VALENTINE'S SMILE FROM THE HEART 2011- KILLARNEY, CO KERRY, IRELAND
A FESTIVAL OF SHAOLIN CHI KUNG WITH WORLD RENOWNED AND RESPECTED SHAOLIN GRANDMASTER WONG KIEW KIT
Grandmster Wong Kiew Kit demonstrating Dan Tian Breathing not to be mistaken for Abdominal Breathing.
I am honoured to announce that our beloved Grandmaster - Wong Kiew Kit, is returning to Ireland in February 2011 to conduct courses on the wonderful art of Shaolin Chi Kung. The courses on offer are:
Generating Energy Flow ( Beginners and also for advanced students who wish to deepen skills) - 5 hours- €300.00 EXACT DATES TO BE ANNOUNCED
Dan Tian Breathing (Advanced Chi Kung)- 4 hours - €300.00. . €150.00 in combination with other courses.
Yi Jin Jing- 12 Sinew Metamorphosis set (Advanced Chi Kung) - 12 hours- €600.00 Sat & Sun February 20th & 21st 9am - 5pm
A Day in the presence of a Genuine Shaolin ZEN MASTER- (Highest Level) 6 hours - €500.00 This is a very unique and special couirse where participants will experience Zen in all of its simplicity and profundity. This is the Highest Level course and places sell out very quickly.
PAYPAL OPTION: All courses can be paid by paypal/credit card by following the following link and choosing deposit option or any amount payment http://www.qigongprivateclinic.com/gpage3.html please check midway of this page for bank transfer details, cheque is acceptable from Irish students.
Generating Energy Flow is perfect for beginners. It leads the student into deep relaxation, energy flow and Shaolin Chi Kung patterns to enable solo practice for good health, vitality, mental clarity and spiritual joy.
Dan Tian Breathing: Learn how to breathe from your Dan Tian, not air (as the lungs are airtight) but chi. You will find that you stop breathing from your nose. The sence of peace is immense and many students experience satori.
Yi Jin Jing- 12 Sinew Metamorphosis set is a beautiful and honoured legacy in our school from the teachings of the great Bodhidharma in the Shaolin temple. It is a set of simple but deeply profound Chi Kung exercises. The sense of joy, peace and freedom is inexplicable The cleansing is very deep and students progress through many levels.Here are some comments from last year's participants
The following is a precise description by Grandmaster Wong Kiew Kit. For all true Shaolin followers this course is a must.
Yi Jin Jing is often translated by many masters and writers into English as "Tendon Changing Classic". It is translated by Sifu as "Classic of Sinew Metamorphosis" or simple "Sinew Metamorphosis".
’You would be pleased to know some aspects of Sinew Metamorphosis which many people may not know. The "jin" in Yi Jin Jing does not just refer to sinews or tendons; it is a shortened form for "jin gu". Literally, "jin" means "sinew", and "gu" means "bones". But "jin gu" is more than just sinews and bones.
In Chinese medical philosophy, for example, "jin" is related to the muscular system, and is closely connected with the gall bladder. In Chinese, when you say "da dan" you mean "courageous", although "da dan" literally means "big gall bladder".
"Gu" in the context of Shaolin Kungfu refers to internal force. Many people have read about the "five animals" of Shaolin Kungfu, and that the "tiger" trains "gu". They think that by training the tiger forms, they can have strong bones. That is not what is meant. What is meant is that the tiger aspect of Shaolin Kungfu develops internal force.
Inside the "gu" is "sui", which is usually translated into English as "marrow". But in Chinese medical thought, "sui" is more than just marrow. It also refers to our nervous system. And when a Chinese says "gu qi", he refers not just to "bone energy" (its literal meaning word by word) but he means "integrity and righteousness".
So, Yi Jin Jing is not just a set of Chi Kung exercises to develop tendons and muscles, as some uninitiated persons believe, nor is it a sutra. It is the essence of Shaolin Chi Kung that develops tremendous internal force as well as fast reflexes, mental freshness, courage, integrity and righteousness. When we are ready, it enables us to have a glimpse of our Original Face. It is the Shaolin Chi Kung that trains us to become warrior-monks, the Shaolin ideal. Those who have not been exposed to such high level Chi Kung would never believe such an apparently simple movement like flicking the fingers three times can bring such fantastic and profound results.
