At the Shaolin Institute, we embody the principle of 禅武合一 (Chan Wu He Yi) – the unity of Zen (meditation) and martial arts. Beyond our core practices of ZenTai Gong, 999 Medibreath Cosmic Ecosystem, and Zen Tai Kong, we offer a comprehensive system of internal and external Kung Fu disciplines. Each art is a path to profound health, self-awareness, and practical mastery.
The central theme to unify all the descriptions:
禅武合一 (Chan Wu He Yi – The Unity of Zen and Kung Fu Flow of Action in life and in Martial Arts) as the foremost principle and frames all other practices within it.
The Guiding Principle: 禅武合一 (Chan Wu He Yi)
The Unity of Zen Consciousness and Kung Fu in flow of action in life and Martial Arts is our first priority and the foundation of all our teachings. This ancient Shaolin principle is not just a concept but the living, breathing heart of our institute. It signifies that the cultivation of a peaceful, focused mind (Zen) and the development of a powerful, capable body (Martial Arts) are inseparable journeys. One without the other is incomplete.
True mastery begins within. Every technique, form, and breath is a moving meditation, an opportunity to integrate mind, body, and spirit. This path of harmony is what transforms physical training into a profound practice for personal transformation and conscious living.
Our Integrated Curriculum: A Path to Wholeness
All of our disciplines are taught through the lens of Chan Wu He Yi, designed to develop the essential internal triad of 精、气、神 (Jing, Qi, Shen)—your vital essence, energy, and spirit.
The Internal Arts: Cultivating Qi and Consciousness
· Qi Gong (气功): The foundation of energy work. Through deep meditation, postures, and movement, we learn to direct Qi (vital force) to achieve balance, vitality, and self-healing. It is the practice of achieving quantum coherence within the body and mind.
· Tai Chi (太极拳): Meditation in motion. This art emphasizes flowing, conscious movement and deep breathing to cultivate inner observation, balance, and seamless mind-body integration, promoting health and internal harmony.
· Xingyi Quan (形意拳): The art of mind-intent. This powerful internal system focuses on aligning explosive physical movements with precise mental intention, integrating mind, body, and spirit through linear, direct strikes powered by internal energy (Fajin).
· Baguazhang (八卦掌): The art of circular harmony. Based on the eight trigrams of the Yijing, its practice of circle walking teaches evasive footwork, fluidity, and generating power from the center (Dantian) through spiraling movements, harmonizing with an opponent’s force.
The External Arts: Forging the Vessel
· Traditional Shaolin Kung Fu: Our core curriculum builds from basic open-hand forms and self-defense to complex sequences and a vast array of traditional weapons (staff, sword, spear, etc.), all while incorporating strength from Southern styles.
· Sanda / Sanshou (散打 / 散手): China’s modern full-contact combat system. This practical application of Kung Fu techniques combines kicking, punching, and wrestling (Shuai Jiao), representing the effective, combat-ready expression of our training.
· Chinese Wrestling (Shuai Jiao) & Qin Na (擒拿): The arts of throwing and seizing. Shuai Jiao is one of China’s oldest martial traditions, focusing on throws and takedowns. Qin Na complements it with joint locks and controls, together forming a complete grappling system.
The Foundation: Breath and Body
· 999 Medibreath Cosmic Ecosystem: The essential breath work that anchors all our practice, harmonizing your internal energy with the cosmic flow.
· Iron Body Conditioning & Flexibility: Traditional methods to forge a resilient, strong, and supple physical vessel capable of expressing internal power.
Our Environment: A Supportive Community
We are dedicated to providing a serious, positive, and welcoming atmosphere where Chan Wu He Yi can flourish.
· Age-Specific Classes: Adult and children’s classes are separate to ensure a focused and appropriate training environment.
· Expert Instruction: Our instructors are chosen by Shifu DeRu for their supreme skill and their ability to teach and embody the principle of unity.
· A Culture of Mutual Growth: We take pride in our supportive community where students of all levels help each other learn and progress together on this shared path.
At the Shaolin Institute, we do not just teach techniques; we guide you on a journey of unifying your body, energy, and mind into a powerful, conscious, and harmonious whole.
The Shaolin Institute: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Life
Welcome to a Kung Fu experience where 1,500-year-old Shaolin traditions meet dynamic, engaging modern training. Our classes are designed to be both profoundly rewarding and enjoyable, guiding students on a journey to master the physical art of Kung Fu while cultivating the essential internal triad of Jing, Qi, and Shen (essence, energy, and spirit).
A Holistic Path to Strength & Wellness
Our integrated approach to training is designed to develop every aspect of the self:
· Internal Cultivation: Begin with the foundational 999 Medibreath Cosmic Ecosystem to harmonize your breath and energy.
· Focused Mind: Practice deep meditation to achieve clarity, focus, and inner peace.
· Forged Body: Participate in traditional Iron Body conditioning, flexibility training, and cardiovascular workouts to build a strong, resilient physique.
· Practical Skill: Learn effective self-defense techniques that increase your speed, coordination, and confidence.
This is more than a workout—it’s a pathway to total fitness, heightened focus, and a powerful sense of well-being within a supportive community.
