SHAOLIN ARTS
We are extremely proud of the strength and tradition of our Shaolin arts. Ours are the genuine arts of the Fukienese Shaolin Temple (which inspired so many other martial arts, including Karate). We practice our arts the way they were taught by the Nam Yang founder, Master Ang Lian Huat (1924-84). These are not competition, gymnastic or demonstration arts but genuine Kung Fu. These are the arts which made the Shaolin monks so famous, These are the arts practised by the secret societies which overthrew the last Chinese emperor. These are the genuine, secret arts only recently revealed to non-Chinese.
Our arts train the body’s ‘Chi’ – the energy which permeates all living things and has profound effects on our health and well being. They transform the muscle and tendon of the body so that it becomes elastic and can snap out techniques with incredible speed and force. They train us to respond so sensitively to touch that we can feel an opponent’s move before we can see it counter it in a split second.
Our arts are what set us apart
TIGER CRANE COMBINATION KUNG FU
Classic Fukienese Kung Fu! This art trains the body’s tendons to knit together into one energized whole, which snaps out devastating power from short range. It also employs body mechanics so that small people can overcome the strength of larger people. The Tiger-Crane Combination art is a close-range art using mostly hand techniques including striking and seizing.
SUN-FROST WHITE CRANE SOFT AND GENTLE ART
Usually referred to as “Shuang Yang” for short, this is the rarely taught soft form of the Shaolin White Crane art. It looks similar to Tai Chi but follows the Buddhist Shaolin tradition.
This is a very relaxed, fluid art which develops suppleness, mobility, calmness and balance. It energizes the tendons and charges the body with ‘Chi’. It massages, cleans and strengthens the internal organs making us healthier and more resistant to disease.
The Shuang Yang art is suitable for most people, even the elderly and unfit since it is performed in a slow, relaxed fashion. Make no mistake, however, this is a real martial art capable of use in serious fights.
Learn a soft, meditative art that will boost your health, strength, concentration and energy.
SHAOLIN WEAPONS
The Shaolin weapons have captured the imaginations of many generations of people all over the world. Although the weapons of ancient China are now seldom used for war, we still teach the original fighting forms as taught to Master Ang Lian Huat by Tan Kew Liong (9 Dragons Tan), the Chief of the Herbal Medicine Peddlers in The Chuang Cho district of old Fukien China.
Weapons training is a workout for the whole body and develops strength, coordination, concentration and balance. It is also great fun.
SOFT CHI KUNG FOR HEALTH AND LONG LIFE
‘Chi’ (Qi) is a natural energy which pervades all things. Chinese medical theory is based on the understanding that if the body’s Chi is balanced, clean and circulates smoothly, health and vitality will result.
Chi Kung is the practice of charging the body with fresh, balanced Chi, eliminating stale Chi and circulating Chi through all of the meridians and to every cell of the body. The location of the mountain retreat was chosen carefully for the exceptional quality of its Chi. It is thus a perfect place to practice Chi Kung.
Practising Chi Kung helps people remain young and healthy, boosts energy levels, speeds recovery, calms emotions, counters stress and enhances the senses. Martial artists tend to practice chi kung because its physical benefits can enhance their performance, but in fact, anyone can benefit greatly. Chi Kung is also an excellent basis for spiritual development.
Here at the Kung Fu Retreat, we practice Tong Ling (clearing and circulating) Chi Kung – an easy and efficient system, suitable for beginners.
CHI KUNG FOR INTERNAL POWER
Sometimes known as Hard Chi Kung or Martial Chi Kung, Kung Fu masters use this Chi Kung perform amazing feats such as breaking bricks, being hit with hammers and washing in broken glass! The famous “Iron Shirt Chi Kung”, in which Nam Yang specializes, is an extreme form of martial Chi Kung.
Hard Chi Kung trains Chi energy into the tendons where it is stored ready to be released in a whip-like action – rather like letting go of an elastic band. It trains all of the body to be capable of absorbing heavy blows and snapping out incredible force.