We always walk our talk. Many students have written to tell me of their fantastic results. Lydia from Austria, for example, told me she had a deep Zen experience. Toby from England told me he found he had no body. Neil from Canada told me he had no mind.
Yi Jin Jing is also excellent for more mundane purposes. Recently I was invited to teach Chi Kung to top leaders of a big country. I taught them only two exercises --"Lifting the Sky" and "Flicking Fingers" from Yi Jin Jing. They were so impressed that the Minister of Defence asked me to stay in the country. I jokingly said they had to grant me permanent resident status. The Minister of Interior immediately said it was no problem.
When the great Bodhidharma arrived at the Shaolin Monastery to teach Zen, or "Chan" in Chinese, he found the monks weak. So he taught them two sets of chi kung exercises, namely "Eighteen Lohan Hands" and "Sinew Metamorphosis", to strengthen them physically and spiritually so that they could better practise meditation. I am unsure what Bodhidharma or the monks called those exercises then, but all available records name them in Chinese as "Shi Ba Lou Han Shou" and "Yi Jin Jing".
These exercises were taught personally by masters to students, and were not described in details in books. The recording of how these exercises were performed, in writing or in pictures, came much later after Bodhidharma, and was very brief. It is unlikely that anyone learning the exercises from a book can get even a small portion of what we get in our typical Sinew Metamorphosis practice. Thank you Sifu.
The 4* Brehon Hotel was the venue for the Valentine's 2010 courses.Once the dates are announced so will the venue.
Please note: All courses above include lunch on each day of the course. Early booking is advised and a paypal option is available. Please fill in the application form on the seminars page or email me directly at sifujoan@gmail.com The Brehon hotel rates: single room €95.00, sharing €85.00 per person. The Brehon is a 4* hotel and offers much comfort and peace as well as good food. The hotel rate includes full Irish breakfast each morning. I am happy to book your room for you when you have a deposit paid for the courses. AS THIS HOTEL IS VERY BUSY DURING FEBRUARY I WOULD ENCOURAGE ATTENDEES TO BOOK ACCOMMODATION HERE AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE PLEASE.
If you prefer to stay in a Bed and Breakfast or hostel, I am happy to organise this for you. Usual rates for Bed and Breakfast single rate including full Irish Breakfast is €35.00 per night. There are many to choose from close by the venue.
Glena House- Bed and Breakfast (5 minutes walk) Single rate: €35.00 includes full Irish breakfast Double/Twin: €30.00 per person per night - includes full Irish breakfast Most B/B's are same price and there are many close by the venue.
Neptunes Hostel (town centre- 15 minutes walk to venue) 8 dormitory: €12-€14 per person per night 6 dormitory: €14.00-€15.00 per person per night 3 dormitory: €16.00 -€18.00 per person per night Double /Twin: €20.00 -€25.00 per person per night Single: €20.00 -€25.00 per night All rates include Continental Breakfast Highter rates are for Friday and Saturday night (weekend rate).
I am happy to book any of the above accommodation for you. The Brehon Hotel is almost full but it is easy to find another hotel close by.
Course payment can be made by paypal, bank transfer, bank draft, cheque. €100.00 holds your space on any course and final payment can be also made by cash on the day of course.
Bank Transfer is a very safe and easy way to pay for your course. Here are the details:
Name of Account: Joan Browne T/A Shaolin Wahnam Ireland
Account Number: 00943382
Name of Bank: AIB, (Allied Irish Bank)
Address of Bank: 68 Main Street, Castleisland, Co Kerry, Ireland
SWIFT CODE: AIB KIE 2D
Bank sort code: 936251
PAYPAL OPTION: All courses can be paid by paypal/credit card by following the following link and choosing deposit option or any amount payment http://www.qigongprivateclinic.com/gpage3.html
I look forward to welcoming you to Killarney, a magical and scenic area any time of year. Tours are always a part of the Valentine's courses and this year is no exception. Maria has kindly organised a beautiful tour for anybody who wishes to join. You may omit breakfast if you wish. This is a special private Shaolin Wahnam tour with Maria who has an indepth knowdelge of the local area and Heaven's Reflex.
