The Master Speaks
Today’s Teaching:
Dear Shaolin Institute Members, Families and Friends:
Word for Meditation
The Precept of Shaolin Chan
* Three core values of Shaolin Chan: wisdom, ethics, mindfulness
* Entering the path requires working from your inherent intelligence.
* Wisdom is a noble strength that balances integrity and compassion.
* The Shaolin Model encourages strategic practices to improve our communication, effectiveness, efficiency, creativity and productivity.
* The path of wisdom raises the bar of authentic communication and interaction in all levels of the institute from staff to students and from instructors to the master.
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* Wisdom: self-empowerment and self-discipline with constant, never-ending learning, an endless ability to solve and resolve problems, to harmonize and influence and empower self and others with greater leadership.
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* Vision: LIU International teaches the inherent wisdom to generations to come to benefit and harmonize society with virtues and to free all peoples.
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* Mission: to enlighten and empower everyone we encounter to find his/her self-nature, the greatness within, so as to be totally free.
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* Slogan: A Healthy Body and A Healthy Mind.
* Value: Compassion, Caring, Educating, Empowering and Enlightening.
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* Institute Ethics: Right intention must have right speech followed with right action.
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* Compassion: offer non-judgmental love to all we encounter; conduct efficient, considerate, caring action congruent with those values; to live yourself on that path, applying that value and wisdom to endeavor to inspire and motivate everyone around you.
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* Mindful Consciousness: meditating with nature; constant wakefulness; see your light within; truly see yourself so you can experience enlightenment.
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* Equanimity: Calm your mind to meditate at all times in order to be mindful and to see the need of equanimity, to see the light within and happiness within.
Mindfulness: To be constantly conscious requires strengthening, focusing and calming the mind.
Supremacy Mind: needs to exude level-headedness and to be decisive but reasonable.
The Shaolin team must be astute and able to discern all aspects of the institute to make sound decisions and offer wise resolutions. That team must be able to unveil wisdom with deeper insight to cultivate the positive Qi with integrity and compassionate strength to pave the way to our internal wisdom. To reach the internal wisdom, we must free the hostage of our own ego and look outward going beyond ourselves. We often need to shift our paradigm to see others and appreciate others in touch with the world and see other people’s needs. We shall see the world as it is: sometimes intense, other times exquisite. We must constantly revisit our vision, which sustains the institute and LIU International. That pervasive view governs and threads itself through every one of our goals and stations of time and space.
With a clear view, we see what it is and how we can relate each of our actions and efforts to that reality. We clearly see our obstacles and challenges and how we can clear up those obstacles and move forward on the path of Chan, path of light, path of freedom and path of happiness.
Tell me, my students and friends: Can we see what we are and where we are at? What our future will turn out to be from now? What can we do to control our destiny and get out of our comfort zone to discipline ourselves to change our world for the betterment of our very existence? Can we visualize our true potential and maintain a realistic operation on what it takes to transform our institute into the fullest potential to realize our vision?
Recent and Upcoming Events:
* August 26, 2012 ~ Yardsale Fundraiser in Atlanta
* September 15, 2012 ~ Sewanee Parade
* September 29 – 30, 2012 ~ Duluth Fall Festival and parade in Atlanta
* September ~ SWAT Screening at quarterly testing at all locations
* September 22nd Quarterly Testing in Atlanta
* October 5th Quarterly Testing in Mobile
* October 6th Quarterly Testing in New Orleans
* October ~ Fun Run and/or Walk Fundraiser in Atlanta
* October 6 ~ Creek Crawl
* November 10 ~ Spartan Race
* December ~ Interschool Competition held in Atlanta
Announcement
The Institute would like to welcome Lon Wilkinson and Nani Cusson as part of the staff. These two are helping Shifu with many things, such his restructuring of office procedures, reorganizing, and providing a solid curriculum. There are many exciting changes that are going to be implemented in the next couple of months—new class schedules, different approach to learning, and so much more.
Something for the mind
Students should take a few moments to explore the following words—find out their meaning, see how they are used in and out of the school, and ask, “Do I use these in my life?” If that answer is no, think about ways to add them in.
Words for thoughts
1. Discipline
2. Humility
3. Loyalty
4. Integrity
5. Generosity
News from Around the Shi Deru Shaolin Institute!
Atlanta Location
During the month of June & the last two weeks July, the Atlanta location held both a day & resident camp for kids. We averaged 6-9 campers during the first four weeks while the last two weeks (at the end of July) we were smaller. At camp, we had conditioning training, worked on forms and weapons, learned about Chinese culture, and learned some basic Mandarin Chinese.