Hard Chi Kung packs Chi into the internal organs, boosting their performance and making them highly resistant to strain.
The legendary feats of the Kung Fu masters of old were usually demonstrations of the mastery of martial Chi Kung.
SUM CHIEN
‘Sum Chien’, meaning Three Wars or Three Battles is the original Shaolin internal power training exercise. The three battles in question are those which we fight within ourselves: the mental battle to master our mind, the physical battle to master our body and the spiritual battle to master our Chi (Qi) – which could be interpreted as both energy and breath. Collectively these ‘battles’ are the stages involved in mastering ourselves. They are a life’s work. Not everyone who embarks in the war to master themselves wins. The few who do are what we know as ‘Kung Fu Masters’.
Sum Chien is one of the most potent forms of Chi Kung (Qigong) training and is practised by many different styles of Kung Fu and Karate. To us it is the most basic routine (because it is the one we learn first) and also the most advanced (because it is the one with the most depth and the most power and the one that we still practise even if we do not have time to practise anything else!).
WORKOUTS & STRETCHING
To perform Kung Fu well requires a good level of physical fitness. Our workouts are fairly short and compact and emphasise training the whole body, especially the core. We have a number of specialised methods to do this. Some make use of specialised equipment, some do not but all have been tried and tested by generations of old Chinese Kung Fu Masters.
We are particularly proud of our flexibility training methods. We may not get you right down into the splits but you should expect to leave a lot more flexible than when you arrived! Those who make long stays here often do achieve the splits and other dramatic feats of flexibility.
PUSHING HANDS / STICKY HANDS
We react much faster to our sense of touch than our sight (please ask one of our instructors for a demonstration). Hence the White Crane Art (considered to be the most advanced of the Shaolin arts, as it was the last to be developed before the burning off the southern temple) always seeks to make touch contact with an opponent at the outset of a fight and use it to manipulate and overcome them. We constantly train touch sensitivity drills usually referred to as pushing / sticky hands. These drills provide direct, hands on contact and train speed, reactions and strategy while remaining safe.
PRACTICAL SELF DEFENSE
To defend yourself should you need to, it is important to know what to expect and how to use your martial arts in a realistic context. All of our martial arts are taught in a very practical context, with explanations as to how to apply everything you learn in a potentially dangerous situation. More than this, we train a lot of partner drills which teach you to react effectively to common attacks, disarm attackers with weapons, drop people to the floor and apply restraints.
We also teach assertiveness, positive body language, eye contact, and psychology – all of which make a great deal of difference in the real world.
MEDITATION
Meditation is an optional but recommended part of our training. We teach a number of meditation exercises which support our training, calm our minds, relax our bodies, circulate our Chi, enhance our awareness and accelerate our spiritual development.
SOFT CHI KUNG FOR HEALTH AND LONG LIFE
‘Chi’ (Qi) is a natural energy which pervades all things. Chinese medical theory is based on the understanding that if the body’s Chi is balanced, clean and circulates smoothly, health and vitality will result.
Chi Kung is the practice of charging the body with fresh, balanced Chi, eliminating stale Chi and circulating Chi through all of the meridians and to every cell of the body. The location of the mountain retreat was chosen carefully for the exceptional quality of its Chi. It is thus a perfect place to practice Chi Kung.
Practising Chi Kung helps people remain young and healthy, boosts energy levels, speeds recovery, calms emotions, counters stress and enhances the senses. Martial artists tend to practice chi kung because its physical benefits can enhance their performance, but in fact, anyone can benefit greatly. Chi Kung is also an excellent basis for spiritual development.
Here at the Kung Fu Retreat, we practice Tong Ling (clearing and circulating) Chi Kung – an easy and efficient system, suitable for beginners.
TIGER CRANE COMBINATION KUNG FU
Classic Fukienese Kung Fu! This art trains the body’s tendons to knit together into one energized whole, which snaps out devastating power from short range. It also employs body mechanics so that small people can overcome the strength of larger people. The Tiger-Crane Combination art is a close-range art using mostly hand techniques including striking and seizing.
