Our Violent Nature

A scorpion wanted to cross the River.  Unable to swim, he asked a frog to carry him over to the opposite bank.

“No way!” said the frog. “You’ll sting me and I’ll drown!”

“Of course I won’t sting you,” said the scorpion.  “If I sting you we will both drown, and that wouldn't make sense.” 

So the reluctant frog let the scorpion climb onto his back and started to swim across the river.  Half-way across, the scorpion stung him. 

“Whoa!” cried the frog.  “You said you wouldn't sting me!  Now we’ll both drown.  Why would you do that?”

And the scorpion replied: “it’s my nature.”

We, as a society, are beginning to live in a constant state of denial. We have forgotten our true nature. We attempt to suppress it daily, yet it finds its way out. We are violent. It is a fact. We all have violent tendencies. We try to fool ourselves into believing that we are incapable of violence.

Take this scenario for example: As a parent you come across a bully sitting on top of your child, punching away.

Do you:

1. Talk to the bully and explain what is wrong with his/her actions?
2. Do you wait to address it with the bully’s parents?
3. Or do you immediately and violently rip this bully off of your child?

I would go with the last response, and I believe most parents would do the same. Does this make me a bad person? I don’t think so. I acknowledge my violent nature, and through my martial arts training have learned to cultivate and control it.

By constantly trying to suppress our competitive, and sometimes violent nature, we are creating extremes. We have people who are passive and unable to deal with any conflict. By comparison, we have violent offenders. For our passive citizens the most minor action against them can be traumatic and shut them down; or worse, cause them to break down.

This can be seen as a random act of violence perpetrated by an otherwise good person. We are creating children who do not know rejection. We are afraid to tell them “No”. They grow up with this sense of entitlement and are unable to rationalize when they don’t get what they want. The schools don't make them repeat the grade if they fail. Recently in Edmonton, a teacher was fired for giving his students an F. Some youth sports already do not keep scores, so there are only winners and never losers. Parents are powerless to discipline their children due to societal norms. 

Our children grow up not knowing consequences. Kindergartens are taught about assault and what it means in terms of the law. We keep them so sheltered from any type of conflict that they grow up without the necessary rationalization skills to comprehend or think through a problem. Instead they act like toddlers throwing a temper tantrum and lash out at the very environment that created them.

There are people in neighborhoods throughout the world who face violence and death daily. By contrast, there are people in gated communities who try to put as much separation between themselves and those neighborhoods. We prefer to watch violence on the news and give thanks that it’s not happening here.

Well, it does. And it will continue to happen here. I am not religious, but I will occasionally use quotes I am familiar with. “Love thy neighbor”. I agree with this as it preaches treating others with love. However, it says nothing about trusting your neighbor. Without trust, there can be no betrayal of trust. You can love your neighbors all you want…there is nothing wrong with not trusting, and being cautious.

We get our fill of violence on television through our sports and cable programming. “It’s entertainment” we tell ourselves. Yet a good portion of these viewers will not admit that they are capable of the same violence that they are watching.

“To your own self, be true.” Accept and acknowledge who you are and the evil things you are capable of. This is the first step to being a good person. If you don’t believe you are capable of evil things, then you are in denial. Many “good” people who believed that they were doing what is “right” have been behind some of the most despicable atrocities throughout time. Hitler believed what he was doing was the “right” thing to do, and I’m sure he thought himself to be a “good” person no matter how deluded we think he was. The Catholic Church was responsible for a convert or die campaign during the crusades.

We cannot ignore these facts. They give us the ability to reflect, acknowledge and learn. Every culture has endured its level of violence. We have had wars over beliefs and opinion. Does it make it right? Nope, but it’s a fact.

Each and every one of us has had a moment where we have had a violent or aggressive thought and subsequently dismissed it. The fact that you can consider the action with thought is an indication that you are fully capable of executing that action. This doesn't make you a bad person. It just makes you a person.

We need to accept our violent nature. You cannot suppress your aggression to the point of inability to recognize it within you. Once you accept that you are capable of violence, then you have taken your first step towards controlling, not suppressing, your violent nature. It is part of our primal drive, and it is who we are.

