The Shaolin Leopard
Of the five Shaolin Animals, the Leopard is the only one crafted solely for martial purposes. That is to say, the other four Shaolin Animals had significant places in Chinese culture and mythology long before they were called on to be ‘martial’ animals. The Leopard, by contrast, has no cultural or mythological significance. [Read more…] about About Kempo: Shaolin Leopard
Let me tell you a story about a 9-year-old girl.
Yesterday morning, her alarm went off. She got out of bed and went to school. She got there on time because she has learned to be disciplined. While in class other kids were talking and passing notes but she remained focused on her lessons because she has learned how to focus. When it was her turn to present to the class she stood up calmly and spoke effectively because she has learned to be confident. After school other kids invited her to hang out and watch TV; instead she did her homework and went to the dojo to practice Kempo because she has learned the benefits of nourishing her mind, body and spirit. Later, after she had studied and exercised, she relaxed and visited with her friends and family. Then she went to bed with a smile on her face.
Let me tell you another story, this one is about a gentleman in his mid-thirties.
He got up this morning and went to work. He got there on time because he has learned to be disciplined. . . . . Well, you can probably figure out the rest.
Perhaps these stories sound contrived but the point they make is a valid one. The paths of our lives don’t happen by accident. We make choices every moment of every day and those choices affect everything. Choosing to read a book today will affect the chance of you getting into college or getting your next promotion. Who you choose to spend time with today will affect who your friends are 20 years from now. Choosing to work out and be healthy today will affect how you feel on your 80th birthday.
If this sounds like pressure, it shouldn’t. It’s opportunity. There are choices you can make right now to help you become healthier, happier and better.
What are you waiting for?
Master Chris Santillo
Potomac Kempo
I was extremely fortunate, oh, those many years ago, when I wandered into a martial arts studio for the first time. Fortunate that I found Kempo but more so because I found Sensei Alen—now Master Alen Babayan. Sensei Alen ran a fantastic studio full of interesting people who were inspired and inspiring. What struck me most about the people in Sensei Alen’s studio was that they were real people. They weren’t tough guys or meatheads; no one was training for a full-contact fight in Thailand, and no one had ‘Kempo’ tattooed on his head. They were just ordinary people who had discovered that Kempo was a great way to become healthier, happier, and more well-rounded.
To be honest, I wasn’t yet a real person myself—just a teenager excited about the world he had walked into. I often trained with a lawyer who had kids my age and drove a high-end sports car. One woman, whose son was taller than me, was a Ph.D. and did research that totally went over my head. Another gentleman I worked out with ran a huge electronics distributor. They were all real people. They had jobs and lives, and families and priorities. The only thing we had in common was that Kempo was one of our priorities.
At the time, I didn’t appreciate what I had found. Years later, as I began to teach, meet other instructors, and visit other studios, I realized how rare Sensei Alen’s haven of ‘real’ really was.
That was long ago and thousands of miles away. Now I’m a real person too, with a wife and children and my own competing priorities. But Kempo is still one of those priorities—to train, teach, and share what I started learning from Sensei Alen a quarter century ago. The vision I still hold of that haven for real people continues to be our inspiration and motivates us to create that same sort of space where real people can gather to learn and grow.
I am so grateful to Sensei Alen for being who he is and for creating that space for so many of us to learn and grow. And I’m grateful to all of the real people who choose to train with us now. I’m grateful that amidst their jobs, lives, and families, they choose to be part of our haven of real people.
With gratitude
Chris Santillo, Shihan
The Tiger in Chinese Culture
For millennia the Tiger has been a powerful symbol in China, Buddhism, and in Shaolin specifically. Tiger statues have been unearthed that date to more than 7000 years ago, showing just how long the Tiger has been of interest. So ingrained is the Tiger in Chinese culture that the character for ‘king’ matches the markings on the forehead of a Tiger — a vertical line crossed with three horizontal lines. It is perhaps unknowable at this point if the symbol means ‘king’ because of the markings, or if the Tiger is so well regarded because it has the word ‘king’ on its forehead. [Read more…] about About Kempo: Shaolin Tiger
Trace Adkins has a song with the line “And she thinks we’re just fishin’” which obviously made me think of Kempo. . .
I think sometimes people misunderstand the goal of Kempo training. They often think the goal is to perfect a technique or a form. They strive for the perfect kick or the perfect punch. These are all noble goals and working towards them is what hones what we are really working on — ourselves.
We are the goal of our Kempo training. We are trying to make ourselves perfect. Not just our ability to deliver a kick but our ability to improve our ability to deliver a kick. Not just to control our body but to control our mind. To go beyond knowing things to actually understanding them. Punching and kicking are a means to an end. Which brings be back to country music. . . .
In the song “Just fishin'” by Trace Adkins he tells of a father who is fishing with his daughter. As they spend time together they talk about life and develop a deep bond, but the little girl doesn’t understand this, she thinks they are just fishing. In the same way I think that most people practicing Kempo think they are “just training” rather than understanding the magnitude of what they are taking on and the benefits that they can achieve. That’s okay, it still works.
Some people go fishing to catch fish and some people go to bond with their friends and family. Some people practice Kempo to learn to punch and kick and some people practice to become better people.
So, like I said. Kempo is like fishing.
Master Chris Santillo
Potomac Kempo
Origin
The exact origins of the Crane as an animal of interest are lost in legend but most legends agree that it all started in Tibet. Thousands of years ago Taoism traveled to China through the Kunlun Mountains of Northern Tibet. With it came a reverence for the Crane as a symbol of Longevity, Centeredness, and Resolve. Through the years Taoism and Buddhism influenced each other. Today, Chan Buddhism, the school of Buddhism developed at the Shaolin Temple, shares many similarities to Taoism. The Shaolin emphasis on total absorption in the practice of a highly cultivated skill — kung fu — was originally a Taoist ideal. [Read more…] about About Kempo: Shaolin Crane
At the Shaolin Temple, we had the privilege of training with a senior monk possessing the congenial, relaxed demeanor that so often accompanies mastery. Working in a back alley behind the ancient curved rooftops, watched only occasionally by resident (indifferent) cats and our taciturn teacher, we aimed to make our bodies mimic the skills being […]
Once upon a time, George – a 5’10” network engineer who sat in front of a computer all day and a TV all night – weighed in at 265 pounds. On top of being grossly overweight, he was a heavy drinker, and as he neared his 40th birthday, he couldn’t help but worry about his […]