SUN-FROST WHITE CRANE SOFT AND GENTLE ART
Usually referred to as “Shuang Yang” for short, this is the rarely taught soft form of the Shaolin White Crane art. It looks similar to Tai Chi but follows the Buddhist Shaolin tradition.
This is a very relaxed, fluid art which develops suppleness, mobility, calmness and balance. It energizes the tendons and charges the body with ‘Chi’. It massages, cleans and strengthens the internal organs making us healthier and more resistant to disease.
The Shuang Yang art is suitable for most people, even the elderly and unfit since it is performed in a slow, relaxed fashion. Make no mistake, however, this is a real martial art capable of use in serious fights.
Learn a soft, meditative art that will boost your health, strength, concentration and energy.
SHAOLIN WEAPONS
The Shaolin weapons have captured the imaginations of many generations of people all over the world. Although the weapons of ancient China are now seldom used for war, we still teach the original fighting forms as taught to Master Ang Lian Huat by Tan Kew Liong (9 Dragons Tan), the Chief of the Herbal Medicine Peddlers in The Chuang Cho district of old Fukien China.
Weapons training is a workout for the whole body and develops strength, coordination, concentration and balance. It is also great fun.
SOFT CHI KUNG FOR HEALTH AND LONG LIFE
‘Chi’ (Qi) is a natural energy which pervades all things. Chinese medical theory is based on the understanding that if the body’s Chi is balanced, clean and circulates smoothly, health and vitality will result.
Chi Kung is the practice of charging the body with fresh, balanced Chi, eliminating stale Chi and circulating Chi through all of the meridians and to every cell of the body. The location of the mountain retreat was chosen carefully for the exceptional quality of its Chi. It is thus a perfect place to practice Chi Kung.
Practising Chi Kung helps people remain young and healthy, boosts energy levels, speeds recovery, calms emotions, counters stress and enhances the senses. Martial artists tend to practice chi kung because its physical benefits can enhance their performance, but in fact, anyone can benefit greatly. Chi Kung is also an excellent basis for spiritual development.
Here at the Kung Fu Retreat, we practice Tong Ling (clearing and circulating) Chi Kung – an easy and efficient system, suitable for beginners.
CHI KUNG FOR INTERNAL POWER
Sometimes known as Hard Chi Kung or Martial Chi Kung, Kung Fu masters use this Chi Kung perform amazing feats such as breaking bricks, being hit with hammers and washing in broken glass! The famous “Iron Shirt Chi Kung”, in which Nam Yang specializes, is an extreme form of martial Chi Kung.
Hard Chi Kung trains Chi energy into the tendons where it is stored ready to be released in a whip-like action – rather like letting go of an elastic band. It trains all of the body to be capable of absorbing heavy blows and snapping out incredible force.
Hard Chi Kung packs Chi into the internal organs, boosting their performance and making them highly resistant to strain.
The legendary feats of the Kung Fu masters of old were usually demonstrations of the mastery of martial Chi Kung.
SUM CHIEN
‘Sum Chien’, meaning Three Wars or Three Battles is the original Shaolin internal power training exercise. The three battles in question are those which we fight within ourselves: the mental battle to master our mind, the physical battle to master our body and the spiritual battle to master our Chi (Qi) – which could be interpreted as both energy and breath. Collectively these ‘battles’ are the stages involved in mastering ourselves. They are a life’s work. Not everyone who embarks in the war to master themselves wins. The few who do are what we know as ‘Kung Fu Masters’.
Sum Chien is one of the most potent forms of Chi Kung (Qigong) training and is practised by many different styles of Kung Fu and Karate. To us it is the most basic routine (because it is the one we learn first) and also the most advanced (because it is the one with the most depth and the most power and the one that we still practise even if we do not have time to practise anything else!).
WORKOUTS & STRETCHING
To perform Kung Fu well requires a good level of physical fitness. Our workouts are fairly short and compact and emphasise training the whole body, especially the core. We have a number of specialised methods to do this. Some make use of specialised equipment, some do not but all have been tried and tested by generations of old Chinese Kung Fu Masters.