I'm sick and tired of people blaming video games for our current epidemic with children. Be it obesity or violence. It's called parenting people. Be involved with your children. Invade their room and spend time with them. Engage them in activities and teach them the difference between right and wrong.

I know it's hard when two incomes are now required just to live and survive. I know you are tired from your day at work. I know your kids hate you and don't want you around. Make the choice today to intervene in your children's lives, and sacrifice some of the overtime and income if necessary to be the kind of parent you want your kids to grow up and be like.

I have made many sacrifices for my children and postponed dreams just to be sure that I would be an influential part of their lives. I can always make more money. My peace of mind comes from knowing I did my best to provide the guidance and support for them. Remember they learn from example, and if your actions don't match your words then you can't blame them for copying your mistakes rather than listening to your advice.

Siu Lum Canada is Winnipeg's Shaolin school. We teach the Siu Lum style of kung fu. Our training revolves around real life situations and real life solutions. There is no question that we will not answer.

Watch our video and get a glimpse of what we do at SiuLumCanada.

Follow us on Twitter at @SiuLumCanada

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Email us at siulumkungfu@gmail.com

An Ounce of Prevention

There is a saying that an ounce of prevention beats a pound of cure. Although this statement is normally references disease and illness, it is a simple statement that can translate into many aspects of life if you just use your imagination.

Violent crime is on the increase, and we are well aware of this. We watch the news and see a guy assaulting a woman for her cell phone of all things. This particular assault was an unprovoked, blitz attack. In hindsight we see what could have been done differently. But what are we doing to keep ourselves and our children safe now?

These types of attacks on women have been in the news recently. It's time for you to reflect on your daily activities and question yourself; could this happen to me? Could I be a victim of this type of crime? Are there any instances where I inadvertently expose myself to this type of situation? Most importantly, do I know what to do if I get attacked?

Each of us will probably answer yes to at least one of these questions. The big question to ask yourself is; what can I do to limit the exposure of myself, and my loved ones to this type of victimization?

• Be aware of your surroundings
• Be aware of suspicious looking people. If it walks like a duck...(better safe than sorry)
• Text and then put your phone away rather than walking and texting, or engaging in a conversation with your phone out in the open around suspicious people
• Give them whatever valuables they want
• Nothing is worth your safety and life
• Teach your children about the real dangers of the world
• Enroll yourself and/or your children in self defense (this action shows acceptance of the dangers and a willingness to learn how to avoid or deal with the dangers)

We live in a society where violence is becoming more commonplace, yet many of us still have an attitude that it will never happen to us. Unfortunately, we never think about it until it's too late.

An ounce of prevention is the equivalent to buying insurance IN CASE your house burns down. Failure to prepare is in fact preparation to FAIL!

Siu Lum Canada is Winnipeg's Shaolin school. We teach the Siu Lum style of kung fu. Our training revolves around real life situations and real life solutions. There is no question that we will not answer.

Watch our video and get a glimpse of what we do at SiuLumCanada.

Follow us on Twitter at @SiuLumCanada

Find us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Siu-Lum-Canada/371969609504305

Email us at siulumkungfu@gmail.com

Bully Proof??

I am writing this in response to a recent article I read in the Winnipeg Free Press. It seems that there is no end to martial arts schools “selling” themselves as a one-stop shop for the ultimate self defense or promoting themselves as the best (when compared to all of the other martial arts systems out there).

I caution parents and teens. This is a buyer beware market. Much like the unregulated nutritional supplement industry, there is no authoritative body monitoring claims these martial arts systems make. One must utilize common sense, and try to see through the hype.

There are a number of martial arts systems that are popular due solely to their “popularity”. Television, the Olympics and mixed martial arts competitions have driven up the perceived effectiveness of certain martial arts. A consumer must realize that these venues all have one thing in common...Rules.

Now I will go on record in saying that some martial arts training is, in fact, better than no martial arts training at all. The article presents a scenario of an attempted child abduction and then alludes to bully proofing your child. Not that the two wouldn't be interrelated, however a 5 year old using leverage to “escape” the grip of an adult male can be a little far-fetched.

As far as abduction proofing your child, the emphasis should be on prevention. If you are going to teach your child to do anything, it should be to attack a vital area: for example the eyes, throat, or a good solid kick to the shin. Then escape. Don’t forget scream, scream and scream some more.

