lol YinOrYan
[QUOTE=YinOrYan;1325666]Maybe he was wearing a disguise like me so the event would not turn into a brawl for the official Shaolin, haha[/QUOTE] That would’ve been cool. I’ve been witness to some Shaolin brawls. They are always fascinating.
[QUOTE=YinOrYan;1325667]Those shoes you are wearing are great for kung fu. They last about 5 times longer than any other shoes…[/QUOTE]
Keens. I luv Keens for street wear. Although I wear Feiyues for practice like all the other Shaoliners…
This news is dated…
…but it got posted on Shaolin’s official site too.
Los Angeles to host 2023 North American Shaolin Games, promoting kung fu culture
By Li Hang
Published: Nov 09, 2023 11:27 PM
Photo: China News Service
Photo: China News Service
A decade since the first North American Shaolin Cultural Festival in 2013, the Shaolin Temple is once again hosting an official cultural exchange event in the US.
The highly anticipated “2023 North American Shaolin Games” and a series of martial arts-related activities are scheduled to take place in Los Angeles, the US, on November 11 and 12.
The announcement was made during a press conference held on November 7.
Organized by the renowned Songshan Shaolin Temple in China, in collaboration with the Shaolin North American Association, the games are expected to serve as a platform for kung fu enthusiasts to show off their skills and promote the popularization of the ancient sport in North America.
Approximately 500 Shaolin disciples from over 40 states in the US, as well as from countries *including *Canada and Mexico will *participate in the events.
Shi Yongxin, the abbot of the Shaolin Temple, said at the press conference that Shaolin kung fu is famous all over the world.
Kung fu not only strengthens the body, but also uses martial arts to achieve Zen and enlighten people through wisdom.
The kung fu competition is a long-standing tradition at the Shaolin Temple, which aims to enable Shaolin disciples to study more diligently and constantly surpass themselves, according to Shi.
During the opening ceremony, dignitaries from various fields will witness the top performers in various categories.
The 2023 North American Shaolin kung fu stars - the top three in each discipline - will receive medals, trophies, certificates, and accolades as encouragement.
According to Shi, the tradition of Shaolin kung fu competitions has flourished overseas since 2011.
Events like the European Shaolin Cultural Festival and the North American Shaolin Cultural Festival all regard the Shaolin kung fu competition as core content.
In 2022, the Shaolin kung fu online competition continued this tradition, uniting 5,320 participants from 94 countries and regions across six continents.
Before coming to the US in 2023, the Shaolin Games had already been held in Zambia in Africa, Singapore in Asia, and Argentina in Latin America.
Shi, leading the visiting delegation, arrived in Los Angeles on November 1 to kick off a series of North American visits.
During his visit to San Francisco on November 7, he delivered a speech titled “Zen Meets AI” at Meta’s headquarters.
In his address, he emphasized that while AI possesses remarkable data processing and analytical capabilities, and may display similar human perceptions through programs and algorithms, but it cannot replicate the awakened consciousness advocated by Zen Buddhism.
He encouraged human beings to seek inner wisdom and *transcendence, even in the face of AI advancements.
According to Shi, Zen *Buddhism emphasizes that Zen practitioners can gradually improve their state of enlightenment through their own efforts.
As a tool, AI can search and find relevant classics to solve various doubts that Zen *practitioners encounter, providing assistance and convenience to Zen practitioners.
Another Sin Kwan Thé quote? What’s up with that ECNS?
Abbot Shi highlights the shared values of Shaolin culture in the U.S.
2023-11-17 09:14:42 Global TimesEditor : Li Yan
Shi Yongxin (back row, center), Abbot of the Shaolin Temple, poses for a photo with guests and participants of the 2023 North American Shaolin Games in Los Angeles, the US, on November 10, 2023. (Photo/Courtesy of the Shaolin Temple)
Drunken fist, spear techniques, staff techniques… these are the Shaolin kung fu skills traditionally showcased in Hollywood movies. These and other kung fu techniques were demonstrated at the 2023 North American Shaolin Games held in Los Angeles.
Approximately 500 Shaolin disciples from over 40 states in the U.S., as well as from countries and regions including Canada and Mexico, participated in the event.
A decade since the first North American Shaolin Cultural Festival in 2013, the Shaolin Temple, renowned for its centuries-old tradition of martial arts, is once again hosting an official cultural exchange event in the U.S., featuring performances and competitions for all ages from 4 to 60.
“Shaolin culture, as a representative of excellent traditional Chinese culture, conveys values of compassion, peace, health, and harmony that everyone can accept and feel. I believe Shaolin culture can establish positive connections with people from countries all over the world,” Shi Yongxin, Abbot of the Shaolin Temple, told the Global Times.
