March 2010

BKF_eNEWS March 2010
Official newsletter of Buddha Kung Fu

Press Page at BuddhaKungFu.com

At the bottom of each BuddhaKungFu.com webpage is a link titled, "Press."

This month I uploaded the flyer used to almost launch the "Kung Fu Kids" program in 2-Strike Park.

This is another park of the Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation. It's smaller and more remote than the Crescenta Valley Park. It turned out that Buddha Kung Fu was competing with the baseball program already operated there. Many of the parents were concerned there kids wouldn't enroll or have time for the baseball team if they enrolled in our Kung Fu Kids program.

Park Superintendent, Larry Muepo, had mentioned, "...the community's strong commitment to their baseball team."

This emphasizes the problem we will always have, which is a shortage of time for programs. Computer games, and social networks all reduce the amount of time that teenagers will have for Kung Fu or Tai Chi classes, plus their school homework...

Larry mentioned that if we wanted to offer the youth programs at Crescenta Valley Park, the young students could have access to the computers for homework. So, if we have two or three hours for youths, allowing one hour on the computers...

But the bus doesn't go by Crescenta Valley Park...

 

1. -- Buddha Kung Fu EVENTS --

Next Graduation is 4th Weekend of May

The May Graduation may seem like a long way away, but if you are not keeping with your Belt Test Approvals, you may run out of time. The weekend before graduation is usually reserved for "retests," so don't wait until then.

"Retests" are free for all students when Belt Testing. There are no grades for your Belt Test. It is either "pass" or "not pass." If you cannot find an open time slot in our classes for a retest, you will have to book a private lesson with the Shifu. Private lessons are $50 per hour for registered students. (Private lessons are $75 per hour for non registered students.) All SCM, BKF, and TCY students who have paid a monthly/semester/annual tuition = "registered students."

The next graduation is the Saturday after Thanksgiving in November. (6 months!)

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2. -- HOMEPAGE of Buddha Kung Fu --

Body, Mind and Spirit

Students say that they like these three webpages of "Body, Mind and Spirit." Perhaps we'll keep the links here permanently?

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3. -- shaolinINTERACTIVE.com Online Kung Fu and Tai Chi --

Check Out The New Website

All the webpages have been created for the online lessons.

shaolinINTERACTIVE.com:
http://www.shaolinINTERACTIVE.com/

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4. -- Buddha Kung Fu DEMO TEAM --

Next Demo Team Performance = May Graduation

Our BKF Demo Team was outstanding at the Founder's Day Graduation Event. It's a cool little show.

Buddha Zhen performed the Praying Mantis Form, "Bunbo," and then Disciples Jessica and Shawn performed the 2-Man staff form, "Fire and Water."

I like what we are doing with the 12 Tantui (taught in our Kung Fu Bootcamp). One student from one side, then another from the other side...

I wish someone would have videotaped it.

Buddha Kung Fu DEMO TEAM WEBPAGE:
http://www.BuddhaKungFu.com/demoteam

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5. -- BOOKS of Buddha Kung Fu --

Park Computers Available on Sundays

Most Sundays we will have access to the CV Park computers after our class. Plan on using that time to get caught up on your BUDDHA KUNG FU STUDENT MANUAL. Especially the students in the second semester who have more links to travel to.

Thanks for the update on broken links students. By travelling through the links in the PDF book, you help BKF stay updated and eliminate errors and typos...

Buddha Kung Fu BOOKS:
http://www.BuddhaKungFu.com/books

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6. -- MUSIC of Buddha Kung Fu --

Practice Tai Chi Form to "Night Blue Sky" Song

Disciple Barb and Buddha Zhen discovered that the song, "Night Blue Sky," from the Tai Chi Magic 1 album is the perfect length for practicing the Tai Chi Short form REAL SLOWLY.

The awkward part of using the song, is starting the Yang Style Tai Chi Short Form of SCM at the correct place at the beginning of the song.

A musical measure is 4 beats: "One, Two, Three, Four."

Counting the song normally = 111 measures.

The Tai Chi Short Form of SCM = 54 breaths = 108 measures at half-speed (SLOW).