Now let’s deal with the Bully Proofing portion of the article...

The article makes statements like “but the bulk of the program is learning to restrain a bully who is usually within a few years of the child's age.” This is wishful thinking. Regardless of how much age and maturity the child victim is giving up to his or her bully, there is also the factor of weight. This can put the victim at a disadvantage in trying to utilize techniques like tackling your opponent to the ground and having enough weight to keep the bully there. Once on the ground, the technique is to cling to your attacker until they get tired...or bored, I guess. Without any real consequences, all this will do is prepare your bully for your take-down attempts in future altercations.

I agree with some parts of the article. Tell your attacker that you are tired of being bullied. I would add to this that you inform your attacker that you intend to get adults involved: a teacher, for example. The next step is to tell an adult; nothing to change here. The final step, which I totally disagree with, is to tackle your attacker to the ground. This can lead to a myriad of negative consequences, such as you are now the attacker to any teacher or adult who sees the altercation from this point forward. It also creates an aggressive atmosphere for retribution. Your bully will want revenge.

There are more, but the main point missed here is that in today’s bully scenarios there are fewer and fewer instances where a bully does not have a group of friends around as back up. If you tackle your bully to the ground, you are now open to kicks and punches from attackers you were unaware of. There have been children beaten to death from multiple attackers, and this is not an acceptable technique given those potential consequences.

Remember a bully needs an audience, and a lot of times they are his friends or fellow bullies. So do not anticipate that your altercation will be one on one, even if everyone who is there says so. It’s a trap.

Now, I believe that the first step is for the parents to talk with the child and develop a plan. Address the issue with the involvement of the principal, wherein the bully is told that any harm done to your child will be seen as directly related to him. This prevents him from “assigning” one of his friends to “take care” of the victim.

If you believe that self defense training is required, then I believe the best forms for these types of situations are the ones that allow you to defend yourself from a standing position, deal with multiple attackers, use small joint manipulation and leverage, combined with your opponent(s) aggression.

Most martial arts have aspects of these elements within their systems without requiring you to hug your opponent or take them to the ground where you are open to other attackers. Most Kung Fu styles are proficient in joint locks and multiple attacker scenarios. Aikido and Hapkido utilize joint locks, leverage and momentum to their advantage.

In short, don’t buy into what you see on TV. Do your research, and find something that you can approve of. Make sure the techniques will not result in your child or yourself being charged with assault.

Remember if I punch you, and you kick me, you will be charged with aggravated assault. It’s not worth going to court when you are just defending yourself. There are other more effective techniques that allow you to control your attacker(s) with less likely legal consequences.

Some things to think about:

http://www.timesonline.com/news/local_news/ellwood-city-second-grader-attacked-bullied-on-bus/article_84fb97d9-a303-5c4f-8d43-a7641f08bbc2.html

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/teen-allegedly-bullied-television-interview-bullying-140353690.html

http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/20/justice/new-york-bullying-attack-blind/index.html

Siu Lum Canada is Winnipeg's Shaolin school. We teach the Siu Lum style of kung fu. Our training revolves around real life situations and real life solutions. There is no question that we will not answer.

Watch our video and get a glimpse of what we do at SiuLumCanada.

Follow us on Twitter at @SiuLumCanada

Find us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Siu-Lum-Canada/371969609504305

Email us at siulumkungfu@gmail.com

Bullying: The New Face of Intolerance

Bullying has been at the forefront of the news world for many years, however we still refuse to call it what it truly is. Bullying is intolerance and can be placed in the same category as discrimination, racism, prejudice, and any other hate driven act. All of the attitudes in this category are acts of bullying, and can be traced back to behavior taught or tolerated while the perpetrators were children.

A child (or group of children) picking on or victimizing another child (or group) is labeled as bullying, and the discussion seems to end there. We ignore the possibility that there may be underlying facts. Bullies tend to pick on the child that is different, away from the pack so to speak.

We teach our children at a young age that racism and discrimination are wrong with the hope that they carry those lessons through life. A bully who victimizes a child who is different has not learned that lesson. Picking on a child because their skin, accent, race, mannerisms, or culture is a different form of racism and discrimination. This intolerance cannot be tolerated any further.