In his opening speech at the games, Shi expressed the hope that through this event, the values of Shaolin kung fu - physical fitness, clarity of mind, and harmony - could be showcased.
“We hope that overseas Shaolin kung fu practitioners will actively inherit and disseminate Chinese culture, promoting the understanding and appreciation of Chinese culture among people of various ethnicities and contributing to the deepening of the friendship between the Chinese and American peoples,” remarked Wang Taiyu, Cultural Counselor of the Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles, at the opening ceremony of the games.
The examination of practice is a tradition at the Shaolin Temple. Every year, the temple assesses eight kinds of practice, including preaching, chanting, and the etiquette of the disciples over the past year. The Shaolin kung fu examination, known as “kaogong” in Chinese, is one of these eight components.
Flourishing overseas
The tradition of Shaolin kung fu competitions has flourished overseas since 2011, according to Shi. Events like the European Shaolin Cultural Festival and the North American Shaolin Cultural Festival all regard the Shaolin kung fu competition as core. In 2022, the Shaolin kung fu online competition continued this tradition, uniting 5,320 participants from 94 countries and regions across six continents.
The North American Shaolin Games is one of the events jointly organized by the Shaolin Temple and the Six Continents Shaolin Federation for the 2023-2024 World Six Continents Shaolin Kung Fu Examination Competition.
The games aim to “promote the organization of the competition, increase the autonomy and enthusiasm of all continents and countries and regions, facilitate multilevel participation and exchanges, and realize the normalization and sustainability of Shaolin kung fu competitions, while enhancing standardization, internationalization, socialization, and Shaolin kung fu brand reputation,” according to Shi.
Prior to the North American examination, past editions of the Shaolin Games were held in Zambia in Africa, Singapore in Asia, and Argentina in Latin America.
In the current North American examination, over 500 Shaolin disciples participated in nearly 2,000 matches. “Shaolin kung fu and tai chi style are something the West can learn from the East,” Grandmaster Sin Kwan Thé, leader of a number of Shaolin centers across the U.S., told the Xinhua News Agency.
He added that one of the best effects of Shaolin kung fu is physical fitness, and regular practice can increase cardiovascular fitness, improve muscle tone, enhance flexibility, and even better one’s posture.
According to Shi, currently, the Shaolin Temple has over 300 overseas Shaolin cultural centers in more than 100 countries and regions.
In the U.S. alone, more than 40 states boast Shaolin cultural centers, some operated by monks sent from the temple and others established by overseas disciples, Shi told the Global Times.
Shaolin kung fu is a representative of Shaolin culture. Shaolin culture encompasses various forms of expression, including health preservation, martial arts, medicine, and Zen art, Shi said, adding, “The rich tapestry of Shaolin culture allows individuals from different walks of life to experience its unique charm,” in response to why Shaolin culture is popular in Western countries.
The North American Shaolin Games is one of the many events Abbot Shi has taken part in during his 13-day North American tour which kicked off on November 1.
Shi’s visits have included participation in various celebrations hosted by Shaolin Temple USA, such as the 15th and 16th anniversary celebrations of the San Francisco Shaolin Cultural Center and the Fremont Shaolin Cultural Center, respectively.
At Fremont, Shi hosted prayer ceremonies, introduced his new English book The Shaolin Temple Story, held book signings, and visited the Chinatown of San Francisco. Additionally, Shi provided guidance during visits to several Shaolin academies in the San Francisco Bay Area.
‘A standardized system’
Looking ahead, Abbot Shi shared the Shaolin Temple’s plans to promote systematic and scientific learning of Shaolin kung fu by introducing the “Shaolin Duanpin system,” a rating system for the evaluation of Shaolin kung fu practitioners.
The promotion of the system “aims to establish a standardized system of Shaolin kung fu routines, promoting the dissemination of Shaolin kung fu both domestically and internationally. This is to achieve the goals of promoting traditional Chinese culture and enhancing the health of people worldwide,” Shi told the Global Times.
This year, the Shaolin Temple staged the first Shaolin Duanpin workshops. “The promotion and development of the standardized “Shaolin Duanpin system” will propel Shaolin kung fu into a new historical development stage,” Shi said.
Abbot Shi Yongxin’s 2023 West Coast visit & Shaolin Kung Fu Games
Is-Shaolin-Do-for-real
I should’ve posted these earlier…
… for posterity. 
2023 North American Shaolin Kung Fu Game Rules (2023 )
Compeon Categories:
There are Individual events (), Fighng form (duilian) events 2-3 and group compeon
/ 4-16 .
