SIL LUM KUNG-FU

At Triangle Kung Fu Arnis Academy, we offer both adult and children's classes in kung fu. We look at the study of martial arts as a continuous learning process. The practical and historical understanding of the art is far more important than belt rank in our school.

Thus, the journey towards one's black belt is not an easy one. Unlike other schools, obtaining one's black belt is not guaranteed. When you finally climb the ranks from white belt to black belt, you will know that you have earned it through your dedication and commitment to the study of Kung Fu. We are committed to providing you with the challenges and knowledge to make Kung Fu rewarding for both your mind and body.

Our Philosophy for Training Adults

Our purpose here at Triangle Kung-Fu Amis Academy is not to put you through rigorous disciplinarian/ military training--we are not the military. If that's what you are looking for, you must look elsewhere.

You are adults and not children so you should be disciplined and have grown up with morals and respect. Our goal is to give you the focus and concentration to strengthen your own self-discipline and give you the tools to develop the skill and the art behind the Martial Arts. I tell most of my students, "The fact that you are here shows me that you have some self-discipline" but sometimes it helps to have someone motivate us and push us a little bit more, myself included.

So we train in a family style training atmosphere, where the teachers teach the students; the students teach the newer students; the students teach the teachers. We all teach and learn with and from each other. Just as parents teach their children and older brothers and sisters teach younger brothers and sisters, and the children teach their parents. It is the circle of life and the circle of the family, that we embrace in our classroom. I am not saying that it isn't challenging or we don't work hard, or get sore, or push ourselves to our limit. But we do so in an environment of teaching and learning. (Sometimes the simplest lesson to us all that we must practice and work harder to become better.)

Everyone develops and learns at their individual pace, because we are not robots, but rather human beings and people with different shapes, sizes, and abilities. We work together in spite of these differences to improve our selves. Remember Kung-fu Translates "Energy and Time / Effort and Time/ Practice and Time."

Children's Classes

Our children's class focuses on developing a child's self-esteem, concentration, and respect for others. We try and make the class challenging yet enjoyable for the children. Children are taught both kung fu and arnis. Children are taught based on their individual skills and ability; not on belt ranking. Subsequently, the child focuses on learning and improving their martial arts' forms and techniques.

Sil Lum Kung Fu History

Bodhidarma (Dot Mor) traveled from India to the Sil-Lum temple on Mt. Shaoshi in the Sung Mountains in 502-557 A.D. during the Liang Dynasty. Bodhidarma was a famous Buddhist monk who taught zen (chan) Buddhism in the Sil-Lum temple. Here, according to legend, he noticed the Chinese disciples could not stay awake during long meditations. So, he introduced the 18 Lohan hand movements. During this time, kung-fu split into two systems: internal (nei-dan) and external (wai-dan). The beginning of chi gung (breath control) developed from this.

Two classics were written by Bodhidarma: “Sinew Change Classic” and “Washing Marrow Classic”. From these 18 movements and classics, 72 techniques were developed which later evolved into 170 techniques. These techniques were divided into five styles which were called the five formed fist and became the basis of Sil-Lum kung fu’s (Ng Ying Ga) five animal style.

Sil-Lum Kung Fu Five Animals System
Crane, Leopard, Tiger, Snake, and Dragon

CRANE (hao):

Develops sinew for balance externally and chin (essence) internally.
Teaches self -control.
Uses grace, quick foot movements, wrist trapping, knee strikes and beak strikes.

LEOPARD (pao):

Develops muscle speed for external strength.
Teaches patience
Uses leopard punch for penetration and lower body springing power.

TIGER (hu):

Develops bones for external power.
Teaches courage.
Uses tiger claw for sinking in grabs, holding and throwing techniques.

SNAKE (she):

Develops internal chi (intrinsic energy) and external flexibility.
Teaches two methods:
1) Stationary—internal training for suppleness
2) Movement—external training for endurance.

DRAGON (lung):

Develops spirit (shen) and mind power.
Teaches spiritual calmness and concentration.
Uses body twisting techniques, elbow strikes and dragon claw for hooking

Sil-Lum kung fu was taught only to monks in the temple and they were well known for their martial arts excellence. They could not leave the temple until they passed a life or death test. Sealed in a chamber the monk had to work his way through a series of traps and wooden dummies that were triggered mechanically. at the end of the chamber was a gate and in front of the gate was a smoldering urn. To leave the chamber, the monks were to move this urn with their arms wrapped around it, which branded their forearms with two dragons which was the symbol of the Sil-Lum inner chamber disciples.

