Enter Shaolin Update | Training for Real Life

Hi family, before we get into this week’s update, I wanted to let you know that next week is a review week which means we won’t be posting new training videos for the training hall. However, we will be working on restructuring some things behind the scenes.

We also brought in two new team members to help us get more content out and be more efficient in our weekly workflow. If you have been paying attention to our YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, etc. then you have noticed an increase in uploads and updates to all our social networks this week.

One of the most interesting moments this week, was when we had a member unsure if what we teach is effective in competitive MMA style tournaments, which he equated to real life-fighting. Here is the reality, you will fight the way you train and the ring and competition have rules, the streets don’t.

If you are going to enter a ring or octagon, then yes you need to spar in that environment to prepare for that type of event. Here at Enter Shaolin, we prepare you to deal with real life situations, where there is no corner, no rules, no time limits, etc… Real altercations are unpredictable and you don’t know if your opponent has friends, if they have hidden weapons, etc…

While I believe that all martial arts can teach you something, I want to caution you from anyone who dismisses what you do and says things like this won’t work in real life. Statements like that stem from pure ignorance or often from people being who have been out skilled or our strengthed from their opponent because they weren’t skilled enough to deal with the pressure, etc.

Like Sifu Phu has said many times, “The technique didn’t fail you, you failed the technique.”

Often times a superior martial artist who has put in hundreds of hours trains with someone who is a total newbie and says things to that person that discourages from learning anything else other than what they are teaching them. A good skilled martial artist or training partner will work within your skill level and increase the pressure as you get better and can handle more.

Here at Enter Shaolin we encourage you to train in whatever styles make you happy. The main emphasis here is for you to understand our energy & physics principles because they are universal. The great truth of the martial arts is there is no one better style, just better technique through understanding energy and physique principles.

There are however good teachers and bad teachers and it’s your responsibility to seek out and weed out the good from the bad.

We agree with Bruce Lee’s statement in this video:

At the end of the day, it’s not about the style or styles you train in, it’s how you approach your training and what you are being taught that matters most.

Here at Enter Shaolin we strive to impart on you the importance of developing your skills to a high level. How you express yourself is up to you!

Check out this week’s Kung Fu Q&A where we address the above and much more!

WATCH: Enter Shaolin’s Kung Fu Q&A Replay:

What’s New In The Training Hall This Week:

(ACCESS LEVEL: Junior, Senior, Abbot)

Women’s Self Defense

• Generating power In Your Strikes

Enter Shaolin Seminars

(ACCESS LEVEL: Junior, Senior, Lite, Abbot)

• Maintain Structural Integrity & Convert Energy To The Wrist Part 1
• Maintain Structural Integrity & Convert Energy To The Wrist Part 2

• About the Author
• Latest Posts

About Sifu Larry Rivera

Sifu Larry has been training in martial arts since he was 5. In his early years his father influenced his martial arts training. He taught him the basics of self defense, guile, military tactics, Judo and Jiu Jitsu. At age 7 his he was enrolled in Goju-Ryu which he trained in until he was 16. He took sometime off, but when he came back he decided he was never quitting martial arts again and at the age of 19 his thoughts on what martial arts was and was not got flipped when he started training with Sifu Phu and learning internal martial arts. Needless to say, he's a lifer and a guy you want on your side.

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