Individual Compeon (): The individual compeon is divided into 210 divisions by age, level, and gender.
Age Divisions: A: 7-under, B: 8-9, C: 10-11, D: 12-13, E: 14-17, F: 18-40, G: 41
Note: Age calculaon is based on the parcipant’s actual age on November 4, 2023.
SKILL LEVELS
Beginners: < 2 years of pracce
Intermediate: < 4 years of pracce
Advanced: 4 and above years of pracce
Compeon divisions
Songshan Shaolin Fist ( - )
Other Shaolin Fist (()
Songshan Shaolin Long Weapons ( - ),
Songshan Shaolin Short Weapons ( - ),
Songshan Shaolin Other Weapons ( - )
The Shaolin Temple and the Shaolin Diaspora
Read The Shaolin Temple and the Shaolin Diaspora ~ my latest feature for YMAA.com
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My last batch of photos from San Gabriel
Posted to our Facebook album again.
I always add a photo sample from these fb collections even though they only last for a few days until fb shifts its URLs and it disappears.
2023 Oceania Shaolin Kung Fu Games Dec 1-2, 2023
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The Oceania Games were held after Europe.
Shaolin Kung Fu competition enthralls martial arts enthusiasts in Oceania
By Liang Youchang (Xinhua) 08:56, December 05, 2023
A participant demonstrates Kung Fu during the 2023 Oceania Shaolin Games held in Sydney, Australia, Dec. 2, 2023. (Photo by Hu Jingchen/Xinhua)
Shaolin Kung Fu, a world-renowned intangible cultural heritage, is practised by many in Australia. A Shaolin Kung Fu games competition held in Sydney featured various Kung Fu styles and weapon categories, and was believed to enhance understanding, friendship and cooperation among Shaolin disciples around the world.
SYDNEY, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) – A Shaolin Kung Fu games competition was recently held in Sydney and attracted more than 300 martial arts enthusiasts from Australia, New Zealand and other regional countries.
The 2023 Oceania Shaolin Games include various Kung Fu styles and weapon categories such as Shaolin Fist, Animal Styles and Seven Star Fist.
“Shaolin Kung Fu is a world-renowned intangible cultural heritage and an important cultural heritage shared by mankind,” Shi Yongxin, abbot of the Shaolin Temple, told the opening ceremony of the competition at the Quaycenter in the Sydney Olympic Park.
A participant demonstrates Kung Fu during the 2023 Oceania Shaolin Games held in Sydney, Australia, Dec. 2, 2023. (Photo by Hu Jingchen/Xinhua)
Once a year, the abbot would assess and confirm the Shaolin disciples’ eight kinds of practice such as preaching, chanting and etiquette. The Shaolin Kung Fu games competition is part of these contents.
“The contest has enhanced understanding, friendship and cooperation among Shaolin disciples around the world, and also reflects Shaolin Kung Fu’s core values of strengthening the body and clarifying the mind,” Shi said.
Blake Brown, a 22-year-old man who achieved a high score of 9.05 with a spectacular set of monkey fist, told Xinhua that Shaolin Kung Fu gave him the meaning of life and dreams.
“I found my purpose in life, my dreams. I was a bit lost beforehand and Kung Fu training told me to find peace,” said Brown from Brisbane, Australia, who was elected as one of 10 Shaolin Kung Fu stars at the games.
Photo taken on Dec. 2, 2023 shows the scene of the 2023 Oceania Shaolin Games held in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Hu Jingchen/Xinhua)
So far this year, the Shaolin Temple has held Kung Fu games in Africa, Asia, Latin America, North America and Europe. The Oceania competition was the final one.
According to the organizers, more than 2,300 Shaolin disciples from more than 100 countries and regions participated in the examination contests this year.
“This competition serves as a testament to the universal appeal and profound impact of Shaolin martial arts,” Wang Shuyu, consul for cultural affairs at the Chinese Consulate General in Sydney, said at the opening ceremony.
“In seeing participants from different cultural backgrounds, we recognize the unique opportunity this competition presents for cultural exchange and collaboration,” she said.
A participant demonstrates Kung Fu during the 2023 Oceania Shaolin Games held in Sydney, Australia, Dec. 2, 2023. (Photo by Hu Jingchen/Xinhua)
Riley Greenland from Sydney told Xinhua that he had practised martial arts for more than 20 years since he was three years old and he went to China three times to learn Kung Fu.
“Kung Fu for me is everything. Everything, no just training,” Greenland said. “I love the way it makes me feel. The energy, the power, the mental strength, everything.”
(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
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Props from Adisa Banjoko
Adisa Banjoko aka Bishop
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A friends journey to Japan to get buy a black belt- gets crazy!