As fund-raisers to help the competing students attend the Orlando tournament, we held a “pocket-change” donation, which raised about $100, a Kick-a-Thon, which raised just over $300, and a raffle, which raised $152. The Atlanta students who competed at the Orlando Tournament, were Vlad Levenfeld, Breanna McIntosh, Gabe Butler, Eryc McIntosh, and Joshua Blue.
This past quarter has seen a wonderful increase in students in Atlanta. There are 18 new members that we’d like to warmly welcome. Hopefully, this number will be added to with the upcoming programs going on. There’s a Back to School Open house on Aug 18th for members and buddy passes with permission forms & invitations for friends are available at the front desk. The buddy passes are good for ONE Open House or for ONE class during Buddy Week. Buddy Weeks will officially begin in Sept. We will have one Buddy Week every other month with an Open House on the months that fall between.
Also, beginning in August 2012, the 2nd Saturday of every month will be Tai Chi in the Park Day. Instead of holding our Tai Chi Saturday Class at the school, on those Saturdays, we will move the class to a local park for the morning. If interested in joining us, please see the desk for which park is scheduled. The first Tai Chi Day in the Park will be August 11, 2012, at 9:15 AM at Shorty Howell Park on Pleasant Hill in Norcross, GA. All are welcome.
Mobile Location
Mobile has had a busy quarter, as it has hosted Shifu’s yearly Intensive Shaolin Warrior Training Camp the first week of July. Students from all of Shi Deru’s campus locations came together to train with the grandmaster. Days were filled with rigorous workouts that took place at the school itself, at the University of Alabama track area, and even on the sandy beaches of Pensacola! Evenings were also filled with training, but after, students enjoyed cooking healthy meals together and simply getting to know each other better.
The local newspaper posted an article about Shifu and the summer camp. Here’s a small copy of the pictures and the article that were posted in the paper. Thanks go to Christie Lovvorn for corresponding with them.
The Summer 2012 Interschool Competition was also hosted by the Mobile location. Students traveled to the Langan (Municipal) Park for the competition and San Shou matches. After, they returned to the school to spend time with each other and Shifu for a buffet-style dinner, an auction, and an awards ceremony.
Chen Zhe has been doing a wonderful job instructing our classes, and the building itself has had a facelift with a new paint job and the addition of our name and logo added on the front. Things keep looking up for Mobile! On August 7th, students will put on a demonstration and our mascots will be out for a National Night Out hosted by local police. After that, the office staff and Chen Zhe will coordinate events in preparation for students going back to school. This will serve as a way to reach prospective students and give our current members something else that’s fun to look forward to, such as Buddy Week and Open House Night.
New Orleans Location
This past quarter was filled with many fun things for students in New Orleans. Students went to the Asian Heritage Festival at the zoo once again and performed in front of hundreds of people. Kids from the audience were even invited to come up and try different versions of animal forms. It was fun all around and a chance for our school to mingle with many.
A team of twenty went to Madisonville’s Tchefuncte River to participate in the Third Annual Greater New Orleans International Dragon Boat Festival. They won two out of three races and brought home gold medals to the Shaolin Institute when winning the final Consolation Race!
Grace Chan has stepped into the office position at the school. We’d like to extend a warm welcome to her and feel she’s a wonderful choice. Other changes include the staff actively looking for a new location for the campus. The building we’ve rented for the past several years is no longer suitable for our needs. This will only improve the campus overall.
As with Atlanta and Mobile, the New Orleans location is looking forward to the fall season and are implementing the Back to School programs here as well.
Thibodaux Location
Things have been difficult at the Thibodaux location, but it will persevere. Right now the staff is looking for a new building, as the current lease isn’t working out. Until one can be found, the local park has agreed to allow students to continue training there under the pavilion. The park facilities will suit the needs of the school perfectly, as it has a nice trail for jogging and a walking, as well as several exercise machines. Students will also travel to the New Orleans location at least once per month to take part in classes there.
Jeff Bordelon spent much of the latter part of the quarter helping train Shifu’s San Shou fighters of Thibodaux to compete in both the Interschool Competition and the Orlando Tournament.
After returning from Orlando, Shifu brought Jeff, Chen Zhe, Li Qiang, Josh Joseph and Javonti Knockum to Houston for the Legends of Kung Fu Martial Arts Championship. Javonti Knockum won two fights and brought home a Gold Medal for the Shaolin Institute. The others participated in the Masters Demonstration and wowed the crowd there with their superior skills. We look forward to continuing training and spreading the Shaolin art!
