under the guidance of our Academy Masters and a possible outside source.
Traditional Chinese Weaponry (also called Cold Weapons or non-explosive Weaponry); there are some 53 different Weapons in the Shaolin Academy, from the usual of Shaolin Staff, Broad Sword to the more exotic and difficult such as Meteor Hammer, Two Handed Axe, Fan and Mother/Son Hammer. You have the choice in choosing the Principle 5 Weapons or specialize in; Bladed, Projectile, Flexible, Impact or non Weapons!
Other Kung Fu Styles; such as Immortal Kung Fu, 72 Fist Kung Fu, Hung Gar Kung Fu, etc.
With the some 80 combined years that the Shaolin Academy Masters have in martial arts and related, there are more options, but these are better understood when you have some Shaolin Experience. These above should be enough to show the vast possibilities that open to Shaolin Academy Graduated Black Sashes.
Black Belts
If you are a full Black Belt/Sash/Singlet from another style and you would like to try the Shaolin Academy Black Sash grading you are most welcome; without prejudice. We hold open Gradings every year, 2nd weekend in December. As a rule, anyone can grade, for any level including Black Sash, even if they are from other Martial Art Styles. We even have a 'booster program' which lasts 10 months for Black Belts at the end of which they grade for the Shaolin Academy Black Sash. When they pass a full Shaolin Academy Rank, Certification and Black Sash are awarded!
Personal Coaching
Master Robert Z, was the National Manager for Professional and Personal Development for a large Australian organization. The training and experience he received there is far beyond the current '6 week Life Coaching courses' that many people are put through. As a Master of martial art with almost 50 years experience, your physical, mental, professional, life and spiritual developmental needs may receive a boost with a couple of coaching sessions. Currently he has several regulars but this always changes once the target has been achieved.
Quality of Style and Delivery
We are a small and professional organization and do not do the McDonald's Martial Art System. We provide small classes, with exceedingly well qualified instructors and some personalized training. The Shaolin 5 Animal Kung Fu styles, aside from being over 1000 years old is one of the worlds most advanced (not easiest) martial art style with many facets and surprises. It is best suited to people who prefer more than just a bash'em style of martial arts with a view to life-long-training.
More Info
We are happy to hear from you and answer you martial art, health and developmental questions. If you wish to train with us, the first 3 sessions are free. It is best to try these before making any commitment. If you have any other questions or would lust like to explore some possibilities, you can;
Call us between 11am and 5pm, Tuesday to Friday & Sunday on 1800 SHAOLIN that is 1800 742 654