Welcome Breakfast Tour
8.30am to 1pm
Welcome to Killarney with a traditional full Irish Breakfast (vegetarian options available) at the Vanilla Pod Restaurant in Killarney town, where the food is prepared and cooked on the premises for quality and freshness.
Breakfast also includes tea/coffee and toast.
Tour commences at 10am approx.
The journey circumnavigates the Inner Ring of County Kerry. We will see • Torc Waterfall • Ladies View • Molls Gap • Black Valley • Gap of Dunloe (stopping at the famous Kate Kearney’s cottage for hot drink) • Ogham stones
Cost is €60.00 per person inclusive of transport, guided tour, food, fun and beverages Return to Brehon Hotel at 1pm.
This area of Killarney's Lakes is well known as “Heaven’s Reflex” and has to be experienced first hand to appreciate the true beauty.
Please bring your camera with you to capture some of the magic that you will encounter along the way, as we will be stopping at each location. As a local of the area I will provide you with indepth detail of this truly wonderful Inner Ring of the Kingdom.
Looking forward to meeting you personally. Maria Sullivan
In the Shaolin Wahnam Institute the main arts taught are Shaolin Cosmos Chi Kung, Shaolin Kungfu and Wahnam Tai Chi Chuan. These are taught from beginner level right up to advanced.
Grandmaster Wong Kiew Kit giving an interesting discourse on mental clarity during the Valentine's Smile from the Heart courses in the beautiful Europe hotel, Killarney February 2009. It is worthy to note that a Zen Master is always happy and healthy. He/She is an inspiration to students/clients and have an amazing zest for life. They also have the ability of making complicated concepts easy to understand due to their diligent and correct practice,
To read more on each art please see below:
SHAOLIN COSMOS CHI KUNG
Practised in the Shaolin temple more than 1,5000 years ago, Shaolin Cosmos Chi Kung is an elite and ancient art. It consists of form, breathing and mind focus to generate energy flow in the body. Energy is flowing all the time, but sometimes the flow may be stagnant and this gentle practice helps clear stagnation leading to good health, vitality, mental focus as well as personal and spiritual development.
If you are already practising Chi Kung, excellent!. You know exactly what I am talking about when I mention 'spontaneous movement' and 'letting go'. You are also pain free and healthy from your practice, probably since the first session. When we generate the energy by means of form, breathing and mind focus, you are well aware that this is not the end of the practice, It is, in fact, only the beginning- generating the energy-. Now the energy flow, which allows the body move in spontaneous movement to clear any blockages in the meridians. It is one of the most natural forms of allowing the body and mind to heal- physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
It is a total source of relaxation and each practice session of 15 minutes is an enjoyable practice of moving meditation. It is worthy to note that genuine Chi Kung is also Meditation.
Do you know why you wish to practice or wish to find out more information? Perhaps, you suffer from a chronic illness and have been told to 'live as best that you can with it - that nothing more can be done from a Western medical perspective' ? Perhaps, you know deep inside that there has to be something more to life? Perhaps, you realise that very few people are genuinely healthy and happy? Perhaps, you have seen or met Grandmaster Wong Kiew Kit and would like a little of what he has..........the obvious excellent health, energy/vitality, happiness and joy to name but a few? Perhaps, you would like to learn a genuine ancient art and continue a tradition of at least 1,500 years? Perhaps, you have no idea why you came to the site, but wish to learn more?
Well, to help you, there are many reasons for practising one of the oldest and most successful of the Chinese arts, which has a very successful continuous history of 1,500 years.
The benefits include:Promotion of good health and prevention of illness. Vitality. Mental focus and concentration. Personal development Calmness and Efficiency at work and play Spiritual development and Longevity
Promotion of good health and prevention of illness: include overcoming chronic illness and pain e.g migraine, headaches, sleeplessness, back pain, arthritis, M.E, M.S, asthma, diabetes, Psoraisis etc. It is excellent for depression, anxiety and panic attacks.
Vitality: many many people feel tired upon waking, they feel drained from people they work with, from stressful situations at work or in the home. These are energy blockages and can be released by the gentle practise of Shaolin Cosmos Chi Kung.
Mental focus and concentration: When we are tired, overworked, stressed our mental focus and clarity is at its lowest. Many students face this situation and special courses are being developed now for school/college/university students. But we don't have to be students to feel mentally blocked again gentle practice will help.
