INTRODUCTION

Philosophy

    There are three parts to every person:  Body, Mind and Spirit (or Soul).
    These three parts exist on separate planes: Physical, Mental and Spiritual.
    Three archetypes exemplify the perfection of each level :
     The goal of Shen Lung is to unite the three archetypes in every person.
    Our purpose in learning the art is to learn conflict resolution.
    We seek to resolve conflict by raising it to a higer plane - moving from violence at the physical level, to rational argument at the mental level, to unity and understanding at the spiritual level.

Expectations and Requirements

Costs

     There is no fee for learning Shen Lung Kung Fu. There are expenses that eventually come up, however, over the years of training.
     Before testing for your first sash, you will need to buy a Gi - a black cotton Kung Fu uniform with black frog buttons and reversable white cuffs. These uniforms can be bought online; we are also able to order them wholesale, so it may be cheaper to order them through the school. Ask someone with a sash if you are looking to buy a Gi. We get them for $35 each, and they usually are purchased after four to six months of training.
     You will eventually need to purchase several books as part of your training, especially the Tao Te Ching, the Art of War, and the Analects of Confucious. This will normally not be necessary for at least a year. We have preferred translations of each, so ask someone with a sash before you spend any money. The books typically run $45 all together, if purchased new.
     The school has a ready supply of training equipment, but you may eventually want to purchase your own to use at home or to bring with you to practice. Prices vary widely for martial arts equipment; ask for advice and comparison shop. Buying any training equipment should not be necessary for two years or so.

The Salute

     Martial artists commonly salute when they greet each other. This is a custom that is an instrinsic part of traditional Chinese Kung Fu. It is a mutual show of respect for each other's skill, knowledge and abilities. In addition, the salute has a practical application. Martial artists were always very cautious in the old days; handshakes were considered either too threatening or an invitation for an attack. Warriors would try to avoid contact with uncrupulous people, leery of surprise attacks. Many Chin Na (joint breaking) techniques begin from a handshake.
      The Shen Lung salute is a distinctly Chinese-style movement. Take one step forward with the left foot. The right hand is clenched in a fist. The left thumb is bent and the four fingers are stacked and straight. The palm of the left hand is placed over the fist. Both fist and plam are about 4 to 6 inches from the chest, with both elbows bent and the arms forming a circle. The hands are held at chest height. The posture is erect and the eyes are focused on the person who is being saluted. The head is held upright and a slight bow is made from the sholders as the hands are slightly extended, still pressed together. When your salute is acknowledged, you should move your hands back to your sides as you step back with your left foot and stand up straight.
      There are many common explanations of the meaning or symbolism of the salute. One is that the fist shows martial ability and the open hand covers the fist to show civility. The left hand thumb is bent out of humility. Chinese people will point to themselves with their thumb instead of their index finger, as westerners do. A straigtened thumb (like a thumbs-up) means "I'm number one!" to the Chinese. Therefore, the bent thumb means that you do not claim superiority. Proper martial arts etiquette would expect for you to be humble, even if you are a champion. The four fingers symbolize uniting Kung Fu across the four seas (or compass points). Perhaps the oldest explanation is the Hung Gar story of the rebellion against the Ching Dynasty, in which the salute was a symbol of the secret society that formed the rebellion. The fist was the earth and the open hand the crescent moon, both of which were objects on the flag of the rebellion. The most common explanation is the Yin / Yang symbolism of the fist being the hard way and the open hand representing the soft way.
      Salute when you greet and take leave of your Sifu. This shows your respect for his or her teachings. Salute your instructors for the same reason. Salute when you enter and exit the Kwoon to show respect for the sacrifices that your teachers made for the art. Salute your equals to show that you will work together to hone each other's skills. You should salute your teacher before he or she salutes you.