Shun Shifu Weaver's blog

Carpooling

Hard to get your kids everywhere they need to be? Of course it is. Schedules conflict and gas isn't cheap.
But staying on schedule and consistent is very important for kids. It's a must.

Lately we've noticed a lot more people are cooperating to get their kids to kung fu by carpooling. It makes a lot of sense. One person may drop off and the other picks up. Or sometimes on takes care of it on Monday and another on Tuesday.

Whatever the arrangement it makes sense. So we decided to help. We'd like to try to help organize carpools to make it easy and efficient. In the lobby there will be a carpool list. Basically just

“I need a ride for my child from _______ to _________ at ______(time)”
and
“I can offer a ride from_________ to __________ at ____(time)”

If your interested get on the list. Currently there is a need to pick up a child at Jenny Lind Elementary for our 4:45 class. If anyone can do that please let me know.

And get on the list. Save some time, some $$$, and some natural resources.

With all the recent promotions we saw a need to update the schedule so everybody could get the most out of their training. We've added a few classes to benefit those that are working hard.

Because we have so many blue belts now we were able to add another blue belt class. This class is Thursday at 6:00PM.

Friday open mat has evolved into something of a weapons training class so I'm going to officially make this the "Whatever Shun Shifu feels like teaching class" . This class is invitation only.

There are a few other changes but they shouldn't affect anyone adversely. we closely looked at everyones schedule to try to avoid any conflicts. The schedule is attached to this post. It should be easier to read also.

So get in and take advantage of those classes.

SSW 

Feb 15 2008 test

Congratulations to the large group of people who tested in the February test. It's great to see so many ready to test at one time. This is a strong sign of strength from the studio.

Obviously there isn't a more telltale sign than having such a great number test. In all there were 33 people ready for this last test. Far more than I can remember in a long time.

Those testing were:

Mr. Acosta - High Blue

Mr. Banning - Low Orange

Mr. Crum - High Orange

Mr. Davidson - Low Yellow

Mr. Dorland - High Blue

Mrs. Harkins - High Orange

Mr. Harkins - High Orange

Mr. Heckler - High Blue

Miss. Kirkman - Junior Orange

Mr. Lane - High Blue

Mr. Liotta _High Blue

Miss Macias - Low Yellow

Miss Marin - Low Yellow

Mr. Marshall - Junior Orange

Mr. Mathews - Junior Green

Mr. McConahy - High Orange

Mr. Mitchell - High Yellow

Miss Crum - High Orange

Mr. O'Leary - High Orange

Miss Parks - High Yellow

Mr. Ramirez - High Yellow

Mr. Ramirez - High Yellow

Mr. Roberts Junior Orange

Mr. Ross - Junior Orange

Mr. Sabala Low Yellow

Miss Scott High Orange

Miss Stuebner - Low Orange

Mr. Thornburg - Low Yellow

Mr. Thornburg - Low Yellow

Mr. Thornburg - Low Yellow

Mr. Vernon - Low Yellow

Miss Wilhelm - High Yellow

Congrats to all

Shun Shifu Weaver 

A few weeks ago Sheng Chi Kung Fu of Valley Springs was featured on local cable access television. The show is called What's she up to now and is hosted by tammy beilsteing.

You can view the show at

http://www.shengchikungfu.com/whats_she_up_to_now

and you can view the student interviews at

http://www.shengchikungfu.com/testimonials

The show also has a myspace page at

http://www.myspace.com/whatssheuptonow

Please go their and rate the show.

Also if any of you use social bookmarking or myspace it would be great if you added these to your social bookmarks or myspace pages to help promote Sheng Chi.

Thanks and enjoy the show

SSW 

Fridays are officially open mat day. That means come in and practice whatever you want.

Since a few students have been coming in and suckering me into teaching a staff class (I'm pretty easy to sucker into that sort of thing). I'm officially making Fridays "I'm going to teach whatever I feel like teaching day"

So come in and see what's on the menu.

SSw 

The dates of tragic events tend to stick in peoples minds. It is said that emotion enhances memory and I know first hand this is true. I remember every detail of Jan 02, 2002. It is the day myself and so many others lost the man who was very much a father figure to all of us.
I'm sure everyone knows I'm talking about Da' Shifu Al Moore, the man who made Shou' Shu' what it is today.
 