A few months ago, while teaching and training in the UK a friend from SF in The Bay Area. His name is Prof. Greg Watkins at Stanford University. We met through a friend of ours named Remi when Remi invited me to run a youth chess summer program a few summers back. Greg and I hit it off immediately. He teaches philosophy, he knows Shakespeare better than most, and he loved the UFC. How could we not be cool?! He also has a deep respect for Eastern philosophy. I learned a lot from him about Zhuang Zi, Socrates and so much more.
So while I was in the UK, I called him one day to catch up and he said “Hey I’m going to Japan with my wife, do you want me to grab you anything? I was blown away and I said “Please grab me a black belt while you are out there.” He said “OK” and lets say a month or so later he messaged me asking me where to send it.
I told him to send it to America because I was so scared something might happen to it. I did not want it to get lost in the mail, etc cetera. So he sent it to my parents place. This all happened about 4 months back. I came back in October, and my dad had set the belt out for me.
So, while at my parents recently I was talking to my lady on Whats App and I showed her some of the stuff in my old bedroom. I opened one drawer and it had some incense in a purple box with beautiful art and Japanese writing on it.
My kuro obi at Segakuji Temple in Japan.
Adisa Banjoko lecturing on Stoic philosophy at the NXT 45 mens retreat in the United Kingdom.
The box was sealed. The thing is, my parents hate incense. When I was about 13 I bought insense and a little burner for my room. It was the 1983. My parents were like “Don’t try to cover up the smell of marijuana with incense, boy!!” I was such a nerd, I did not even know what weed looked like yet! But I loved the incense and I hated that my parent thought I was trying to smoke something I had never even seen before. I was mischievous though, and it was the 1984. In reflection, their attitude at the time made sense.
My point is, I knew they did not purchase it. But I wanted to burn the incense immediately. I asked her if she sent it before I arrived in the states. She said no but wondered if maybe my parents had bought it for me and maybe forgotten. Once my friend Dr. David Timony sent me some amazing incense. I could tell by the box that something else was happening. I ruled Dr. Timony, my parents and my lady out immediately, and I got off the phone.
As soon as we hung up I wondered if maybe Greg had sent it. I called him. He said “Yeah, that incense came from Sengakuji Temple of the 47 Ronin”. My jaw dropped. The 47 Ronin is one of the best old school samurai stories from the middle ages. It is also a true story. It deserves the popularity of the 300 Spartans.
Check this out:
The story of the 47 Ronin, also known as the Ako Incident, unfolds in 18th-century Japan. After their lord, Asano Naganori, is forced to commit seppuku (ritual suicide) for assaulting a court official. He was set up to fail by a rival lord named Kira. Asano was ordered to kill himself and his loyal samurai, were made ronin ( become masterless warriors) . Led by Oishi Kuranosuke, the 47 Ronin patiently bide their time, enduring various humiliations and acting as if they have abandoned their samurai code. They take on other jobs. One of Anano’s high level samurai was seen running around bars and lives the life of what some might call a drunken bum. However, their true intention was to avenge their Lord Asano’s unjust forced death. They waited patiently for two years. January 30, 1703 the reunited warriors stormed Kira’s stronghold in a carefully planned attack. After being found in a hidden room, they gave him an opportunity to kill himself with same blade Asano used for seppuku. Kira refused, so and was beheaded with the same blade. The 47 Ronin then turn themselves in to authorities, willingly accepting their fate of seppuku. The tale of the 47 Ronin is a legendary example of loyalty, honor, and their unwavering commitment to avenging a master’s honor- even at the cost of their own lives. They were laid to rest at Sengakuji [Mountain Forest] Temple.
Map of Sengakuji Temple grounds.
“So, you didn’t get the pictures?” Greg asked in a confused tone.
“What pictures”? I asked even slightly more confused.
“My wife and I bought your black belt at the Isami store and took it to Sengakuji Temple, where the 47 Ronin are buried. We sat the belt at the altar and burned some incense. We took it to the graves of the father and son who led the attack. Then we mailed it to you. We sent pictures of the belt at the altar and the incense together.”
My mind was blown insert appropriate emoji here!!
continued next post
continued from previous
A young man preparing incense for visitors to the temple of the courageous 47 Ronin.
I go back into the drawer and low and behold, I see the pictures. My heart soars and my eye tear up because I have loved the 47 Ronin for many years. When my son was a young teenager I gave him a very beautifully written and illustrated graphic novel (not bloody just incase parents were wondering). It is by Mike Richardson and illustrated flawlessly by Stan Sakai. I recommend it to anyone curious about the story. If your child is 12 or above it’s a good story about courage, loyalty and patience. I highly recommend it.