In other words: each measure = half-breath (inhale or exhale) instead of a complete breath per each measure.

To synch with the music we decided to allow the song to have 3 measures of pause at the beginning, then start with an INHALE per "One, Two, Three, Four," and then an EXHALE per "One, Two, Three, Four..."

TRY IT.

When the song "Night Blue Sky" starts, COUNT: "ONE, Two, Three, Four -- ONE, Two Three, Four -- ONE, Two, Three, Four -- THEN START the Tai Chi form as mentioned above.

It's really relaxing when you get the hang of it. Just keep counting the "One, Two, Three, Four..." IN YOUR MIND while practicing to the song. There are a couple of pauses in the song, and you want to keep moving and counting...

 

Tai Chi Magic ALBUM at shaolinRECORDS.com:
http://www.shaolinRECORDS.com/RecordStore-R/taichiMagic1R.html

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7. -- STUFF of Buddha Kung Fu --

Buddha Kung Fu Shirts Have Arrived

Hey, has everybody ordered their BKF shirts?

The price is based upon the CafePress.com price. We only make a buck per shirt. When we can print them in large quantities we'll offer them for sale on our website at a lower price.

Buddha Kung Fu at CafePress.com:
http://www.CafePress.com/BuddhaKungFu

Tai Chi clothing at BuddhaKungFu.com:
http://www.BuddhaKungFu.com/clothes

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8. -- Buddhism NEWS --

Zen Buddhist Podcast of Shaolin Zen

Students say they are downloading these podcasts... but don't have time to listen to them.

Ouch. Buddha Zhen (me) spends hours recording, editing, uploading these podcasts...

We are getting a lot of attendance worldwide...

ZEN BUDDHIST PODCAST of Shaolin Zen:
http://www.ZenBuddhistPodcast.com

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9. -- KUNG FU News --

Thanks for Founder's Day Turnout

It was nice to see relatives and parents there for the Graduation Ceremonies.

It would appear that the HOUSE OF JOY restaurant will be our official party place.

Thanks to all students for paying for Buddha Zhen's meal.

It is customary for the students to ALWAYS cover the cost of their Shifu when dining, partying, movies...

If students cannot contribute, that's okay. Let your Shixiong (big school brother - "Sihing" in Cantonese), or Shimei (big school sister) know before the event or before leaving for the restaurant/theatre... so that you aren't embarrassed when the check is passed around. Sometimes one student will pay for the Shifu, sometimes several... Just be prepared and plan ahead.

We used to think of it as an honor to take my Shifu, Dr. Kam Yuen, out to dinner. We used to have a lot of fun. One of my Shifu used to like going to this Japanese restaurant...

Graduation Webpage :
www.BuddhaKungFu.com/membership/graduation.html

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10. -- TAI CHI News --

Solo Performances

Each month, each student solo performs. Sometimes, due to a lack of time, and when we have lots of students, it is difficult to do this. So, we've been grouping students into groups and letting them solo perform as a group. This has resulted in some really fun games.

Buddha Zhen began this practice in the Shaolin Kids and Tai Chi Kids classes many years ago. In the last few years, BZ has used this technique to inspire the seniors and provide a better way for them to perform without embarrassing themselves in the YMCA classes, which are more informal.

Sometimes we have girl team against boy team... or Buddha Zhen picks two team captains and lets them pick their team members like in elementary school.

When there's an odd person, sometimes Buddha Zhen joins a team. Or, if someone cannot perform due to injury or being new to the class, they become a judge or scorekeeper.

BKF Demo Team:
www.BuddhaKungFu.com/demoteam/

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11. -- Podcasts, Radio Shows, and Television Interviews of BUDDHA ZHEN --

4 Podcasts of Shaolin Records

The Zen Buddhist Podcast is only one of the four podcasts produced by Richard Del Connor:

1. Zen Buddhist Podcast of Shaolin Zen

2. American Zen Buddhist Rock Podcast

3. The Coyote Poetry Podcast

4. Folk Rock Podcast of Shaolin Records

Record Producer Website of Richard Del Connor:
http://www.RichardDelConnor.com/

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