It seems fitting to me that we remember this always on the first working day of the year. The day when we put the holidays behind us and get to work. We plan our year and begin to set that plan into effect.  Da' Shifu was all about getting things done. He always had numerous projects going on. Projects ranging from installing a windmill to pump water which would irrigate the area we used for Shou' Shu' camp to working with his Shun Shifu's to perfect their knowledge. He was most often seen in a holy pair of greasy jeans, an old work shirt, and a tattered hat. He wasn't much for putting on airs and was easily embarrassed if someone gave him a formal salute outside of the studio (which happened often). He didn't really even like titles. His true title was Sijo Da' Shifu but he wouldn't go by that. He had no use for it.
 
Da' Shifu was all about passing the knowledge down properly. Anything else didn't have much purpose.  
 
This morning my wife and I were reminiscing a bit. She said "You know we really don't have anywhere to go visit him. No grave site, no place where his ashes were spread. But that's ok, we have him here. We remember him and honor his wishes every day here. His picture is painted on the wall and that is better because we are reminded of him and what he wanted every day."
 
I agree.
 
Over the last several years I've had a lot of realizations as to why he did things certain ways. Things that I disagreed with I now understand. Some of these things that I butted heads with him on but I always listened and remembered. Now I get it.
 
One thing I have seen over and over is the importance of humility in the martial arts. He lived it and he professed it. He always said and made sure I heard that once the ego got out of control it was all over. If it happens to a martial artist that martial artist is done. He can no longer learn and most certainly will regress.
 
I am sad to say that I've seen this phenomena a few too many times. I've seen very physically talented martial artists with amazing potential lose it when their ego got a hold of them. These people are most likely done forever. Their talents wasted. Their knowledge never to be passed on. A total waste as far as being a part of furthering the art.
 
I am also guilty of allowing it. This saddens me. I know that in a few situations had a I been harder on a few of these individuals they may not have developed the huge ego that ruined them. I wasn't as wise then. I didn't understand what he had taught me yet. Now I do. At least a little better.

I am consoled in the fact that he learned these lessons in the same way I did. It is a very hard lesson to learn. Much is lost in the process. I remember his stories which related to this. They are similar to mine.

 I've seen others that I've had no influence over fall prey to the lure of titles and belts. Trading in what they know for prestige. Training out of themselves what Da' Shifu taught them in order to receive rank in the new ways. I don't fault them. It's hard to put myself in their shoes and understand, but I imagine most didn't really realize what they were doing. Probably not even something they thought about. I don't know. But even if they didn't think about it I suspect they felt something was wrong. Instinct knows.

However on the brighter side many have done well. Many carry on the art in it's original form and retain their own humilty. Many go on to become outstanding teachers and pass on the art. Many learn the lessons of Shou' Shu' and what is truly important. These people are the future of Shou' Shu'. Those are the people that we try to make better than we are. Just as Da' Shifu tried to do with us. I hope that you are or will be one of these future great teachers.
 
It's been six years since Da' Shifu's passing. Time for the dust to settle. I finally feel it has settled. I'm confident that this is the year we see his wish come true. That all of those that he taught will come together and share his knowledge. He played an interesting trick on all of us. He told us many times he did not teach all of his knowledge to one person but he did teach all of his knowledge. He set it up so that for all of the knowledge to be put back together many of his students would have to get back together as a group and share what they know.
 
I am happy to say I am part of at least a small group doing this. I am hopeful that the group will grow. We have many great teachers in our group. There are others that have contacted me. There are many many more out there that we have not seen nor heard of in years. Hopefully they will join us and share what they have.
This is what Da' Shifu wanted. He said it many times. I'm sure he knew that the organization would split after his passing. True Shou' Shu' probably could not have been preserved without that happening. But he set it up for it to come together again. I believe it is time for that to happen. I've seen it happening in small ways. I believe that will accelerate.
 
So we start off this new year. Thinking of Da' Shifu' and all the great things he taught us. Planning our work. Looking forward at all the great things to come of it. That is our greatest salute to him.
 