Summer of 2012 Interschool Competition Winners
Sanda Participants
First Round
Drey Bergeron (Thibodaux) vs. Jon Nguyen (Atlanta) == Winner Drey
Brandon Harrell (Thibodaux) vs. Phi Nguyen (Atlanta) == Winner Brandon
Gavin Brown (Mobile) vs. Jesus Rodriguez (Atlanta) == Winner Jesus
Dylan Tipton (Thibodaux) vs. Allen Cruthirds (NOLA) == Winner Dylan
Javonti Knockum (Thibodaux) vs. Chen Zhe (Mobile) == Winner Chen
Josh Joseph (Thibodaux) vs. Li Qiang (NOLA) == Winner Li
Second Round
Drey Bergeron (Thibodaux) vs. Jesus Rodriguez (Atlanta) == Winner Drey
Javonti Knockum (Thibodaux) vs. Allen Cruthirds (NOLA) == Winner Javonti
Exhibition Bouts
Diana Geli with Drey Bergeron
Anisha Dyce with Josh Joseph
Tai Chi Participants
First Place — New Orleans 12 Blades (Patrice Bucher, Scott Ruff, Sid Jacbobson, Sunshine Hebert, Ivette Dowhower, Ron Dowhower)
Second Place — Mobile Red Dragons (Susie Pham, Randy Sheets, Joseph Johnson)
Third Place — Atlanta Underdogs (Sarah Adsit, Michael Tuaighe, Susan Dillingham, John Poythress)
Adult Kung Fu Participants
First Place — Team Thibodaux (Scott Keller, Sunshine Hebert, Doug Bourgeois)
Second Place — Shaolin Cranes NOLA (Rachel Cruthirds, Allen Cruthirds, Patrick Roberts)
Third Place — Seven Dragons NOLA (Eddie Ramos, Gary Schilleci, Peter Tatersall)
Mixed Kung Fu Participants
First Place — Triad/Shaolin Snakes Atlanta (Joyce Yun, Emily Song, Breanna McIntosh, Sharon McIntosh, and Jeff Dillingham)
Second Place — Atlanta Mansor Family (Mohammed Mansor, Noah Mansor, Isaac Mansor)
Third Place — Shaolin Tigers NOLA (Thor Turner, Mark Breaux, Extell Farve )
Kid Kung Fu Participants
First Place — Atlanta Shaolin Monkees (Cody Xiang, Gabe Cutler, Eryc McIntosh, Andrew Dillingham)
Second Place — Kung Fu Panda (Ben Foster, Eleah Nokovich, David Espinosa, and James)
Third Place (tie) —- Flying Tigers Atlanta (Itzel Mendoza, Mathew Diaz, and Brandon Williams)
—- Shaolin Dragons Atlanta (Jason Zhang, Kevin Zhang, Byron Fisher, Alex Yu, and Joshua Song)
Solo Participants
First Place — Eddie Ramos
Second Place (tie) — Scott and Sakiel Ruff
— Gary Schilleci
Orlando Tournament Results
Sanda Competition
Vlad Levenfeld won the light weight Title Belt in Sanda Kickboxing.
Javonti Knockum won a middle weight division gold medal in Sanda Kickboxing.
Chen Zhe won a feather weight division gold medal in Sanda Kickboxing.
Ariel Haigler got a gold medal in semi contact Sanda teen Kickboxing female division.
Brandon Harrell got a silver medal in teen Sanda Kickboxing division.
Bare Hand Fighting Forms and Weapons Competition
Breanna McIntosh won a gold medal in traditional female teen weapons division & a bronze medal in traditional bare hand fighting forms division.
Gabe Butler got a silver medal in boys’ traditional weapons division.
Eleah Nokovich got a silver medal in traditional senior teen’s female weapons division and a bronze medal in bare hand female fighting form division.
Josh Blue got a bronze medal in traditional male weapons division.
Sunshine Hebert got a silver medal in Tai Chi intermediate division & silver in women’s advanced bare hand traditional fighting form division.
Doug Bourgeois got a bronze medal in Tai Chi 24 form division.
The Shaolin Times
August 2012
Contributing writers:
Shifu, Sunshine, Denise, Vatsana, & Sarah
Private Lessons Sign Up
Sign up for a private lesson with Shifu or one of our knowledgeable instructors.
* $80 per hour for beginners with an assistant instructor or chief assistant
* $120 per hour for intermediate students with an instructor
* $299 (plus a special session with an instructor or chief assistant) for any level student with Shifu
Mission Statement
Our mission is to enlighten and empower everyone we encounter to find in his/her self-nature the greatness within so as to be totally free. To do so we must cultivate ourselves to have healthy bodies and healthy minds with character, integrity, high level of discipline and indomitable Shaolin spirit.
Shaolin Times
August 2012 Second Quarter Newsletter
August 2012 Newsletter downloadable Word version
LIU International Shaolin Institute
www.shaolin-world.net