Our Training Environment
We are dedicated to providing a serious yet positive and welcoming atmosphere for all students.
· Age-Specific Classes: Adult classes are kept entirely separate from children’s classes to ensure an focused and appropriate training environment.
· Expert Instruction: Our instructors are carefully selected by Shifu DeRu not only for their exceptional skill but for their proven ability to teach, guide, and inspire.
· Supportive Community: We take great pride in our school’s culture of mutual respect and encouragement, where everyone helps each other learn and progress together.
A Progressive & Comprehensive Curriculum
Your journey at the Shaolin Institute follows a clear and rewarding path of progression:
· Foundation: Start with open-hand forms and fundamental self-defense techniques, building a solid base of movement and principle.
· Advancement: Gradually learn more complex forms and applications, each building logically upon the last to deepen your understanding and skill.
· Mastery: Advanced students progress to a vast array of traditional weapons, including the staff, broadsword, straight sword, and spear, and learn weapon fighting sets.
As the Shaolin Temple was a veritable “university” of martial arts, our curriculum also incorporates techniques from Southern Kung Fu styles and more, offering a nearly limitless path for growth and proficiency.
Join us at the Shaolin Institute and begin your transformation today.
Qi Gong (气功)
Qi Gong is the art of cultivating and directing Qi (vital life force energy) through deep meditation, specific postures, and mindful movement. It represents the integration of body and mind into a state of holographic oneness.
This practice can be understood as achieving a quantum coherence of energy frequency vibration within oneself. Through rhythmic breathing and meditative motion, practitioners learn to channel Qi throughout the entire body system. The ultimate aims are to unlock vitality, balance energy flow, and activate the body’s powerful innate capacity for self-healing and lasting wellbeing.
Xingyi Quan (形意拳) – Mind-Form Fist
As the name implies, Xingyi Quan is the art of “mind intent” shaping external power. It focuses on aligning explosive physical movements with precise mental intention, fully integrating mind, body, and spirit.
Characterized by linear, direct movements, Xingyi employs powerful bursts of strikes with fists and palms, direct kicks, and vital close-range attacks. Its core is the explosive release of power, or Fajin, from all angles, often using defense as offense. The system breathes with an internal flow that energizes not just the muscles but the very organs, readying the entire body for action.
The primary training forms are based on the Five Elements (Wu Xing) and the 12 Animals (Shi Er Xing), advanced through the framework of Six Harmonies (Liu He XingYi).
Baguazhang (八卦掌) – Eight Trigram Palm
Baguazhang is a sophisticated internal martial art rooted in the eight trigrams of the Yijing (I Ching), representing the complementary forces of nature. Its signature training method is the practice of circle walking, where practitioners move fluidly around a circle, facing the center, changing direction, and executing forms. This develops exceptional evasive footwork, balance, and whole-body power.
Power is generated from the Dantian (energy center) and expressed through spiraling, coiling movements. The art includes a vast array of techniques: strikes with the palm, fist, and elbow; kicks; joint locks; and throws. It is a fluid, dynamic system of harmonizing and overcoming force with circularity and conscious movement.
Baguazhang also features a wide range of unique weapons, including the Bagua DaDao, Bagua Jian, Pen Brush, and Deer Horn Knives.
Tai Chi (太极拳)
Tai Chi is a graceful series of meditative movements renowned for promoting health, wellness, and internal harmony. While rooted in combat principles, it is practiced in the modern era as “meditation in motion.”
It emphasizes slow, conscious, flowing movements synchronized with deep breathing. This practice cultivates inner observation, balance, and the seamless integration of mind and body. It is a powerful tool for stress reduction, self-healing, and achieving a state of tranquil awareness.
At our Institute, we focus primarily on the Yang and Chen styles, complemented by DeRu Tai Chi and Tai Gong Chan.
Chinese Wrestling (Shuai Jiao) & Qin Na (擒拿)
Qin Na is the art of seizing and controlling an opponent through precise manipulation of joints, tendons, and muscles. With over 700 techniques, it is designed to disable an opponent’s ability to fight using both standing and ground-based locks and grappling, some of which incorporate vital point pressure (Dim Mak).
Chinese Wrestling (Shuai Jiao/Combat Wrestling) is one of China’s oldest martial traditions, with a history stretching back over 6,000 years to the legendary Jiaodi contests. It is a complete grappling system featuring throws, takedowns, and sweeps. We study a synthesis of the main regional styles, including BaoDing, HeBei, Beijing, Tianjin, Shanxi, and Mongolian.
These two arts are often practiced in concert, creating a formidable combination of striking, throwing, and submission.
Sanda / Sanshou (散打 / 散手)
Sanda (also known as Sanshou) is China’s modern full-contact combat sport and fighting system. Evolving from traditional Lei Tai platform fights, it is a distilled application of practical Kung Fu techniques for modern combat.
It incorporates a highly effective blend of kicking, punching, wrestling (Shuai Jiao), and Qin Na techniques. Our founder, DeRu Shawn Liu, is a recognized pioneer in bringing Sanda/Sanshou to the United States, having coached the U.S. national team for a decade. This program represents the pinnacle of our applied, combat-ready training.