We are particularly proud of our flexibility training methods. We may not get you right down into the splits but you should expect to leave a lot more flexible than when you arrived! Those who make long stays here often do achieve the splits and other dramatic feats of flexibility.
PRACTICAL SELF DEFENSE
To defend yourself should you need to, it is important to know what to expect and how to use your martial arts in a realistic context. All of our martial arts are taught in a very practical context, with explanations as to how to apply everything you learn in a potentially dangerous situation. More than this, we train a lot of partner drills which teach you to react effectively to common attacks, disarm attackers with weapons, drop people to the floor and apply restraints.
We also teach assertiveness, positive body language, eye contact, and psychology – all of which make a great deal of difference in the real world.
PUSHING HANDS / STICKY HANDS
We react much faster to our sense of touch than our sight (please ask one of our instructors for a demonstration). Hence the White Crane Art (considered to be the most advanced of the Shaolin arts, as it was the last to be developed before the burning off the southern temple) always seeks to make touch contact with an opponent at the outset of a fight and use it to manipulate and overcome them. We constantly train touch sensitivity drills usually referred to as pushing / sticky hands. These drills provide direct, hands on contact and train speed, reactions and strategy while remaining safe.
MEDITATION
Meditation is an optional but recommended part of our training. We teach a number of meditation exercises which support our training, calm our minds, relax our bodies, circulate our Chi, enhance our awareness and accelerate our spiritual development.
TRAINING ETHOS
We maintain a very traditional training ethos, which we believe leads to the best possible progress for all. This means:
We all constantly strive for improvement
We train together constructively and co-operatively, trying to help each other progress – not outdo one another
We practice diligently and safely
Senior students help teach more junior students and lead training sessions
Instructors are expected to explain, demonstrate and lead; students are expected to follow lessons and instructions and practice until proficient
There is respect among all guests and instructors at all times.
Rated the #1 thing to do in Pai
Testimonials
“Thank you for the opportunity to be a part of your fantastic community. I loved every part of my experience from the intense stretching to the subtle awareness gained from deep meditation. The instructors were great and supportive to help achieve personal goals.
3 weeks was a good amount of time, but I suspect that I would of stayed a lot longer had I not had other commitments. I plan on returning in the future to improve my Shuang yang.
I originally came to learn chi kung for my morning routine, and left with a new found balance, and a greater appreciation for life.”
Darren Oz
“It is so great to find out when you arrive someplace you’ve never been, to do something you’ve done, that you found the real deal. Nam Yang Kung Fu Retreat was just that for me. I stayed at the retreat for two weeks and wish it could have longer. Master Ian and his entire staff of instructors are patient, friendly, thorough, respectful and unbelievably knowledgeable.
I went for the Qigong life style program, being 68 and more interested in meditation than martial arts, however, I found the conditioning, stretching and Kung Fu training not only challenging, but great fun. It was much more than I expected and if my body allows, I plan to return.”
David
“I have been at the Nam Yang Kung Fu retreat for 4 weeks (January 2019). It was a beautiful experience that I will always remember: the environment, the teaching, the healthy food and the Nam Yang community – all these elements combine very well, making this retreat truly special.
The instructors are very welcoming, kind and patient. I met many wonderful people and made some friends for life.
From all the great memories I hold from Nam Yang, one is particularly strong:
“The majestic Bodhi Tree waves its leaves over the main training ground. It stands tall and strong, deeply rooted, refreshing our bodies, minds and spirits as we are taught to breathe in…and out…in…and out.”
Ana
“Nam Yang Kung Fu retreat is truly unique. This is THE place to train and develop your mind and body. Master Iain is an inspiration to learn from. Our talks in the morning had developed our minds to a new level. The training develops your body and coordination. We loved the Kung Fu training for combat and self-defence, and as well the Chi Kung (Qigong). Meditation for health, vitality and enlightenment. We will be back! Strongly recommend to go with your spouse and/or friends. This is an experience for life. Share it the ones you love!”