Happy New Year
 
Shun Shifu Weaver

The Valley Springs Quan will begin a six month instructor training series on Jan 8. Classes will be at 6 PM and will cover all aspects of teaching at the beginner level.

Each class is designed to pass on specific skill sets and principles which will transition instructor trainees into fully qualified instructors.

Class details to follow. There will be a test and certification at the end of the six month period.

Instructor training is one of the most important aspects of martial arts training. Do not miss these classes .

SSW 

This is a response to Jack Strappete. I thought it would be useful information for all.

Pardon me Shun Shifu,

I don't mean to bother you, but I've got a question. I can't help but notice the yellow card material in the video tutorials. Brad started me out with a technique called Rising Knee. He told me that was the first technique a student of Shou Shu should learn....He never told me anything about these techniques. Are they something new or did he just neglect to tell me about them, he always seemed pretty distinct about the things he taught me and the order they were taught.

-Jack

Hey Jack,

It's no bother. It's what the site is for. I hope you won't mind if I post this to my blog as it is important information that a lot of people probably don't know.

Yes there is some reasoning behind an order of things. However the reality is that it is the order of principles that are taught that is important. Not so much the order of techniques. Now of course there are techniques which are more conducive to teaching certain principles. Some techniques could be switched around without effect. But not all.

For example Da' Shifu used to say that the purple and green material could be switched and there wouldn't be much difference. The principles and level of difficulty are similiar for both of those belts.

Yes Rising Knee used to be the first technique learned. I learned it myself that way. However when this was instituted (and for many years afterwards) the way the art was taught, as a whole, was different. In the early years the art was taught much like it had always been taught. Students mastered the bear first. They would go all the way to black belt and become a Shifu studying only bear material. Hence the bear patches on the first degree belt. When Da' Shifu started designing the teaching system he designed a system which was familiar to the way he had learned.

He utilized the teaching ideas of Kenpo. The main thing that he borrowed from Kenpo was the idea of teaching in techniques. Techniques we not utilized at all by his teachers. There were the animal forms which contained techniques but as I understand it these were only used once a student had mastered the motions. In other words, students would only learn one small motion and were expected to perfect that motion. The next day they would be given another. Progressive weapons was something that was reserved for much later.

Personally I really see the benefit in that teaching style. It produced extremely high quality Shifus. It just didn't produce very many. Da' Shifu tried to teach this way for many years but could not keep any students. It required a great deal of discipline on the students part to persist in this environment. In addition to discipline it required tremendous trust. In other words it just didn't fit into our culture.

So in the early 70's the martial arts craze hit. There were a number of teachers making a great deal of money. Yet Da' Shifu couldn't seem to keep a single student. He decided to figure out why. So he joined up with the Tracy Brothers.

From learning the art of Kenpo he realized that the teaching methodology worked with modern society. They taught really cool techniques that would keep the students interest. Students without the required self discipline would stick around because of the cool factor and hopefully they'd develop self discipline as they went along. Those that did were able to persist and become Shifus.

So the main thing he borrowed from Kenpo was the idea of teaching through techniques rather than techniques being a way to practice. In the early days the techniques taught were entirely kenpo techniques and over the years he slowly replaced them belt by belt. A lot of todays techniques are still rooted in those early Kenpo techniques.

However what he did differently than kenpo was to apply Bear motion to them. He taught the power of the bear through the kenpo techniques. Early on Shou' Shu' was taught as pure bear. So essentially it was the idea of teaching bear first still just through a different medium.

Today we consider this the old way. Although it had a predecessor. I suspect that the way you were taught was the old way at least in part. These early Shifus were incredibly powerful. You description of your shifu mowing through people sounds very much like these old shifus. They were truly the bear when they fought. Unstoppable power. Incredibly explosive energy.

However over the years Da' Shifu kept experimenting with his teaching system. He recognized that the bear fighting style was incredible for a man of strength but not everybody had the required body dimensions. Including Da' Shifu.

Recognizing this he decided to introduce the other beasts into the art. Basically what he did was he taught the material as if it were 8th degree material. It was Shou' Shu' or a mixed beast art. It could only really be called Shou' Shu' if it was taught as a mixed beast system.

