The Chinese are aware of how much more difficult it is to be a martial arts instructor, Shifu (or Sifu in Cantonese), than it is to be an English or math instructor. A school teacher is referred to as "Laoshr." The Gongfu instructor was considered to be a level above this. A Gongfu instructor was often a figurehead of the community. In America, most Gongfu schools only teach the physical martial arts moves without any religion, philosophy or social skills. Unfortunately this has lowered the quality of our traditional heritage and overall Kung Fu and Tai Chi abilities. # "Of course, I can understand this," complains Master Zhen. "Few Americans have the resolve and determination to learn traditional Shaolin Gongfu. During my 8 years teaching hundreds of students in Utah, only three students ever graduated my Shaolin Chi Mantis Beginner Program. Only three!" Any martial arts instructor can train a person's body easier than they can train a student's mind. This is what makes our Tai Chi Youth programs so unique and beneficial. We develop the student's mind as well as their body. "I've seen Blackbelts who are miserable, discontent, and dangerously violent," Master Zhen criticizes. "I strive to make my students less violent and self-content in less than one year." When students enroll in Master Zhen's school, they enter a family atmosphere where all students work together to improve each other. Competition is nonexistent. Students learn to coach and train each other. The Tai Chi Youth curriculum enhances social skills that have proven to help the business careers of many students. Fighting and sparring are not allowed. Cussing and sarcasm are forbidden. Tai Chi Youth is an environment that establishes a moral, compassionate, and healthy attitude towards life. "A student of either my Tai Chi Youth or Shaolin Chi Mantis schools should be a role model for children and an asset of their community. I expect these qualities long before they ever reach Blackbelt Level." Master Zhen continues, "When some of the students I taught in prison were released, they joined my regular public classes. I always stress proper manners in our Shaolin Chi Mantis and and Tai Chi Youth classes, so it was no surprise to these students that good manners were required. In 10 years of classes I don't think I ever heard a total of 10 cuss words." I always hung a Bronze Buddha Medallion along with a Taijiquan School Flag and a Shaolin Gongfu Flag. This also added to both the serenity and understanding among the students that they were required to have "church" manners since by hanging these flags I was "creating a Buddhist Temple" or at least a Sangha. "I had to sign special Releases to teach in the prison system. Which is good. I am not allowed to ever divulge the names of any of my convict students. This protects their new reputation." "Remember, they've paid their debt to society. And more than you realize. Prison is truly Hell. That's also why it doesn't work. You don't create angels by sending them to Hell. To survive in Hell you must become a demon. Whoops, that's another topic." "Which is also why we are so uniquely successful successful in prison. We teach well-being and compassion." "Anyway, as I was saying. When students from prison entered my public classes, they always blended in without being noticed as 'excons.' So I guess Shaolin Chi Mantis and Tai Chi Youth have been great 'halfway houses.'" We are anxious to do scientific studies of how beneficial our curriculums are, and will be, for many youths at risk. During the brief two year period Master Zhen taught in the prison system and the following two years, his students were 80% out of prison. The other inmates released were 84% back in prison during that time. Sincerely, Richard O'Connor, Executive Director TCY FROM ÊMASTER ÊTO ÊDISCIPLE Europeans also used similar oral traditions and referred to respected artists as "Maestro" and their disciples as apprentices. Even with all the books written by the Chinese, you needed a "Master" or "Shifu" ("Sifu" in the Cantonese dialect) to earn respect or attain goals of mastery in any discipline. Getting a teacher required more than money or offerings. Often the best and most welcomed students had no money and little to offer--besides their devotion and diligence. The Chinese pride their artistic traditions as having been passed from great Masters to deserving students. Unlike Americans who expect to "get what they pay for," the Chinese believe that wisdom and artistry must be EARNED. New students often would spend several years sweeping the floor before their faith and devotion would be approved. Then, they would begin training, with new information being given only after the Shifu was content with the learning and mastery of the previous lessons. There is a tale of a young man from a Chinese farming village, who wanted to be a Shaolin Temple Warrior Monk. Life at the Shaolin Temple was like any other Buddhist Temple. You clean, you eat, you study Buddhism, you