Personal Development: Shaolin Cosmos Chi Kung helps to release feelings of anger, anxiety, depression, sadness, fear and worry. Students feel more empowered, more courageous and more confident.
Calmness and Efficiency at work and play: Stressful situations at work or play lead to stagnation of chi flow in the meridians. Practising Shaolin Chi Kung helps the chi to flow freely again, eliminating negative emotions. Work days become more enjoyable for everybody from the top Executive down along the line. Efficiency also improves as a result of staff being taken care of and the constant feeling of wellbeing.
Longevity: We all wish to live longer, but it is important that our lives are of good quality holistically. We wish to be healthy physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. NOW is the time to act. Shaolin Chi Kung is like an investment policy, you get out what you put in!
I am not sure if there is another ART with so many benefits. The training is not difficult, in fact, it is a daily joy. Classes (both private and group) are conducted in a friendly, open and nurturing environment.
I am very blessed to have found a Grandmaster- Grandmaster Wong Kiew Kit- who is fourth generation successor from the Shaolin temple. It is rare to have such a short lineage and I being fifth generation successor, is indeed, an incredible honour.
Grandmaster Wong Kiew Kit has written many books on: Shaolin Kungfu, Shaolin Chi Kung, Tai Chi Chuan, Zen meditation and Chinese Medicine.
Thank you to Sifu and all the Shaolin Masters for their generosity, depth and crystallisation of knowledge. May these arts continue to help humanity for many generations to come.
SHAOLIN KUNGFU
Question 1 I wanted to tell you how much I appreciated the Intensive Shaolin Kungfu course, and how thankful I am to have been able to attend. As I said at the graduation dinner I have been doing martial arts for many years, but in all those years this last week was the first time I had felt my arms charged with internal force with nearly every movement. I had felt that feeling before, but it was only occasionally and almost as if by accident. Matt, USA
Answer 1 Congratulations for the good results you have had. You did very well at the Intensive Shaolin Kungfu Course in Penang in April 2008. The course acted as a key that opened the developments you already had from your previous training but were not manifested yet.
For example, the internal force you felt during the course was not developed at the course itself, but from your many years of previous training. This internal force, however, was locked in your tendons and muscles. At the course, I helped you to enter Zen, where you could be totally relaxed and attained a one-pointed mind. In this state of Zen, or chi kung state of mind, you let your internal force flow and manifest.
As another example, when you perform your own kungfu sets you learned before, you will find that now your performance is faster, smoother and more forceful. You will also have better insight into the patterns of the kungfu sets. You may also understand the combat functions of some of the patterns which previously you thought were only decorative.
With this new skills you learned at the course, you not only can manifest the developments you already had, but also speed up as well as expand whatever you learn in your kingfu training. For example, if you wish to learn a new kungfu set, you can do so in shorter time yet with better results. This is speeding up the ability you already had. Previously, you would feel tired after performing some kungfu movements, but now you would feel more fresh and energized. This is expanding your benefits which you did not have before.
Question 2 Until this course, I only had slight awareness of my dan tian, but during the course I was aware of it often and even was able to feel chi moving down the front of my body and settling in my dan tien! How amazing it was!
Answer 2 This is another example of the course enhancing the result you already had. The dan tian is present in everybody, but most people are unaware of it. Kungfu practitioners are aware of it intellectually because it is often mentioned in kungfu context, but they seldom experience it because most of the time they are tensed physically and mentally.
But once awhile when their practice unconsciously brings them into a state of Zen, in which case they may experience their dan tian. But at the course you learned how to enter Zen at will. Hence, you were aware of your dan tian and other chi sensations.
Entering Zen is a very important aspect of Shaolin training. It enables you to derive fantastic benefits like internal force, mental clarity and spiritual joys. Most Shaolin practitioners, however, miss this important aspect of Shaolin training. To them, Shaolin Kungfu is just hard and external.
Question 3 While practicing One-Finger Shooting Zen today, I noticed that when I placed my awareness on my breathing, especially during the Shh and Haa sounds, it felt as if my breath was pushing and pulling my hand away from and toward my body. My hand felt very charged with internal force, and it seemed as though my breath and internal force (and not my arm muscles) are causing my hands to move. It felt very nice.