This slowly evolved over the years as more and more of the other beasts were added. It really accelerated over the last few years of his life. I was lucky to be very close to him during these years. It evolved into an incredible art.

However there was a pitfall. While the sophistication of the other beasts was added students tended to not recognize that thier primary objective was to master the bear. There is so much to think about in the principles of the combined beasts that is is very difficult to stay true to the root animal.

So if you were taught the old way, (or somewhere in between) then while you did learn Rising Knee as your first technique, you most likely learned it in a purely bear form. Rising knee is actually a predominantly tiger technique. And therien lies the problem of the new style of teaching.

Before it was quite simple. Everything was bear.

And that is a very long answer as to why the yellow belt. The yellow belt was added to introduce the material in a strictly bear format. Like the old days. Now that the rest of the techniques are mixed beast the yellow is a helpful prep for them.

The techniques in yellow are mostly techniques that we taught but not formalized on a card. It is made up of horses and hard bows. No cross steps, no soft bows, no passing through stances. Stances are solid and defined.

Without it we run into the problem of teaching passing through stances without having really concentrated on stances in the first place.

Since Shou' Shu' is such a complex art the only perfect system for teaching it would be one that necessitates a full time focus. The old way that Da' Shifu learned obviously worked well. He was incredible. The kenpo style techniques done in the way of the bear worked well also. It created very powerful shifus.

The mixed beast way is excellent also. It introduces incredible subleties which make it work for all bodies and develops fighting ability in a relatively short amount of time.

But each of the ways has flaws. None are perfect. The yellow belt brings back a little of the old way. We work individual weapons a lot to bring back the even older way. And we teach the sophistication that was presented in later years.

Even with the yellow belt I think there is not enough bear. I'd love to see a student work bear for at least a couple years before being introduced to anything else. Unfortunately I don't think it will work in our society. I see a lot of problems with teaching it the best way possible. Not in turning out the best students but in keeping people long enough that they get good.

Your situation is not really that unusual. I would guess that there are quite a few people out there like yourself that learned the art and didn't really know where it came from. One that I know of is Shifu Gerrels That link is to his son. I can't seem to find a profile on here for Shifu Gerrels Sr. I don't think he even knew the name of the art for a long time.

Take a look at the videos. Normally they are a paid portion of the site. That's what supports the site and the ISSA when it is fully up and running soon. But right now they are free. The level that you can see is determined by your rank. We'll have to figure out where you are so we can set your account accordingly.

Hope that answers your question

SSW

I actually just put this one up as a test of the new google Youtube filter but this is Shifu Ted Volpendesta. He is one of the Rogue shifu's that works out occassionally with the Rogue Shifu group. He's doing a shou shu'ed up version of the 7 star mantis broadsword form. The original form has a lot of flowery useless motion. In the version he is doing that motion has been removed and any wasted motion corrected to proper Shou' shu' motion.

Shifu Volpendesta also fights in the cage occassionally and holds a pretty good fight record. Funny thing he is a nurse and voted the most caring nurse in the state or something like that. Brutal in the cage but very caring afterwards dealing with the damage done :-)

Anyway the purpose of this post was to test out the video filters. It's now really easy to add a video from Google or Youtube. Simply paste the link to the video and it will automatically embed

Da' Shifu Still Teaches

It's here. Finally!

It feels like forever and at the same time feels like only a few days ago. In reality it was exactly five years. On August 9, 2002 at 5:00 PM we met with Marylin Moore and informed her that we were leaving the organization. While I think the general perception among most was that it was the end for us, we insisted it was the beginning, and we were right.

I had made the decision the previous Monday. After seven very miserable months following the passing of our teacher and the takeover of the new regime we had had enough. Things were very bad and getting worse. Anyone who was loyal to Da' Shifu and his teachings were targets and I was top of the list or at least number two. That was made quite clear.

That Monday I knew it was coming. I left for the meeting with a twisted gut. Although my wife was supportive I knew she feared I would come back broken or worse. She later confided that she always was in fear that I would not make it back from those meetings in one piece.

