7Grert Moser Su Xi and Grest Maser De Chr tach De Yong y Shifu, The Great Grand Master Su Xi entered the Shaolin Templein the early ios. He was from a very poor family, who fived'ip southwest Chen Quan Zhes of Dengfeng court? Su Xi's child name was Gens Jing Zu, Dov eo the poverty ofthe family and tis farter‘s early deach, he left home for the cemple so that he could survive, Laver the most renewed SHaolin Temple abbot and martial arts master ofthe soth cuncury, great master Zheng Chu cock himinas his indoor disciple. Su Xi often told me how hard he practiced Shaolin Gongfu with great master Zheng Chu, He got up every momfing before daybreak and practiced until night. Sometimes his Shifu would ask him co get upright at imidight for special practice and instructions. During the practice breaks he worked a his duties in the temple and performed services for his Shifu Su Xi and che great master Su Qiang became the top natal ars monks in ce templar Later cared greater burdens for hie Shife gnd the temple inorder eo asst Zheng Chu in eaching athe cemle and performing al the temple’ necessary duties afer oder brocher,grest, rasger Su Qiang and other brcher monks joined the suerll amy tofighe the Japanese invasicn. My Shifu Su XG abumys told me about bis Shifu's ceachinay here are some of his precepts * High thartal acs ehics cultivate « good teache: Hardand persevering work make top martial artists * In praceice of martial ares one must first take beating * Welcome your epponent’s insult with a smiling face Reacher recive the basting, never nici any fighe Never de bad deeds with che Gangfu skill co break your seacher’s heare Teachings of Su Xi Ea G lett arctandona Fl asl Shack oar ayes oral el eave Niall Uoeaten ata nel fenton wa brpeedeni oe fas bepeaisteal el mmc trth great and devation so Shaolin Gone” at rope pricier ee Corse Neier nbd dete tard wert Wiens So wile be ableacaure any real Gongf Py Sifu would een tll me the stores of his Shy, great maser Zheng Chas bow the Be el Th stee Kao rea aa evar Soc mansion play shocking teenie cemple. Onc the seat FiRier BAe aed jp bell ove ing caylee cl: a KUNGFU: Decjani999 BRESGESTOATY MTT EY aKCEGES TedW Pras FaMsSu Xi was very strict wich me when | practiced. I must finish the workhe assigned before | would be able co eat, One move after another he would check up on to sce if chey were right. ‘The back leg must be straighe and in line in the bow stance; your horse stance is too low, your lage wished tobe lazy. This hick does not have enough Jin (power). The slightest mistake would noe escape his eyes. He always gave instructions hand by hand to make sure you da them rishe. When he wae young and practiced with his Shifuhe was never lazy. He always tried to find eome extra time to practice, He always wished co be like his Shifu After many years of dedies. ‘ion and hard work, he became the top martial are monk of the ‘Temple. He mastered not only che Shaolin fighting system, but many ancient Shaolin Quan such a8 Shaolin Xiao Hons Quan, Luo Han Quany Tong Bei Quan, Shoa Yang Quan, Liu He ‘Quan, Single Broadsword, , Shaolin Shuang Dao Guan Tang (double broadsword), (Qi Mei Gun, Giant Sword, ete Jewas che sosos when he became the Shaolin Temple cop martial arts master monk, Ac that time he became the fist residing ‘Shaolin monk and che Abbor of che Shaolin Temple after great ‘master De Chan wene to the west, Since the 19508 up to today he has produced many outstanding. martial artists, such as De Qian, De Yang, and De Ru, De Yang has become the most celebrated traditional Shaolin Quan master i practice at the Shaolin Temple today. De Qian has wrieeen ‘many volumes of tradicional Shaolin Gongfu systems, including healch and wellness systems, medical systems, and extemal and internal Shaolin craining systems, Shaolin Heart The great grand master Su Xi is not only great with Shaolin martial arts bucalso with high martial arcs ethics, morals and kindness. A few years ago he donated mest of his money to help the project building Zheng Zhou Huan Si Bridge. He personally sent food and drinks for the workers. He always gave money to the monks traveling through when they were in need. He gave money food and clething to martial ars fans co send them home when they craveled far to see him, wishing to study with him. Su Xi pac up his savings for che restoration of the mansions of the semple, '5u Xi is always ready to help whenever there is a need. Iremem- bered « monk craveled chrough the temple asking for fares. He ‘immediately save more chan half of che money Uhad