Stay away from the Keanu Reeves film (I love him as an actor but the writing for that was way more sci-fi than anything else). The Japanese old school film is great and its on YouTube, but I think it is too slow for modern moviegoers. Last Knight, is a European remake of the Japanese legend. Because it is a European remake, it falls far short of it’s potential. No film, has ever done the actual Ako Incident justice, sadly.
The crazy part is, a few weeks back I had given my belt to a kind friend, Jonny Oh (at the iconic Tiger Claw) who was getting my belt embroidered with the with the word: BANJOKO 7.21.21 on my belt. The numbers reflected the dated I got my belt. The thing was there was a big delay in getting my belt back. My friend Gene Ching explained that part it was because the Venerable Abbot of Shaolin, Shi Yongxin was visiting California. Jonny was overseeing his trip and because of it there would be a delay.
I told Gene, “I think it is the coolest thing that my belt is delayed because the Abbot of Shaolin is in California”. I had no problem being patient. I called Jonny as soon as I learned about the belt being taken to Sengakuji Temple. I reached out to Jonny the next day. He was super apologetic about the delay on my belt. Apparently he had fallen ill with the flu after The Abbot returned to Shaolin.
I explained that there was no apology necessary. Then I explained to him that the belt had been taken to the 47 Ronin Temple, and I wanted to have the 7.21.21. numbers replaced with BANJOKO 47. Jonny let me know that was possible. A gratitude beyond words filled my spiritual heart.
The morning after talking to Jonny, I went to the balcony, sat in the sun and burned incense from the temple. I did yoga and meditated. My focus that day, and this day is on gratitude and patience. I have two incense burners that were gifts to me. I use them often. One from my son, is long ceramic dragon with red eyes named Smaug (the dragon from The Hobbit) . The other is a smaller jade colored dragon I got from my second BJJ student nicknamed Skywalker. (the boy was nicknamed Skywalker). I named that dragon Bruce (after the iconic Bruce Lee).
On December 7th, 2023, my boy DeShawn swooped me over to the Tiger Claw HQ in Fremont, CA, to pick up my belt.
Jonny Oh President of Tiger Claw, and Adisa Banjoko with his new black belt.
Jonny greeted me with the belt in his hands, and we took a quick picture together. I walked out like a kid who got the big gift he wanted for his birthday. To celebrate, we went to eat at Vinum at New Park Mall. I had tea, veggie tempura, and the saba fish. Then we went to my homey King Kou’s house and caught up with him and Skywalker.
My Isami black belt straight from Japan! Jiu-jitsu gi by JREAM.
After I got home I put on my JREAM gi with my Heroes Martial Arts patch on the back. Then I put on The Belt from Sengakuji Temple, faced East and prayed. I thanked God for the honor of getting to the goal of achieving a kuro obi (black belt), and I thanked God for all of my teachers and training partners. I then prayed for the souls of the 47 Ronin. I asked that I be able to teach and compete honorably in the future with the same conviction they fought with.
The moral of the story: Sometimes the God/Universe does not give you what you want when you think you want it, so that something greater can be organized for you. If you attempt to force a thing into being, you can get it. However, what you got in a rushed manner, my not have been the best thing. With patience the positive conspiracies of divine order can be left to manifest their own beauty on your behalf. I am grateful to Greg and his wife Sue for getting the Isami belt and taking it to the Sengakuji Temple. I know they did not have to do any of that. I am grateful to Jonny Oh, Gene Ching and everyone at Tiger Claw in Fremont, CA for getting my belt embroidered immaculately.
This experience has expanded and instilled my sense of patience and acceptance of whatever comes to me in the future. I hope you, too, can get a sense of its value the next time you hit the mats or life hits you hard.
Adisa Banjoko is a BJJ black belt, award winning writer, speaker and documentary filmmaker. Adisa has lectured on martial arts history and philosophy at Harvard, Stanford, Brown, Oberlin and many other universities. He founded the ONLINE community, the Resilient Men’s Group to help men heal mentally, emotionally and physically.
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Current Changes in Traditional Shaolin Kung Fu ~ My Latest Article for UNESCO ICM
Current Changes in Traditional Shaolin Kung Fu
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[QUOTE=GeneChing;1325698]Posted to out Facebook album once more.
[/QUOTE]
Greetings,
Gene, who is the tall lady in the red, button down, dress in the group photo (standing next to the man with the plaid shirt)? She looks like the love child of Paula Patton and Chang Yi. Is she a MA practitioner? She looks the healthiest of those in the photo.
mickey
Sorry mickey
I don’t know who she is.
Shucks!..
