6 Month Learning Taiji, Kung Fu, Sanda, Taiji in Dali, Yunnan

Introduction to Kung Fu Training at Rising Dragon Martial Arts School

If you are determined to learn Kung Fu in China, traditional Chinese Martial Arts from Tai Chi to Shaolin Quan, then you have found it with Rising Dragon Martial Arts School, the number one martial arts school in China for your practice! Without a doubt, your fitness will improve by coming here, but if you already have a good level of fitness before you arrive, you can expect to improve massively and learn a lot quicker than if you start your training in a less fit state.

Highlights

• Daily practice from Monday to Friday
• Real Kung Fu training from the best Kung Fu masters
• Train at the only western-owned martial arts school in China
• Martial arts training sessions over 6 hours per day
• Daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner provided
• 167 nights accommodation
• Skill level: Beginner
• 120 days with instruction in English
• The organizer also speaks Chinese (Mandarin)
• Airport transfer available: Dali Airport (US$ 115 per person)

Accommodation

The luxury accommodation is limited to two per room, has an en-suite bathroom, a TV, and is located in its main Buddhist Monastery, which is beautifully landscaped.

Program

At RDS, you will train roughly 6 hours per day with rest/free time during weekends. The training starts every morning at 05:30, so most students will wake up at 05:00 to prepare for morning exercise. Regardless of which style you are practicing, the 05:30 circuit training is compulsory unless you are 40 years or older, then it is optional.

Daily Schedule

• Morning Exercise (05:30 – 06:00): Jogging, sprinting, bear crawls, push-ups, sit-ups, chin-ups, squats, handstands, burpees, planks, jumping, gymnastic rings, etc.
• Group Training (06:00 – 07:20)
• Breakfast (07:30)
• Second Morning Session (09:00 – 11:30): Running 1 km to 20 km, lesson with a 20-minute break.
• Lunch (12:00)
• Afternoon Training (14:30 – 17:00): Running, lesson with a 20-minute break.
• Dinner (18:00)

Expectation

• Medium-term stay (4 – 8 months)
• Good level of fitness
• Good level of basics
• 4 – 9 forms (some of them being weapons)
• Medium hard qigong (optional)
• Basic Mandarin
• Decent knowledge of the style you have studied
• Increased power and speed

Chinese Martial Arts Introduction

Chinese Martial Arts, more commonly known in the west as Kung Fu, has hundreds of styles originating from mainland China. Known in China as Zhongguo Wushu or Gong Fu, Wushu literally translates to Chinese martial arts, and Gongfu means hard work. Wushu is a more precise term for general martial activities.

Categories of Chinese Martial Arts

• Northern Styles: Fast with powerful kicks, high jumps, acrobatics, and generally more fluid and rapid movements.
• Southern Styles: Strong arm and hand techniques, stable immovable stances/footwork, and generally no kicks above the waist.
• External Styles: Fast and explosive movements, focus on physical strength and agility (e.g., Shaolin).
• Internal Styles: Awareness of the spirit, mind, Qi (Energy), and the use of relaxed leverage rather than muscular tension (e.g., Xingyi Quan, Bagua Zhang, Taijiquan).

Sun Style

Sun Style consists of the three major internal martial arts of China, TaiJi, XingYi, and Bagua, created by Sun Lu Tang (1861-1933). It is unique with its inclusion of Bagua footwork, XingYi’s hand and waist movements, and the stance ‘San Ti Shi’. It is known for its smooth and flowing movements, suitable for geriatric exercise and martial arts therapy.

Shaolin Quan

Shaolin Temple (Shaolin Si) is a Buddhist temple located in Henan Province. Known for its long-range techniques, quick advances/retreats, wide deep stances, high kicks, leaping/jumping, whirling circular blocks, quickness, agility, and aggressive attacks, it is considered the oldest martial art in the world.

Taiji Quan

Also known as Tai chi, Taiji Quan is a Taoist Internal Martial Art with styles such as Wu Dang San Feng Taiji, Chen style, Yang style, Wu style, Wu Yuxiang style, and Sun style Tai chi. It is known for its balance between yielding and attacking, described as a needle in cotton or hardness concealed in softness.

Bagua Zhang

Bagua Zhang, or Eight Trigram Palm, focuses on circle walking, flexibility, complex forms, and internal power mechanics. It includes a variety of techniques such as strikes, low kicks, joint locks, throws, and evasive circular footwork.

Xingyi Quan

Xingyi, meaning “form/mind,” is based on the Taoist concept that natural forces are composed of 5 elements. It is characterized by aggressive, linear movements, and explosive power, with the goal of reaching the opponent quickly and driving powerfully through them in a single burst.

Sanshou / Sanda

Sanshou, or Sanda (free fighting), is a modern Chinese self-defense system and combat sport similar to Western kickboxing or Thailand’s Muay Thai boxing. It involves kicks, punches, throws, and strikes with knees, and is a full-contact sport.

Wushu

Wushu is both an exhibition and full-contact sport derived from traditional Chinese martial arts. Created in the People’s Republic of China after 1949, Wushu has spread globally through the International Wushu Federation (IWUF), which holds the World Wushu Championships every two years.

Instructors

Scott Bird

Scott began his martial arts journey in 1992 and has continuously trained since then. In 2007, he became the first foreigner in mainland China to open and own a residential martial arts school, Rising Dragon Martial Arts School. Scott possesses extensive knowledge of Tai Chi, encompassing both its health benefits and martial applications. His Qigong practice commenced in 2003 upon his arrival in China, and he officially began practicing yoga in 2012 in Fujian, China, specializing in Bikram/Hot yoga. Scott has been recognized and awarded as a top martial artist in Singapore and China in the years 2010, 2014, and 2018.

Deng Fu Ming

Master Deng Fu Ming, born in 1955 in Tang Shan City, Hebei Province, developed an interest in martial arts from a young age. At the age of 16, he encountered Internal Sun style Master Liu Guo Xin. Over the next eight years, Deng Fu Ming rigorously studied Sun Style Xingyi Quan, Bagua, and Taiji Quan, dedicating all his time and effort to training during this period.

Cancellation Policy

• A reservation requires a deposit of 14% of the total price.
• The deposit is non-refundable if the booking is cancelled.
• The remaining payment should be paid on arrival.