How did you become a Shaolin Chi Kung instructor?
In my first year at University I was beaten up whilst out with friends one evening. The incredible violence of the situation left me paralyzed, like the proverbial "rabbit in the headlights". I just couldn't move and couldn't process what was happening. As my attacker gripped my shoulders, I recall saying "we don't want any trouble". His reply was "how about a f**king head butt then?" I could feel his hands gripping tightly on my shoulders as his head moved back to deliver the blow, I could hear my friends groaning in pain on the floor and still I just stood there. I remember thinking "this is really going to hurt".
Long story short, I vowed I would never, ever, ever again allow someone to threaten my life and well being without doing anything to prevent it. This was what prompted me to begin my serious study of the martial arts. What I found was truly disappointing. I went from being beaten up once in 19 years (school doesn't count) to being beaten up twice a week.
Errm, where is this going?
Good point, I do like to tell this story because I still count myself incredibly lucky to be here and I think it's useful to point out that a terrible experience can have a useful outcome.
So, fast forward a number of years and I'd all but given up on finding what I was looking for in the martial arts. To me, learning a martial art meant learning how not to get hit, but all I ever experienced was learning how to take being hit, which really wasn't what I wanted.
One evening whilst at work, I had a lucky break and discovered the Shaolin Wahnam Institute on the internet. Finally I'd found it. Reading Grandmaster Wong Kiew Kit's Q & A series I found what I had always known, but never been able to express. That genuine martial arts teach you how not to get hit and that there is a clear step by step approach (called "sparring methodology") to achieve this.
I thought you were meant to be telling us how you got into Shaolin Chi Kung?
I saw that Grandmaster Wong was teaching a course in Spain and I could only afford to do a couple of his Chi Kung courses. To be honest I didn't really know what Chi Kung was then, I wasn't really that bothered because I just wanted to meet and learn from Grandmaster Wong (popularly known as Sifu, meaning "father/teacher", by those who have learnt directly from him). What I learned had a profound effect on the quality of my life. I was so deeply affected by my time with Sifu that on my return to England I maintained a twice daily practice with no effort, because the practice of what I had learnt was so enjoyable. I'll never forget after a few months my wife commenting on how much nicer I was to be with since I'd started practicing Shaolin Cosmos Chi Kung. This confirmed to me that my life was finally on the right track.
After that I attended every single course I could with Sifu and in November 2003 I was given Sifu's blessing to teach Shaolin Cosmos Chi Kung.
What is it about Shaolin Cosmos Chi Kung that fascinates you so much?
Well, for a start, as a child I was a great fan of Monkey, The Water Margin, and David Carradine in the incredible "Kung Fu" series. As I grew older and especially after my experience at University, I desperately wanted to find and learn the incredible skills and feats that I had seen as a child on T.V. Though perhaps more importantly to me I wanted to be able to move peacefully and confidently through a world I found increasingly garish, noisy and lacking in substance. I found that and so much more through the Shaolin Arts and being able to teach them to others is a source of incredible joy to me.
What contributions have you made to the teaching of Shaolin Cosmos Chi Kung?
Whilst researching material for my book (Shaolin Chi Kung) I was trying to find a way to make it easy for beginners to remember the sequence of steps they follow in their at home practice. I've always been a fan of mnemonics as an aid to learning and wanted to find one that would work with Shaolin Chi Kung. Meditating on this I discovered the P.E.R.F.E.C.T. approach to practicing Shaolin Chi Kung, though you'll have to buy my book or take a course with me to discover what it stands for!
What are some of the big things you've achieved for yourself or for you students using Shaolin Cosmos Chi Kung?
The quality of my life has changed beyond my expectations. I can attribute the physical, emotional, mental and spiritually improvements in my life directly to my practice of Shaolin Chi Kung. I have found that we can take back the responsibility for our own health and well being.
The biggest reward for me in teaching the skills of Shaolin Cosmos Chi Kung, currently in London and Devon, is seeing people regain their quality of life by overcoming pain and illness. Sharing in their joy is a priceless feeling that's hard to beat. The atmosphere in class is contagious and I'm rarely happier than when teaching.
I've read somewhere that you are the Chief instructor for the Shaolin Wahnam Institute - UK (SWI - UK), what does this mean?
This is an honourary role credited to me because I am Sifu's most senior student in the UK. My mandate is to inspire and lead by example the 10 certified instructors that currently make up SWI - UK.
What would you say to someone who wanted to learn Shaolin Cosmos Chi Kung from you?
Operators are standing by, waiting for your call =)
Where next?
The Shaolin Wahnam Institute