meditate and pray, and you learn Gongfu (Kung Fu in Cantonese dialect). However, this impetuous young man was very dissatisfied with the amount of Gongfu training he received during his first year. He had not visited his family since leaving for the Temple and finally was able to return home for a special family occasion. At the party with all his relatives he was quiet and depressed looking. His father was anxious to see how his son had developed at the legendary Shaolin Temple. "Show me what you've learned, Son. Please demonstrate for us all what they have taught you so far." The boy hung his head in shame. "Son," the father coaxed. "Anything will do. Show us something." The boy looked up in tears. "Father, I have nothing to show you. Every day I have gone to Gongfu class and every day I am given the same lesson. Father, I don't have the patience to go back." "Son!" the father gasped with surprise. "The Shaolin Temple is famous for the strength and power of its Monks. They are wise in how to train their warriors. Have faith in their lessons." "Father, you don't understand! Every day I go to class and every day I stand in front of an iron urn and slap the water until it is dry like this!" His palm slapped the solid table top and smashed it into splinters and flying pieces of wood. Everyone was aghast at the power they had witnessed, but no one was as surprised as the disheartened novice monk. "You are right Father, I need to have more faith in their lessons." Tai Chi Youth has many traditional dances, art forms, and wisdoms to pass on to today's young Disciples. Those with faith, perseverance, tenacity, and dedication always progress quickly and set a standard for other students to follow. However, Tai Chi Youth has it's roots in teaching prisoners, criminals, drug addicts, physically handicapped, and illiterate students. Although we can easily train a 'winner' into a 'champion,' our goals are firmly rooted in training 'losers' to be 'winners.' Master Zhen's curriculums have proven to raise the self-esteem and motivation of every student to some extent. The longer any student is with us, the more obvious the improvements become. ## Master Zhen Receiving Award from President of Utah Chinese Society(Disciple Bo Jie-Ming stands behind Master Zhen after their performance) Master Zhen and his students represented the Utah Chinese-American community at most all Asian Festivals, Chinese events, Government functions, and Utah statewide events. He has donated a great deal of time and effort to youth organizations, public schools, prisons and rehabilitation centers. Since creating Tai Chi Youth, Master Zhen has diverted all his Shaolin Chi Mantis students into Tai Chi Youth. Although he has allowed the most sincere and motivated students to join his traditional Shaolin Chi Mantis Buddhist Gongfu School, there have been very few to qualify. This sacrifice of tuitions and memberships is a fraction of what he has donated in teaching classes and writing curriculums for Tai Chi Youth. "When we moved to Utah, it was the Chinese associations that sponsored and supported me the most," Master Zhen and his daughter, Zhen Ming-Mou, were always expected to perform at Utah Chinese New Year banquets and referred to as "Honorary Chinese" persons. Ê INSTRUCTOR REQUIREMENTS TCY SHIFU REQUIREMENTS In China, a school teacher is referred to as "Laoshr." This translates as teacher or instructor. A Chinese martial arts instructor is referred to as "Shifu." This translates more like professor, master, maestro, or Master Father. "Man Of Great Skill" might be another translation. It is with these higher standards that Shaolin Chi Mantis designed the Tai Chi Youth Instructor requirements. Our goal is to establish standards that will guarantee the highest quality of instructors 100 years from now, just as much as today. Tai Chi Youth was founded in 1996 by Master Zhen Shen-Lang (Richard O'Connor). After several years of research and seminars, Tai Chi Youth was incorporated on March 3, 1996, with a highly evolved set of teaching standards, curriculums, and operating procedures. Master Zhen transferred all Shaolin Chi Mantis students into Tai Chi Youth and TCY was immediately established. Master Zhen had already been teaching public classes for ten years and was very aware of the requirements to adequately and effectively teach the very difficult art of Shaolin Kung Fu. In 1992 Master Zhen devised one of the first Belt Rank Systems for Chinese martial arts in the United States. Many schools have emulated this system which is openly shared to promote standardizing American Kung Fu. This helps Kung Fu to harmonize better with Karate schools and Karate tournaments. Take a brief look at these ranking sytems. Shaolin Chi Mantis BELT RANK SYSTEM 1992: Tai Chi Youth BELT RANK SYSTEM 1996: These student Belt Rank Levels provide specific requirements that must be passed to advance to the next Belt Rank Level. The highest level of Tai Chi Youth is Red Sash + 3 Red Stripes. # Ê Ê