Answer 3 Congratulations. This shows you had good results. Your chi, regulated by your breathing, was directing your hand movements, and you mind being focused on your breath, was directing your chi.
You attained what is described in kungfu classics as “mind directs chi, and chi directs forms”. This is high level attainment, usually achieved only by masters. It is incredible that many of our students achieved it. Those outside Shaolin Wahnam find it hard to believe that we can achieve such feats, and call us liars. That is their problem, not ours.
With further development of this skill, you can have many wonderful benefits. You can, for example, move at the speed of thought. If an opponent attacks you, you may just think that you would dodge and kick his side-ribs, and the action will be implemented so fast that even you yourself may be surprised. You would, however, still have to practice the technique before you can use it.
In other words, during your training you imagine an opponent attacking you. You move to one side and counter with a side-kick to his ribs. At first you practice this movement slowly and smoothly, paying attention to picture-perfect form and flowing force. Next, you increase you speed – without sacrificing your form and force. Then you just think about this counter and you will move spontaneously and quickly. When a real opponent attacks you, you just think of this counter and it will unfold itself effectively.
This skill can be beneficially used in our daily life – in both our work and play. If you wish to run up a flight of stairs, for example, just think and your mind will direct your chi, which will direct your feet to run up the stairs. You can reach many storeys above without feeling tired. In fact, participants at some Shaolin Kungfu courses at Swiss Inn in Sungai Petani did that. We started our practice in the morning beside the swimming pool. But when it got hotter, we ran up the stairs to a bigger hall to continue our practice. We ran up many flights of stairs but we were not tired.
When you play football or any games, you can be an exceptional player if you use this skill. You still need to practice the necessary techniques first. But when the situation arises, you just use your mind to direct your chi to direct your physical movements. Your opponents will be amazed.
Sifu Wong practicing Wing Choon “Chi Sau” or “Sticking Hands” with Sifu Koay. Both learned from Sifu Choe Hoong Choy.
Question 4 However, during the course you did not mention placing your mind on the breathing and letting the breath move the hand. I do not want to practice incorrectly. Should I keep my awareness on my breath and internal force that seems to cause the movement, or try to not focus on it?
Answer 4 I cannot remember exactly what I said at the course you attended. Although the content may be the same, every course is different because I teach according to the progress of the course participants.
Yes, you can keep your awareness on your breath and internal force. This has given you very good results, and as you develop further you have use this skills for many benefits.
On the other hand, in other situations you may not keep your awareness on your breath. You may just enjoy your breathing and your movements without any specific focus. This may lead you to No Mind, which may give you tremendous spiritual joys.
As I have often mentioned, there are no hard and fast rules –- though there may be over-riding general principles. One over-riding principle, or you may call it a “Golden Rule of Three for Practice” is “Don’t Worry, Don’t Intellectualize, Enjoy your Practice”.
Question 5 It seems as though you have learned from many masters. I was curious why you chose to learn from more than one master. At what point with each master did you feel like it was time to learn from someone else? Did you ever have two masters at the same time?
Answer 5 I learned from many masters. My four “official” masters, in the order of my learning from them, were Sifu Lai Chin Wah who was more popularly known as Uncle Righteousness Sifu Chee Kim Thong who was regarded by the Chinese government as a national treasure Sifu Ho Fatt Nam who was the third generation successor from the southern Shaolin Temple Sifu Choe Hoong Choy who was the Patriarch of Choe Family Wing Choon.
I am forever grateful to my four masters who had so generously and kindly passed on their arts to me. I learned from one master at a time, never two or more at the same time.
I chose to learn from these four masters because I wanted to learn from the best, and while their arts are complete by themselves, each of these masters had something very special to teach me. The circumstances and reasons for my learning from each of them were different.
My learning from Uncle Righteousness was luck -- or was it luck? My father worked in the association where Uncle Righteousness taught kungfu. As a small boy I followed my father every night to watch Uncle Righteousness teach. Touched by my unfailing attendance, one night Uncle Righteousness asked me to be his student.