just given, him for his healch. | cold him you don’c have o sive him that much money. | gave it to you for your much needed nusricion, Su Xi caid the eraveling monk needed it more than he dd. 5u Xi has devoced all his life to Chan and Shaolin Gongfu, He has experienced good times and viissudes of the Shaolin “Temple for che last few desades, From 1930s up to roday he has| experianced the waslord’s fights araund che Temple che Japanese RE imation of China and he temple, China's civil way liberation of the country the moverent of clearing ounce revolutionaries, che COLES oN rnovementof che land reforms, the mavement againee rightist, the ten years Cultural Revolution and the recent opening of the oe Daur) counery. “Life is geccng better for the neople.” he sometimes says. Shaolin Temple’s arts will prevail under the new policy. It’s good. There is sil living history anda remaining link co the past; Grand Master Su Xiis the only one left from the old Temple. KUNGFU Decjan 59 The great master Bada came to China in Luo Yang around 464 AD to teach Buddhism. Many ‘years’ teaching in various locations in China made hhim co the leading monk known co many, including the emperor of the rgch Bsiwei Dynasty. The emperor bezame 3 good friend. Upon Bada’e request, the emperor found him a quiet place to build. a temple near by Luo Yang, the capical of Beiwei at che time. Thae was in the middle of Shao shi Shan at che foot of Five Breasts mountain in the Song Shan mouncain range. The temple was named after the mountain and the forest: Shaolin Temple mesning Youngs Forest. For many years, Bada devoted himself eo teaching. There was no ‘organized martial arte in the temple, but ehere were ‘two monks known eo us who knew Gonsfu. One was Hui Guang and the other was Seng Chou Hui Guang became a monk by accident. One time Bada wene to do.a service in Luoyang for the Emperor. He sawa young boy at Tian streer in Luoyang kicking his shueelecock around the well for over soo eimes without stopping. The boy was 12-year old Hui Guang, He was perform: ing to makea living. Bada went over coh and asked him co five in the temple. Seng Chou went co the temple for other reasons, Hewas a very accom: plished Gongfu master. Monks in che temple were often im awe when they saw him walking along the walls and Continued on page 47 »Continued Form page 29 : The Great Master Suxi De Gon jumping onto roofs with no crouble at all. He possessed great powerin his arms and legs. Hecut logs without using tools. He fixed his front deor steps:by cutting rocks with bare hands. Once time he went to the woods on the mountain and saw two tigers ina fierce fight. He went over and using his bare hands pressed the tigers down and broke che fight ‘Damo (Bodhidharma} came to the temple via Guang Zhou (Canton) in the south around s27AD during the chird year of emperor Xiao Chang. He was che prince and afth-Dharma successor in the alivect fine of paciarchs descending from the original founder of Buddhism, Shakyamuni Buddha. He first went co Naniing, che old capital of Emperor Liang W's southem dynasty. He mec Liang Wa to discuss the Buddhist philoso- phy. The emperor believed one could achieve enlightenment and became a Buddha by his good deeds. However, Damo agreed, saying that one could only achieve enlisheenment by experience and self forgetting. Then Damo lefe Liang and walked toXia Guan, west of Nanjing, across the Chang liang river e9 Pukou, and taveled on co che Shaolin Temple. He stayed and meditated facing the cave wall a¢ the Shaolin Temple Chao Dong [eave] for nine yeave He later went to Lonst Mein gate and passed to the west. He was buried in Xong Er ‘Shan mouncain. For years, people argue about who created Gonsfu. Shaclin Temple may nat be the first tostart the Gonsfu. lll gongfu skills and various fighting skills were accumulated in ancient wars. But since Damo’s time, Shaolin Temple began to collect all che fighting skills and breathing skills of che ancient times and put them together inta a complete institutionally practiced system of Gonafu. Shaolin was responsible for putting all various martial ats into a complete system of high level practice including a system of healing, a syscem of incernal Qi practice, and a system of combat FEY Master Do Ru, Shawn Lis (Kiangyang), the ls generation dacple of the ‘Solin Temple,and direct disciple of the Snaclin Temple Abbot, Great “Master Upper Su Lower Xi Liu was undefeated asa fighter in China and known as the iron leg He is the head coach of the US.A, National SanshouTeam. KUNGFU--Dec}an 1999