Shaolin-Do

Shaolin-Do is a group of schools teaching a style of Chinese martial arts that they assert traces its lineage directly back to the Shaolin Temple, and calls itself the "most comprehensive martial arts system in the world". Founded by Sin Kwang Thé, there are now currently over 120 schools in over 29 states and four nations other than the U.S.

Lineage

Shaolin-Do's founder, Sin Kwang The, was a student of Ie Chang Ming, who he purports was a direct student of Su Kong T'ai Djin (1849 - 1928). In 1968 he was said to have been awarded the title of "grandmaster" at the age of 25. He had the intent to attend college in Berlin, Germany but because of the political situation of the time period, he was forced to choose another school. He considered UCLA but a professor from the University of Kentucky convinced him that he could get just as good an education for a fraction of the cost at UK.

When Ie Chang Ming died, Sin Kwang The discontinued his study. He had been working on a Master's degree in Nuclear Engineering at the University of Kentucky, but realized he was the only one left to continue the Shao-Lin lineage.

Sin also has a brother Hiang' who is an 8th degree Master. However they had a falling out, which resulted in Hiang leaving the system. Hiang Kwang The' now heads the Chung Yen (Central) style of shaolin.

Shaolin Do

Sin Kwang The established his first school in Kentucky. The style teaches numerous styles of Kung Fu. A student is required to know over 20 different forms before testing to black belt. The forms will include Tiger, Crane, Southern/Northern Fist, Bird, numerous weapons, and internal chi kung.

The Use of the Gi

Unusually for a Chinese martial art, Shaolin-Do schools utilize a Japanese style of belt rankings and uniform, or gi. Practitioners of the art explain this trait by asserting that when Ie Chang Ming was in Indonesia, the Indonesian government forbade the teaching of Chinese, but not Japanese, Martial Arts. In order to protect the art, Ie Chang Ming adopted the dress and terminology of Japanese martial arts. This included the uniform, the belt system, and the addition of "do" to the end of the name.

Future of the art

It is not public knowledge who would succeed Sin Kwang The as the head of the Shao-Lin Do art in the future. Sin Kwang The has promoted six students to the rank of Elder 8th Degree Master.

Further reading

Halladay, James and Sin Kwang Thé. Shaolin-Do: Secrets from the Temple. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company. ISBN 0787212423.

Controversy

Sin Kwang The's martial arts have received harsh criticism in the martial arts community for what other schools consider impractical teaching methods and a possibly fallacious lineage. It is a target of bullshido.net, a website dedicated to fighting fraud in the martial arts.