All Nations Event

[eug]

Hi

I would like to extend my thanks to all the UK instructors who made the All Nations event in Manchester. I had a great time and have taken back lots to work on, starting with making a bigger effort on SMART aims and objectives for my kung fu and my life. In fact the whole weekend was a reminder of the amazing depth of the art and how many benefits an be applied to everyday life.

It was nice meeting members of the family again. Hopefully see you all again at Summer Camp
Once again thank you to my Sifu and Sigung for sharing this great art with me.

Kind Regards

Eugene

[Marcus]

Hello everyone,

Special Kudos to Eugene for starting this thread first . (Make sure you e-mail me and we'll work on what we didn't find the time to do in Manchester).

I'm still basking in the warm glow of memories that I have of the All Nations Gathering in Manchester. I'd like to say a big thank you to everyone, students and instructors, that attended. It was great to have the opportunity to stand in front of you all and enhance my presentation skills. Thank you.

I learned so much in those 2 days and had such an enjoyable time, that I can't wait for next years Gathering.

I look forward to reading other peoples thoughts, experiences and seeing any photographs that were taken.

Kind regards
Marcus
Namo Amitabha Buddha Namo Amitabha Buddha Namo Amitabha Buddha

[AndyH]

Greetings

What a fantastic weekend!

I've been trying to decide since sunday which part of the weekend was my favourite but I just can't. The teaching was of a very high standard, and always simple, direct and effective. A big thanks to all instructors for this, with special mention to Sihing Michael for organising the event.

I bought myself a hardback notebook yesterday, and I am starting my kungfu journal tonight detailing what I have learned over the weekend, with aims and objectives and a 3 month plan.

Aside from all other benefits, which were considerable, I can honestly say that for my whole 2 1/2 hour drive home I was in a state of complete joy. (It hasn't worn off yet)

Looking forward to my next meeting with you all,
Andy

[bonuscap]

Hello everyone

This was my first gathering with my shaolin brothers and sisters , but will no way be the last !!
A massive thank you to everyone who help organise the event for me personally I have taken away such a rich amount of knowledge and experience to put in to my own practice . The biggest thought for me is I have now started a journey and with clear aims and objectives I now fill I can move closer to fulfilling my vision

Once again thank you to everybody who attended this event and made it so wonderful

[drunken boxer]

Perhaps some people may have noticed that on saturday, in Manchester, a chap called wayne rooney scored one of the greatest goals ever seen for manchester united. (Bear with me here!) Since then it has been described as magical, and he has been described as a genius.

Well, in my opinion it truly was a magical weekend in Manchester, and Mr Rooney wasn't the only genius at work... the others were the Kungfu Masters of the past and present including our own Sifu... their genius was in creating and passing on the Shaolin arts and their work was being carried out on their behalf by Sifu's UK instructors.

The whole weekend was FAN-tastic! This will be a long post, and for once I don't apologise!

Where do I start! Well I was greeted in manchester on friday by Siheng Michael's students - I had never met any of them before, but they treated me like a lifelong friend all weekend. I think this is the spirit of kungfu. Thanks guys and see you soon.

To the courses themselves:
We covered a lot in each lesson, and I too hope everyone posts here as a way of keeping notes so that we can collectively remember more and more. But though we covered a lot, at the same time each lesson for me contained at least one or two fundamental gems, which even alone I believe will help me deepen my practise considerably.
Some lessons I learned specifically were as follows

Sifu Mark Appleford - Combat Training Methodology:
Learned a marvelous drill to practice simulating powerful attacks but in a safe manner, and also which could be used for drilling skills against multiple opponents. So straight away I got perfect material for my practice as one of my objectives is to learn to defend against multiple opponents, and one of my weaknesses is defending against forceful pressing attacks. The main thing I learned was to step out of the line of the attack. It may seem obvious but isn't so easy till you've been trained and supervised in it by an instructor.

Sifu Simon Brookes - Chin Na:
In this class I got a wonderful gift - hope! I had all but given up on chin na (for now) as I have never before been able to effectively apply any locks. I had always concentrated on escaping from locks and striking. But for the first time in this class I was able to apply some locks reasonably well, enough that I now have hope that with practice I might one day be able to use them for real.

Sifu Marcus Santer - Aims & Objectives:
The most important lesson. The one that determines everything else we do and achieve. As a result of Siheng Marcus advice and aided by his notes I have already entirely changed my objectives. And I now have a template to check all future objectives against.

Sifu Michael Durkin - Art of Flexibility:
Amazing relaxation and enjoyment from an art that I usually don't enjoy as much as others. We learned a skill that can be transferred through to all other areas of practice, wonderful. In stretching, stance training etc I have often fallen into the trap of subconciously thinking relaxation is something that comes with practice and is just nice when it happens - Siheng went through a method by which we create the state systematically rather than just hoping for it.