Let’s stop putting the band aid on the situation by calling the perpetrator a bully and call them what they truly are: a Bigot. If the parents of a bully were brought into the school office and told their son or daughter is a “racist, discriminatory, and intolerant bigot”, I guarantee the situation would be looked at as more that just kids being kids.

We need to stop dismissing the reality of the situation and deal with it like adults. Bigotry would not be tolerated in an adult setting. Why is it tolerated in a school setting? We need to stop talking about a zero tolerance policy on bullying and start implementing an education policy on how bullying is intolerance.

This would constitute one step in the right direction. The next step is to empower children by providing access to anti-bullying self defense programs geared towards building self confidence, unity, and identity.

I believe that you can categorize types of bully behavior.

The lion- This bully is like a predator. Their hunting ground is the school, schoolyard, or neighborhood. He/she surveys this area looking to test their victim. Initially acting alone this bully may recruit others to increase their influence. The method of bullying tends to be physical. They utilize size and strength to make up for a lack of confidence.

The hyena- This bully is a scavenger, living off the scraps of the lion. He/she will be an instigator in an attempt to gain favor and avoid the wrath of the lion. This bully is a coward who tends to bully in a pack. Their lack of size and strength is compensated with emotional and psychological abuse towards the victim. Pleasure is derived from the suffering of others and mocking the victim: laughing at the victim is typical of this bully. If isolated and confronted, they will more likely run or try to negotiate their safety.

The peacock- Characteristics consist of being attractive and popular and tend to ostracize as their form of bullying. They maintain a strong core of “friends” based on fear. Fear of being cast out of the group keeps the core group intact. The tactics used by this bully will include secrecy, spreading lies and rumors, and having underlings perform pranks on victims. The ability to manipulate is the main strength of this bully. Often pretending to befriend the victim and then mocking them behind their back. This bully will increase his/her strength by recruiting victims who know the best way to avoid the abuse is to join the abusers. This is comparable to Stockholm syndrome where the oppressed become the oppressor.

Now I could go on and on about each of these main bullies and identify more; however, my point is that each of these bullies can only operate if not acted upon by a force of authority. The zero tolerance policy must actually be put into action. Parents must be notified. The “don’t be a snitch, or rat” attitude must be dealt with.

The practice of confronting your accuser must be cast aside…. It doesn’t work. This is a face to face meeting between bully and victim with the principal or teacher present. There are more than a few things that can go wrong with this.

• The bully now knows which victim turned him/her in.
• The bully may retaliate and escalate the abuse.
• The bully will find the individual off school grounds, or during school break.
• The bully will recruit an underling and put a “hit” out on the accuser.
• The bully will move on to the next victim spreading the abuse.

Another common practice formerly stressed by parents is to recommend that their child stand up to the bully or even fight the bully. This can backfire in more ways than one.

• Your child gets beat up, and the violence increases.
• The bully and his underlings gang up on the child causing severe trauma.
• The child is expelled for fighting.
• The child learns that violence is the best method to resolve conflict.
• The child becomes a bully.

So what do we need to do???

• Make anti-bullying training available to students.
• Educate the children on intolerance and bullying.
• Supervision at all ages

I recommend that the zero tolerance policy be altered as such:

• NO face to face, confront your bully meeting.
• The victim shall not be identified to the bully.
• The victim should be able to register a complaint.
• The victim shall be interviewed for details of the occurrence.
• Utilizing the details an investigation and monitoring of the situation will commence.
• Investigator identifies act of bullying based on registered complaint and interview.
• Immediate action taken against bully by the investigator.
• Meeting with parents

This process allows the victim to remain anonymous to the bully as the person who turned them in. 

The bully will believe that they were caught in the act by the investigator/supervisor. This limits repercussions for the victim. Evidence from the investigation will be presented to parent(s) (this limits the “kids being kids” response). A two strike rule to be established to deal with bullying (depending on the severity of the situation); one strike for the initial infraction, this constitutes one chance to change behavior (unless behavior is severe and warrants automatic expulsion), and the second infraction is automatic expulsion.

Our thoughts and hearts go out to all the bullying victims. Our inaction or ineffective policies as authority figures need to change. We must not fail anymore children. Amanda Todd being one of the most recent children we failed. Rest in peace, Amanda.