During the time of the Sung Dynasty (1206-1337), Chang San Feng (a disciple and Taoist in the Sil-Lum temple) was considered an excellent student. He was believed to have created the tai chi chuan (Grand Ultimate Fist). Tai chi chuan is a system which minimizes the use of external strength and emphasizes internal strength or chi. This was developed after Chang San Feng watched an encounter between a snake and a crane. Tai chi chuan is based on five elements: metal, wood, water, fire and earth. It also helps circulate late blood, breath, chi flow and helps build one’s awareness.

In the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), kung fu was referred to as chi yang and the art flourished throughout China during this time. Wang Lang, a Buddhist of the Sil-Lum temple, invented tong long or the praying mantis system. He created the system after seeing an encounter with a mantis and a cicada, which led him to experiment with the mantis to create a new technique.
The system uses an antenna (the arm and hand) to find an opponent’s strength and direction, hooking and trapping techniques with its strong forearm and mantis claw (si diu). Later monkey (hou san) footwork was added to the system for mobility. Also during this time Ch’en Yuan Ping traveled to Japan and introduced chin-na to the Japanese. Chin-NA (grasp and control) is a system of joint manipulation through locks and holds.

In the Ching Dynasty (1644-1911), Kou Sze killed a man and was imprisoned. As he sat in his prison cell he observed monkeys. From these observations he devised the monkey system (hou-chuan) which was thought to have come from the Grand Earth or Heaven Earth style (ti-t’ang men).

Sil-Lum was taught only to worthy students and the secrets remained in the temple. During the 17th century when China was conquered by the Ching Dynasty, supporters of the Ming Dynasty took refuge in the Sil-Lum temple. The temple was then invaded and destroyed by forces of the Ching Dynasty. During this period a few monks escaped and the secrets of the Sil-Lum temple were closed to the outside world.

Since then the Chinese fighting arts have been divided into many schools. Some schools practice internal styles and some practice external styles and others practice a combination of both, but whichever they practice they still owe they development to Sil-Lum Kung Fu

Why Train in the Martial Arts? And What is the Meaning of the term "Kung-Fu"?

Many people spend much of their time looking for something to do or somewhere to go, and the list goes on. WE as human beings, strive for such endeavors because we all have the passion to learn, develop, and strive to do something beneficial for our lives. I am sure most people you know have hobbies, work out at the gym, practice in some art form, play sports... all of these things are what people do to make their lives more complete.

Martial Arts are no different from these endeavors. But one major difference are the benefits many people all over the world are receiving . Within the Martial Arts, one trains to relax, exercise, challenge or discipline themselves, build self-confidence, develop an artistic skill, overcome obstacles, strive for perfection, etc.. It is difficult to find another activity which can match all the benefits of Martial Arts Training with the additional benefit of being able to develop self-defense skills. Self-defense skills aside.. .you could look at Martial Arts Training as the perfect past-time. You can train by yourself, with others; share it with family or friends;and train when you're young or when you're old. There are no limits to Martial Arts Training. Plus you get the added benefit of Self-defense training. I'm not saying you'll become some super fighter, some people may, but you will develop techniques that one day could make a difference in a bad situation. I look at it this way, better you know something than nothing. I definitely am not saying one should go out and test themselves in bad situations, that is not the realistic. I wouldn't even do that, but as they say, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

Kung-Fu is one of the arts that we train, but do most people in the U.S. know what this term means. The Chinese term for martial art or military art is "Wu Shu." "Kung-fu" actually translates (roughly, there are many translations, but they all point towards the same idea) as Energy and Time. What? This doesn't mean empty hand fighting or Chinese Boxing or... etc. Y es, Energy and Time refers to the amount of Energy and Time or Practice and Time that you put into your art. One can be a musician, graphic artist, talented speaker, a surgeon... or whatever your specialty that you try to perfect. Kung-fu refers to your personal investment that you place in your endeavor. You may never reach perfection, but at least you are striving for it. This is the meaning of "Kung-Fu"!