American Shaolin Center

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American Shaolin

Traditional Chinese Martial Arts meets Conventional Knowledge of Human Biomechanics. In American Shaolin, we focus on two primary training modalities: 1) Functional Martial Arts (FMA) and 2) Core Strength Training (CST).

Functional Martial Arts (FMA)

Functional Martial Arts (FMA) is a particular approach to martial arts that focuses primarily on practical application rather than form alone. FMA is meant to be effective and useful in a martial sense, but also as a means of self cultivation in everyday life. The discipline and devotion required to master the techniques taught in American Shaolin translates outside the kwoon.

Students begin learning immediately how to use their bodyminds to effectively engage their world and resolve conflicts of all kinds through their awareness, thoughts, words and actions (the four modes of human activity). To "master the mind," American Shaolin has its formal students learn the most effective method taught in the Shaolin tradition for this goal: meditation.

Core Strength Training (CST)

Core Strength Training (CST) focuses on preparing and maintaining the body for martial training. ASC uses the traditional Shaolin means of core strength training: hard qigong (chi kung). Hard qigong is a whole body workout designed to maximize the co-activation of muscle groups for maximum training effect and gain through the use of body-weight dependent movements and static postures. Because of the intensity of the workout, dramatic increases in mental focus also result.




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