Siu Lum Canada is Winnipeg's Shaolin school. We teach the Siu Lum style of kung fu. Our training revolves around real life situations and real life solutions. There is no question that we will not answer.

Watch our video and get a glimpse of what we do at SiuLumCanada.

Follow us on Twitter at @SiuLumCanada

Find us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Siu-Lum-Canada/371969609504305

Email us at siulumkungfu@gmail.com

How not to deal with Bullying

Recently, there was an article in the National Post which really caught my eye. It tells the story of a 12 year old bully victim in New Brunswick. According to the article, a school has hired a “bodyguard” for the gay and overweight child. Bullies have kicked, punched, pushed, and taunted him.

The “bodyguard” is assigned to follow this child around every minute of every day at school. If he wants to go to the washroom, the “bodyguard” accompanies him. It seems that maybe more so than a “bodyguard”, this staff member is a babysitter.

I can just imagine the taunting’s now; “Where’s your babysitter now fatty?”; “Look at the baby who needs someone to take them to the bathroom.”

You get the point.

The first question that comes to my mind is what has been done already to fix the problem? Have the parents of the bullies been confronted? Have the bullies themselves been identified and disciplined? What else have the victim’s parents done to help their child?

Now, we can all see what the school is trying to accomplish. We can only assume that the situation, as it seems, has gotten to a point where the child’s safety is obviously in jeopardy. But is putting a perpetual guard on duty the answer?

Did anyone ask this kid what he thinks? Yes, they did. The kid says that, “I don’t really like it because I’m losing a lot of friends because she’s there. She has to know whatever anybody tells me or whatever I say. I can’t keep anything from her.”

Why do we insist on band aid solutions? Are we, as a society, getting so political sensitive (notice I didn’t say correct) that we are becoming blind to the real issues and solutions?

One thing will never change, no matter what. No amount of bodyguards, counselling, or any other type of new-age techniques will help this kid.

Right now, and probably for a while, this kid has probably had an empty feeling inside his stomach. That feeling is fear. It is lack of self-confidence. It is hopelessness.

The feelings of fear, lack of self-confidence, and hopelessness can lead to grave consequences: such as homicidal outbursts, suicide, or being subjected to lifelong inner torment.

There is only one true way to make that feeling go away: empowerment. Give this kid the power to handle himself, without a bodyguard.

We, as parents, follow the same steps raising a child. When your kid is learning how to walk, you help them sturdy themselves, but then you let them go. Sooner than later, you kid will have to know how to dress them-self  Are you going to continue to dress your kid when they’re 12 years old? I don’t think so.

We, as parents, have to let them go eventually. It will be OK. As long as we give them the tools they need. That is the key.

In the article, it states that this kid is getting punched and kicked. You never want to see that happen to your kid, as well as any other kid.

You have some people who will say that he needs to punch back, or kick back. They say through him in some marital art where they punch and kick, over, and over, and over again. Maybe with a little luck after year or so, he’ll be able to punch and kick effectively. In the meantime, well…good luck.

What is greater than the feeling of punching or kicking someone into a bloody pulp? What is more embarrassing for your attacker than getting the “beep” kicked out of them, while being legally conscious?

The answer: The ability to not get hit.

"You can't hurt me anymore."

Imagine the feeling of empowerment this kid will have if he learns how to not get hit by a punch or kick. What is better than making your aggressor look like a fool? And the beauty of it is that it actually doesn't take that long to learn.

The last thing this kid needs to learn is how to kick and punch. That’s where the misconception lies among parents who think that’s what self defense is. It is, in essence, what the name implies: the defense of oneself. Nowhere does it say that self defense is about kicking and punching.

Siu Lum Canada offers an Anti-Bully course, with an emphasis on no kicking and no punching. The program teaches kids about confidence, empowerment, and true self defense. It teaches the kids about self-awareness and how to avoid confrontation before it actually is a confrontation.

Most importantly, it takes away that empty feeling.

Siu Lum Canada is Winnipeg's Shaolin school. We teach the Siu Lum style of kung fu. Our training revolves around real life situations and real life solutions. There is no question that we will not answer.

Watch our video and get a glimpse of what we do at SiuLumCanada.