Sifu Tim Franklin & Sifu Mark Tranter - Pressing attacks and defence:
This lesson was arguably the most important to me personally, because I like pressing, and I hate being pressed! So I got a chance to learn techniques and fine points to employ when being pressed. The best thing is I now know some actual footwork (and hand forms) I can use when being pressed backwards. (Beforehand my footwork just fell apart once I got pressed). And was able to practice this with a partner, under instruction which is a world apart from practicing solo. The material ties in well with Siheng Mark Appleford's lesson as well.

Sifu Jamie Robson - Footwork, The Fundementals:
Brilliant, been working on this one all day today - trying to compose a set which covers my weaknesses (its a long set ) so that I can achieve more in a shorter time, by specifically targeting my weaknesses and hitting them again and again rather than just when they happen to come up. This point was very succintly explained by Siheng Jamie, and he gave us the tools to put it in practice as well as understand it, tremendous.

Sifu Alex Stedman - Kung Fu in the realms of Form, Chi and Shen:
Wonderful, taking kungfu through the different realms to the mind level. It was great to experience combat sequences at different levels, and to be able to practise them in a chi kung state of mind added a whole new dimension. Difficult to describe the feeling in words, but it felt very different, powerful and enjoyable. Like Siheng Michael's lesson, what I loved about this was that it brought it home that we don't just have to wait till this state happens, we can follow a systematic process and create it.

Review Session
Its not every day you can get access to so many top instructors willing to help you with whatever you want help on! I got more gems from Sihengs Michael and Jamie, and I must especially thank Siheng Mark Appleford who went through the chokehold defences with me. Although he made no bones about how dangerous this attack is, he also showed me that there are things that can be done, and like Siheng Simon, he gave me hope! Although I am not skilled in these defences yet, I can see how they can work in the hands of a skilled practitioner - I certainly wouldn't like to try putting a sleeper on Siheng Mark. He also showed me stuff that even I could use now as defence. Most of all this has removed my feelings of helplessness against this attack- thank you Siheng.

Thanks to all the instructors, training partners and friends who took part, special thanks to the organisers, and I look forward to meeting you all again.

Paul

[alexstedman]

Hi Paul

I'm glad you enjoyed the weekend, and that you received a lot of benefits from all the instructors.

Sifu Alex Stedman - Kung Fu in ...

I'm certainly no Sifu, just a humble assistant. Thanks for the compliments though I'll write a little more later.

Best wishes
Alex

[Badrock]

Thanks guys

A truly inspiring weekend. Great attendance, with impressive contingents from the South of England and Scotland – well done guys! I find it amazing that so many people can get together with such a wide range of skills and learn so much at so many different levels. I personally took away a few gems that I will be integrating into my practice.

Being a beginner, I dare say many of your words of wisdom went straight over my head. However, the main thing I took away was motivation to continue and better my practice.

It is a real credit to the Wahnam school that we have such great instructors in the UK, and especially that they are willing to come together and share their skills with others. Thanks to all involved, and especially Sihing Michael for organising the event.

[amrit]

Was my first gathering and I loved every minute of it. Was great to meet everyone there and I look forward to the next event.

My heartfelt thanks to Grandmaster Wong Kiew Kit and all who shared their time and energy to make this event happen. I was touched at how patient my seniors were to pace me through the event, I've learnt a great deal. Thank you.

Namaste,

Peter

[Claire]

Well, what a weekend!

Any opportunity where I can get together with members of my Shaolin Wahnam Family is one that always ends up having a deep, deep impact upon me. The All Nations Gathering was no exception.

People have made reference here already to the excellent class my Sifu gave on aims and objectives. Well, as Michael Sipak wrote in his initial post announcing this course:

This event is about :

• Strengthening relationships throughout the Shaolin Wahnam Institute.
• Reap the benefits of training in a larger group.
• Make new friends and improve old ones.
• Travel and see new parts of the country.
• Enjoy the pubs, restaurants and socialising in Manchester.
• Following a well balanced training program.
• Deepen the skills of genuine Shaolin Arts.


I have to say that reading this list, every single one of those objectives was successfully completed.


I only got back from Manchester last night as I had a few bits to do up north but I've really been itching to get on here and say a big THANKYOU! to everyone. Like summer camp, I feel as though I've been away for much longer than 4 days and everything I’ve come back to seems very different, and so do I.

Thank you Michael Sipak for organising this event, it went really smoothly and it's the perfect start to 2007 for me

It's been an honour and a privilege to have the opportunity to learn from so many Sifus.

One of the many things I love about the Shaolin Wahnam Institute is how each Sifu is different, they are not carbon copies but individuals each with the high levels of skill in each aspect of our wonderful arts that you would expect, but with their own intense strengths and emphases in their training - which adds to the richness of the tapestry as well as offering you the opportunity to deepen and broaden your own training when you do get a wonderful opportunity like the All Nations Gathering. What a gift we students have.