The details of those months, that day, and the days to follow are something we have chosen to leave behind at least for now. Maybe one day they'll make for a great movie script. But for today we must continue to follow the principle that got us through it.

ONWARD AND UPWARD!

We were in a bad situation. On the day we left we had just paid our last months rent and royalties (In hindsight I now wonder why) and we were $20 overdrawn. Not a great position to be in while taking on a behemoth such as who we now refer to as “The Dark Side”. When we told many around us we were met with blank stares as if we had just decided to jump off a cliff. We knew we'd sprout wings. They thought we'd drop like rocks. I'll never forget a few of those looks. They looked as if we were dead or soon would be. There had been so many stories of those who had left or tried to leave before us. Stories of terrible things. Whether those stories were made up or true, what they created was real.

At that time Liz and I decided that the only way to make it was to not play into the games. We refused to speak badly of anyone. We would only vent between each other at the end of the day. It seemed that each day there was a new lie being spread about us or a new threat or obstacle. Numerous minions had been enlisted to try to ruin us. They all somehow thought we were a great evil and needed to be crushed. It's amazing the hatred that can be created and spread by one charismatic and well trained individual.

But amidst all of this we did not reply. We did not strike back. We only carried on.

There were many very difficult years. Many obstacles. But here we are, five years later and loving it. Carrying on the teaching of Shou' Shu' the way it was taught to us by Da Shifu. Carrying on an art that was nearly lost.

Da' Shifu used to say “The only way you can lose Shou' Shu' is to train it out”. Many people made that choice to do so. For them, that is their choice and that's ok. But it was not our choice. About two months prior to Da' Shifu's death he sat me down and talked to me. He said many things and I made a few promises to him. I didn't know at the time how challenging it would be to carry out those promises. But nevertheless I did. One of those promises was to never let anyone, including his son, to train out what he had trained into me. I can honestly say I have fulfilled that promise.

Something interesting about rumors is that they can really be so deeply ingrained that people mistake them for truth. There were many rumors started about us. Some not important. Nasty, but not important. But some were and seemed to stick. The one that was important was the belief that we changed to some other art. That we were somehow forbidden from teaching this wonderful art that has existed for thousands of years. That somehow this ancient art was owned by someone. Really something funny when you think about it. Wouldn't it be crazy if you could really do that. If so I'd run out and claim the art of painting. From here on out anyone who teaches painting must pay me a royalty. Oh man, I crack myself up.

But despite how ridiculous it is people believed it. Just about once a week or so I'll run into someone from Shou' Shu' past and the first question they always ask (after a bit of small talk) is “So what art are you teaching?”. One of these days I'm going to say Tae Kwon Do just for laughs. But I don't. I do the same thing every time. I screw up my face like they've just asked the most ridiculous question ever and say “Shou' Shu'”. The funny thing is, it's not an act. I am genuinely amazed at the question every time. Many people from the old days of Shou' Shu' have come here to train. Black belts, brown belts, green belts all hoping to just do the old Shou' Shu'. They all seem absolutely amazed for weeks when it is the same. It takes them awhile to get over that fact. They are always looking for it to be different. Kind of funny from my perspective.

We're referred to as the studio that broke off from the dark side. But I would argue against that. We don't have any connection with the dark side but from what I hear the art has changed dramatically. Doesn't matter much to me, not my problem. But we have not. We're teaching the same thing we always did. So if your going down a path and one person does a 180 and the other keeps going straight, but the person who does the 180 says they are still on the same path, who broke off from whom. Hmmmm.

So anyway, enough of that. Here we are five years from the day we kept going straight. Still teaching Shou' Shu', still having fun at it, still keeping it real. Somewhere up there Da' Shifu is smiling. That we know. That makes us feel really good. And to commemorate that we've had a mural painted. It's sixty feet wide and stands twenty five feet tall at it's peak. It's a picture of Da' shifu, a bit younger, and teaching in his kung fu courtyard. So every night in front of the group, there he is just where he loved to be, leading the group. Da' Shifu we hope you enjoy it, and we're sure you do.

Your Students

Shun Shifu Phil Weaver

Shifu Liz Weaver