Follow us on Twitter at @SiuLumCanada

Find us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Siu-Lum-Canada/371969609504305

Email us at siulumkungfu@gmail.com

Written by a Siu Lum Canada associate, with permission from Tim Simpson

State of safety

As our world faces new uncertainties, we are forced to accept the new realities that come with it.

Job security is a thing of the past. Living day to day is becoming more and more expensive. There is a lot of stress on a lot of people who are just trying to get by. On top of all that, muggings, violent crimes and sexual assaults are on the rise.

The police are doing everything they can. Unfortunately, it's usually not enough. Whether it's under-funding, or a lack of police officers, there is only so much the police can do to protect you and your family.

Recently, Winnipeg acquired a police helicopter. Should this make us feel safer? No. Instead of funding actual programs to deter criminal activity, our city is spending money on something which may or may not help catch the criminal; after the crime has already happened, of course. And that's assuming the victim is not beaten so senseless that they can still manage to call the police.

Women, especially, are at a greater risk than ever. The importance of knowing how to defend yourself is becoming more relevant. To depend on someone else, whether it's the police or not, is simply stupid.

Assaults can happen anywhere. They can happen where you least expect it; where your guard is down. Learning the Siu Lum system teaches you awareness and realistic methods of self defense.

If you've ever felt nervous or scared walking to your car in a parkade, you're probably not prepared for the possibilities. Walking down a dark street at night, and you 're paranoid? You don't have the martial arts training you need in case something happens.

Why can't you feel safe? Why shouldn't you? Practicing Siu Lum gives you the freedom from anxiety when you are in a scary situation. It gives you confidence and knowledge.

Osborne House, located here in Winnipeg, says that 80% of the women dropped off are done so from the Winnipeg Police Service domestic abuse unit. So, what happens to the other 20%?

In Canada, it's said that 1 in 5 men have admitted to physically abusing their partners. Women have a 9 to 1 chance of being assaulted as compared to men.

Learning Siu Lum gives women a new-found sense of confidence. It shows women how to realistically and effectively deal with a violent aggressor. Siu Lum teaches women to be more aware of their surrounding situation, how to react to it, and how to manage it successfully.

Knowing Siu Lum is like buying insurance. You may not use it everyday, but you'll be glad you have it when you do have to use it.

Siu Lum Canada is Winnipeg's Shaolin school. We teach the Siu Lum style of kung fu. Our training revolves around real life situations and real life solutions. There is no question that we will not answer.

Watch our video and get a glimpse of what we do at SiuLumCanada.

Follow us on Twitter at @SiuLumCanada

Find us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Siu-Lum-Canada/371969609504305

Email us at siulumkungfu@gmail.com

Our Children and Martial Arts

Today's youth are not like the youth of yesterday. Socializing has taken on a whole new meaning. Kids lack the work ethic of their predecessors. Playing actual sports has been replaced by the latest sports video game. Life is faster. The kids of today are becoming lazier and less focused.

Training in a martial art is essential in creating healthy choices for our children.

An integral part of life and upbringing in Asia, martial arts have spread throughout the world. A boom in sports-based martial arts' competitions has taken its popularity to new heights.

Discipline

Students achieve increased discipline through routines and hard work. Emphasis is placed on performing well in school, among other endeavors in and out of the martial arts studio. Students learn that the only way to do something is to do it all the way, with 100% dedication to the task. The term “the only way out is through” encourages students to persevere and focus on the task at hand.

Confidence

Through martial arts, the student's confidence grows, guiding them through life with the unwavering awareness of right and wrong. 

Lack of confidence can be linked to a number of ill informed decisions or bad life choices. The new found confidence lets students rise above peer pressure, make healthy choices, and be a shining example of proper behavior.

As confidence grows, the chances of a student becoming a victim get smaller. Violent predators tend to choose victims that are unsure of themselves: that lack confidence. This is typical bully mentality, much like a predator in the wild. A lion will look for the weakest prey and wait until it has separated from the herd. To a youth, this can be seen throughout the school yard. There are always kids who won't fit in, who keep to themselves. This self ostracizing can be attributed to a lack of confidence.

Another bully favorite is “the loser." This child becomes whatever he or she believes the bully(ies) wants them to be. A bully targets children with low self esteem and a lack of confidence.