Standing in that sports hall paying attention to their words, actions and their manner, and noticing everyone else always equally as attentive, I was warmed to the core by something I would like to take this opportunity to express: what fine role models I feel our instructors are, as men and as human beings: strong, noble, wise, kind, compassionate, gentle, highly intelligent, courteous and respectful, not to mention very, very funny How proud they make me to be a part of this, how proud my brothers make me as I think back across this weekend, and how proud SiGung must be of our Sifus.

It’s been interesting to me meeting again people who I’d met at summer camp last year and seeing how they’d changed, developed and grown as people thanks to these wonderful Arts – how much calmer, wiser, happier and warmer they were.

I was also very fortunate to be able to share a hostel dormitory for the weekend with 6 of my brothers, 5 from Worthing, 1 from Scotland – half I’d met before at summer camp the other half it was our first meeting. However, as Paul has said, it was instantly as though we had already known each other for years. I’ve never experienced anything like that which I experience with my Shaolin Wahnam family, they really are my family – I trust them, I care about them, I feel at one with them and I love them very much, every one. And so I say thank you to 'everyone'.


Personally my chi flow seems to have been doing a lot of work inwards for a while and still at the moment so, I apologise to those of you who had to train with me as I realise I wasn’t at my best, but I did learn huge amounts from you for which I am immensely grateful

For me, events like this really help me refocus and re-inspire me in my training as well as give me a huge chi flow boost which I’m still in the midst of right now, I find them very cleansing and I also find they really enrich my already incredible life-changing studies with Shaolin Wahnam.

So thank you again to all of the Sifus and to Alex for their classes and their participation in the classes, you really are inspirational. And thanks again to my brothers who fill my heart with pride and love


Incidentally, if you haven’t been to such an event before, for when you do I offer you my favourite game when it comes to meeting and then training with individual students: 'guess the Sifu' - It’s not too difficult


ROLL ON SUMMER CAMP!!


With Shaolin Salute,

Claire
x

p.s. I took some pics and I'll put them up in the next couple of days!

[RobJim]

Cheers

Hello, just wanted to give a big thankyou to all involved in the all nations this year. It was a great experience being surrounded by the wahnam family, which always seems to refill my enthusiasm to get training! Though the whole weekend was fantastic, I'd like to give an extra thankyou to Sipak Marcus for his greatly enlightening seminar on aims and objectives and SiSook Jamie for his lesson on footwork which was particularly relevant to my training at the moment.

Cheers again and see you all soon as possible,

Rob

[James Mousley]

A huge Thank you to all from me too.
It was great to be in the company of such a fine band of people. its so nice to see progress in everyone each time we meet.
think I am going to have to up my golden bridge after some of the immortals .

I loved how balanced and diverse the weekend was. Each exercise complimented the next so well. I have also taken many points to deepen my practice. Especially the emphasis on breathing from Sisook Durkin.
I realised a new level of relaxation in my kungfu and all my life.
I look forward to the next one immensely

Warmest regards and peace

James

[Claire]

Photos!

Hey Guys,

here's a few of the photos I took, I'll also put them in the photo lounge once I've figured out how

If anybody would like a full-sized copy of these scaled-down images please just drop me a pm with an email address and I'll be happy to send them on

Enjoy!

Claire
xxx

[Mike H]

All Nations Gathering 2007

Dear All

I'm afriad this is going to be a bit of a long one, but like Drunken Boxer, I won't apologise either Its just a summary of some of the points I took from the fantasic weekend.

Combat Training Methodology
The systematic approach of training that our school follows, allows us to gain the necessary skills in a methodical way. It seems so clear to me that if we were trained in any other way that should it be necessary to defend ourselves we would fail. Not because the techniques we used were insufficient, but due to the lack of skils that we possessed. From the start we are taught basic hand forms like, single tiger, black tiger, white snake and golden dragon. We are shown the 4 areas of attack (high, mid, low and side) and given some tools to defend against them. The first session of the All Nations for me built on this, and has provided me with an excellent tool, the Zombie Drill.Personally, I found this a fantasic drill, it highlights the importance of footwork. Being able to step off in the right direction and to stabalise like a mountain is a necessity. It also showed me that spacing and timing are priceless. Too soon and your partner could follow you, too late and well...It teaches you anticipation and to ensure that you plan your move to make the right decision. I allows you to look for openings and create them. All the while being sure you communicate and are aware of your partner/opponent. How are they dealing with the situation? Show compassion.