Many people considered me an accomplished kungfu practitioner after I had learned from Uncle Righteousness. Indeed, kungfu circles at the time considered me to be my master’s best disciple. Nevertheless, I was still not satisfied with my own attainment. I wanted to learn more about internal force. Wuzu Kungfu (Kungfu of Five Ancestors) of Sifu Chee Kim Thong was most famous for internal force, and I wouldn’t want to miss this opportunity to learn from him.
I was very impressed with the internal force of my Wuzu classmates. When I sparred with my sihengs (senior kungfu brothers), I could not move their arms. I thought I had strong arms. When I trained with Uncle Righteousness, I knocked my arms against a wooden man every night, and applied medicated vinegar to strengthen them. But when I persisted in knocking arms with my Wuzu sihengs in “Seven-Star Knocking”, my arms were swollen and my Siheng Chee Boon Leong, who is Sifu Chee’s eldest son, had to apply medical powder on them.
Nevertheless, my understanding of internal force was shallow then. Despite my sihengs sharing with me their training methods, which were basically practicing the fundamental set “San Zhan” and Abdominal Breathing, I did not gain much.
I was also keen in sparring, which was not much encouraged in the Wuzu school. So, I went around looking for Black Belts to spar. I met Yong, who was a Taekwondo exponent being trained by Korean masters to lead the Taekwondo movement in Malaysia when the Korean masters returned home. So, everybody was surprised when he intended to give up Taekwondo for Shaolin Kungfu. Why did he give up Taekwondo, especially when he had reached such a high level, and had such an opportunity for leadership and development?
What he said had great significance for me and our school. He said, “I can now handle any Taekwondo fighters with ease, except the Korean masters.” A second or two later, he continued, “Even the Korean masters. Even if I can’t beat them, I won’t be far behind.”
This was of great significance coming from someone who had just learnt Shaolin Kungfu for about three months. If he could attain such combat efficiency in just a few months from a Shaolin master, I must learn from this master. The master was Sifu Ho Fatt Nam.
After I had learnt from Sifu Ho Fatt Nam, I knew at once that I had completed my search for masters. His teaching provided all that I had wanted in Shaolin Kungfu, namely good health, combat efficiency and spiritual cultivation. Why, then, I later learned from Sifu Choe Hoong Choy?
Besides Shaolin Kungfu, I also learned traumatology, which is a special branch of Chinese medicine dealing specially with injuries, from Sifu Ho Fatt Nam. But my time learning traumatology was short, so when I returned to my hometown in Penang I wanted to continue my traumatology study with a well known traumatology master, Sifu Choe Hoong Choy. Sifu Choe was my father’s friend., which made my learning from him easy.
At that time Sifu Choe Hoong Choy was also teaching Wing Choon Kungfu. He knew that I was good at Lion Dance, which I had learnt years ago from Uncle Righteousness, and asked whether I could help him teach Lion Dance to his students. I agreed without a second thought. So I was privy to his exclusive Wing Choon class.
Unlike today when Wing Choon Kungfu is popularly taught to the public, at that time it was taught only to selected students. When I first learned Shaolin Kungfu from Uncle Righteousness, I heard about Wing Choon Kungfu but had no opportunity to see it. Uncle Righteousness, who was famous for his Shaolin staff, once told me that if I had the opportunity, I should also learn the “Six-and-a-Half-Point Staff”, which is an exclusive staff set in Wing Choon Kungfu.
I made good use of my opportunities. I asked Sifu Choe Hoong Choy whether he would teach me some Wing Choon Kungfu. Sifu Choe agreed without second thought. In fact he did more. He allowed me to choose the Wing Choon sets I liked and taught me not in a regular way he taught his students which would take years, but in a highly intensive way in a few days – a rare privilege kungfu masters in the past bestowed on those whom the master had high regards.
Grandmster Wong Kiew Kit demonstrating Dan Tian Breathing not to be mistaken for Abdominal Breathing.
The 4* Brehon Hotel was the venue for the Valentine's 2010 courses.Once the dates are announced so will the venue.
Grandmaster Wong Kiew Kit giving an interesting discourse on mental clarity during the Valentine's Smile from the Heart courses in the beautiful Europe hotel, Killarney February 2009. It is worthy to note that a Zen Master is always happy and healthy. He/She is an inspiration to students/clients and have an amazing zest for life. They also have the ability of making complicated concepts easy to understand due to their diligent and correct practice,