The bully phenomenon warrants further discussion; however, at a later time.

Respect

Children in martial arts learn to respect their parents, their instructor, and their fellow students. It is stressed throughout the training. Knowing that they are all there to learn and are responsible for each other’s safety is a key to teaching respect.

Leadership

Students will develop leadership qualities by becoming an example of positive moral behavior. An example is students helping other students who may be struggling with the execution of a move; taking the initiative to help others and demonstrating role model qualities.

Self Control

When students are given power through martial arts training, it is stressed that with this power comes responsibility. The term ”we police our own” is sacred, and students know that they must exhibit self control at all times.

Patience

Students are taught patience through repetition. Rather than ask why they must do a move, they must instead do a move until the answer comes to them.

Repetition teaches dedication to the task at hand, thus creating an environment for patience to grow.

Improved concentration

Increased focus on the task at hand, while understanding that power comes from directed intent, allows students to improve their level of concentration. Meditation exercises are practiced to calm the mind.

Improved Self Esteem

All of the above attributes contribute to the student’s idea of self worth through achievement. This increased self esteem is a result of a change in self perception and will follow the student through life.

Siu Lum Canada is Winnipeg's Shaolin school. We teach the Siu Lum style of kung fu. Our training revolves around real life situations and real life solutions. There is no question that we will not answer.

Watch our video and get a glimpse of what we do at Siu LumCanada.

Follow us on Twitter at @SiuLumCanada

Find us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Siu-Lum-Canada/371969609504305

Email us at siulumkungfu@gmail.com

What is Siu Lum Kung Fu?

You probably already know what Siu Lum Kung Fu is, but you know it from another name: Shaolin (made famous by the Shaolin monks movies). Other spelling includes Sil Lum, Si Lum, and the pronunciation varies by province (Chinese) and local dialects. The statement, “A rose by any other name would smell just as sweet,” is our position on the semantics/politics of the name.

SiuLum Kung Fu (or Gong Fu) is considered to be the root form of any and all martial arts in practice today. We are not here to debate any claims otherwise, and we believe it would be foolish to contest over 1600 years of Siu Lum history.

Instead, we are going to focus on explaining how the art is relevant and effective in today’s increasingly violent society.

SiuLum is considered to be as true to the original form as possible. The art has not suffered the degradation like so many other martial arts seen today. It remains true to the ideals and principals as they were when they were first taught. Based in counter attack, the psychology of its users differs from more sport-based self defense, where consequences are minimized by controls and rules. Students are taught to focus their mind to directly deal with the task at hand. Siu Lum provides real-life attack environments which prepare students for potentially violent situations. This approach reduces stress experienced by practitioners when they are exposed to violence.

SiuLum techniques are undiluted, and for that remain effective, regardless of the amount of time that has passed. 1000 years ago if you were to be robbed and killed at the side of a pathway or dirt road, there would be little consequence, if any, to the criminal. Because of that, techniques from that time period needed to be extremely effective and able to escalate in a moment, or it could have ultimately led to death.

We hold this philosophy true, and it shows in our teachings. Techniques range from simple escapes to restraining techniques to weapon defense: breaking techniques, as well as advanced counter attack.

The techniques are not suited for a sport environment due to the nature of the art, and the consequences to the attacker. Because of the potential consequences to the attacker, students are screened prior to training and supervised at all times during classes by a qualified instructor. Student safety and proper practice are emphasized over the speed of execution, which helps train “muscle memory” and proper technique. As proficiency increases, instructors authorize an increase in execution speed. Minimal padding is used. Students must experience "the feel" of every technique to develop confidence in their ability to execute the technique, as well as the confidence in the effectiveness of the movements.

New techniques are taught once per week to allow the body and mind time to recuperate. Daily practice exercises are encouraged to decrease response time and improve reflexes. Siu Lum Kung Fu is a comprehensive system which allows practitioners to learn at their own pace. Students can choose the movements that best suit their individual needs and body style. This flexibility in development allows each person to become the best they can be in an atmosphere that instills discipline, perseverance, and healthy life choices.

Many martial arts schools are rigid in teaching and systematic in execution; more emphasis is placed on readiness for competition/evaluation than actual development. This produces robotic actions, predictable attacks, and a false sense of security.


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