Chin Na
I really enjoyed this session, both the attacking and defending patterns were awesome. The presentation gave me an insight into some of the later combat sequences, and if I'm honest, I can't wait . I really enjoyed the steching exercises prior to the main part, my hands and wrist aren't as flexible as they could be, so I plan to use these to increase flexibility, Thank You. The mechanical process of the linking between the finger/wrist/forearm/whole arm and finally in effect the whole body from what is really one grip But again, totally dependant on footwork. If your are in the wrong place any any point, the chain breaks and the defender is free. Also, the throw, if applied correctly, with the arm in the right place/rotation it makes it easy to lift a partner much bigger than you. But again, footwork is the key. If your not close enough, or the feet are in the wrong place, a larger opponent will struggle to lift a smaller one.

Aims and Objectives
Prior to siting down with my Sifu a while ago, I was, I guess, training aimlessly. Going through what and where you want to be was so helpful (thank you Sifu). If you don't plan, but you still end up where you want to be, it will be more luck than judgement. Its a mixture of the 3 modes of arrival, and the 4 modes of preparation. If your head/heart (vision) is not in it, how will your feet (strategy) and hands (action) get there? So you need to make sure that your mind, essence and energy are working together (S). If they are, then judge the opponent/situation and make sure that you can provide a way to show the outcome(M). Is it acheivable? i.e look for and opening, if its not there, create one. But make sure it follows the 1st mode of arrival (A/R). Once the opening is in place, use it quickly and skillfully(T). So assess where you are, and where you want to be, whether it be in your training or your life. But be truthful to yourself

Flexibility
Having been shown the patterns contained within the Art of Flexible Legs, I have never felt or performed them as relaxed as in this session. The initial pattern of bending from the waist and just relaxing gave me a most wonderful chi flow afterwards. During the pattern my breath felt so relaxed that for a brief moment I realised that my hands were flat on the floor with the top of my wrists actually touching the floor. It made a nice change from my knuckles This session gave me some very important skills to incorporate into my life and not just my training. Thank you

Pressing Attacks
Awesome. How by using just 2 different sequences you can press you partner almost the length of a gym. A great technique. But for me highlights things which I need to address in my own training. I personally need to be aware of my partner more. I guess it ties in with the last session quite nicely. I hope I've always had good intent (in life as well as training) but I need to assess my surroundings more when I'm pressing forwards.

Footwork
Cracking Session, footwork, without it where would we be. For me most of the weekend was about the importance of footwork. Combat training, needs footwork. ChinNa, needs footwork. Are you getting the picture yet? Aims & Objectives, footwork. If you don't know where you are, where will you end up? Pressing Attacks,without it you won't get close enough to hit or far enough away to defend. Also, looking at your weaknessess. By using them, we can try to make them our strenghs. I know personally this is something that I need to work on. For me time is a big factor for my training, so I need to train smarter.

Kung Fu, form, chi and shen
As I mentioned above, for me this session made me more aware of the fact that I need to be more aware! Making sure that I use enough intent without forgeting compassion. To read my partner/opponent more and try not to allow them to read me. To feel, rather than ploughing diligently! Thank you SiSook a good lesson learnt.

Open Review
What a great oportunity to go over the things we had learnt or even the things we needed to address. I've learnt so much from this weekend that for months I think I will be remembering other things we were taught. Thank you Lil' Sis for the training, I hope we both gained some ground, I know I did. SiSook Jamie, thank you for the time you spent with me. It was hugely beneficial and a great honour.

To everybody else, thank you so much for all the organising and the sessions that we were given. And thank you to all the family who attended, and those who didn't, I look forward to next year.

Mike

[pete]

Hello!

I'd like to say a huge thank you to everyone who attended the course in Manchester. To all the instructors for their amazing lessons, and organisation of the event. And to all the fellow students who attended.

It was great to see everyone and be part of such a happy group of people.
It is only after I have taken what I learnt over the weekend and applied it to my practice that I can appreciate how amazing the event was, and how many important lessons were contained in the vast amount of excellent material we covered.

The thing I was most looking forward to was Sipak Marcus' presentation on aims and objectives. I was not dissapointed, it was extremely illuminating and I think the application of what I learnt has improved my practice dramatically. I have always had difficulty constructing my aims and objectives. The main thing I realised is the need to be practical, honest and definite when thinking about aims and objectives, along with the use of realistic time frames. (I can't help drawing the graph in the air whenever the subject arises )

Overall the course was extremely effective, and all of the presentations related to each other brilliantly. I gained a huge amount from each one.

Again a huge thank you. And thanks to everyone I trained with and talked to, it was a wonderful atmosphere.

my warmest regards,

pete

[Gideon]

Re: Manchester

It was a fabulous event, the All Nations. Meeting up with the 'family' is always an inspiring and confirming experience for me. My practice has developed too, deepened and refined by the various teachings of so many skilled instructors. Thank you to everyone, instructors and students alike, for working together to create such a positive atmosphere. I feel immensely proud to be associated with such honourable folk - fine ambassadors for the Art that has become such an important part of my life.

Until next time,

Gideon