2021 - Summer Virtual Retreat
Shaolin Walking Stick | Dharma Cane
This is the second year we are holding our annual Summer Retreat virtually due to Covid-19 travel restrictions.
We are very hopeful that we will be able to see you in person next year here in Ireland in our 2022 Summer Retreat;
Meanwhile we are very much looking forward to training with you virtually via Zoom this July to explore this mysterious and fun Shaolin Walking Stick | Dharma Cane - Weapons's form.
Key Features
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Shaolin Dharma Cane is a mysterious Shaolin Weapon's form, that is rarely taught. Legend has it that the Founder of Shaolin Kung Fu, Bodhidharma used his Walking stick as a secret weapon and this is how the form Dharma Cane came about.
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Join us for a long weekend of intensive training. Get ready to sweat, to feel the Kung Fu 'pain' but to feel revived, refreshed and energised after.
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All training sessions are live streamed with the option to participate Face-to-Face or as an Attendee only (Not being seen by Shifu).
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All levels are welcome to join. Shifu Yan Xin will lead you Step-by-Step, breaking down the form to bite sized sections, so, that it is easy for you to learn.
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If you can't make it to the Live sessions, you have the option to train on demand with the recordings in your own time, for 12 months after the Live sessions have taken place.
Shaolin Dharma Cane
A Secret Self Defence Weapon - Walking Stick
A rare opportunity to learn this mysterious ancient Shaolin Weapon's form LIVE with Shifu Yan Xin (34th Generation Shaolin Disciple).
Shaolin Damo Zhang – Dharma Cane
This July 2021, Shifu Yan Xin will take you on a journey to explore this unique weapon's form of Shaolin, the Art, the Form and its Combat Application.
Origin and History of the Walking Stick Form
The Shaolin Weapon’s Form Dharma Cane, or Damo Zhang in Chinese, has been given its name in honour of Bodhidharma, the founder of Shaolin Kung Fu, who often is depicted with a walking stick.
The cane itself is a very rare and quite unique Shaolin weapon, mostly only known to monks and local folk masters and not taught very often.
How this form came about:
The cane as a walking stick is traditionally used be the elders as a support for walking or by shepherds on their long walks with their herds. So, it isn’t usually considered or thought of as a weapon.
At some point the leaders and dignitaries at Shaolin Temple collected the moves they were seeing and observing by people in the general public using their walking sticks in every day life.
The monks derived and designed a routine from these movements, creating a form that centred around the walking stick. The form that was created was used for their own practice at first but as it become more known, common people who weren’t monks started to learn and practice it as well.
The form is fairly simple in its nature with a practical approach. It uses powerful and flexible moves, requiring good coordination of feet and hands together.
Compared to many other Kung Fu weapons such as the staff or sword, just to name a couple, the cane never became a formalised weapon but has always remained more of a folk weapon. In some ways it can even be considered a secret weapon, as the walking stick as a simple and functional tool doesn’t lend itself to thinking of it as weapon. Only when its owner has attained the required ability and skill of defence and attack, can the walking stick become a weapon in its own right.
Some people might not see the point of the cane, when they don’t know it is used for physical training and practice, which is it’s the main purpose in the Shaolin tradition.
Cane & Form:
Every part of the cane has a function and can be used in a combat situation, depending on the handling, skill and mastery of the person using the cane.
There are three parts to the cane:
- The stick forms the main part of the cane.
- The so-called upper part consists of the actual handle and
- The cane point or cane body is the horn shaped part of the handle as it can be seen on the traditional canes.
This traditional Shaolin form includes movements such as hooking, sweeping, chopping, upper cutting, pointing and stabbing.
The movements are flexible and powerful and require some arm strength as well as solid stances and coordination.
The basis for this weapon form is very similar to the foundation training for the Shaolin staff, so it is useful to be familiar with certain basic skills when learning this form with its simplistic and practical nature.
How to Participate
Our Shaolin Dharma Cane - Virtual Summer Retreat is Live Streamed with Shifu Yan Xin (34th Generation Shaolin Disciple), starting on Thursday 15 and ending on Sunday 18 July 2021.
Thursday 15 July 2021 (19:30 - 20:30 BST) - Dublin / London Time
We will start the Retreat with a Welcome Tea Chat, where we all make a cup of our favourite tea meet the group and then prepare for the weekend's training with a Shaolin Stretch and Meditation.
Friday 16, Saturday 17, Sunday 18 July 2021 (15:00 - 18:00 BST) - Dublin/ London Time:
Each day consist of 3 hours of intensive Shaolin training where Shifu Yan Xin will take you through traditional Shaolin Foundation Training, explore the Art of the Shaolin Dharma Cane, the Form itself and its Combat Applications.
How to participate in the Live Stream:
This program is done via Live Streaming with Shifu Yan Xin and other kungfu.life students from across the world.
Methods of joining:
You can join as a Face-to-Face interactive participant (limited spaces available - Shifu will be able to see you and correct your movements) or,
You can join as an attendee only, i.e. you will be able to follow Shifu Yan Xin but, Shifu Yan Xin will not be able to see you.
If you've opted for the Face-to-Face training option then please ensure you have a laptop or computer that has a camera so that Shifu gets to see you and correct your movements during the training.
If you have opted for the attendee only option then you will still need to have a device such as laptop/ computer/ tablet. But it is not essential to have an access to a web camera.
What if I can't make it at the time of Live Stream?
If you are unable to to make it to the live training at the time it takes place, not to worry, the recording the the training will be available for you to train in your own time from your Student Dashboard.
This training course will be available in your student dashboard for you to catch upon for 12 months after the retreat ends.
What you need to Join this program:
1. Have access to a device such as a laptop, computer or tablet, smart phone could work but the screen might be too small for a good training experience.
2. Have access to a small space in your home, kitchen, living room, bedroom, garden.
3. Have good internet connection, it is recommended the download and upload speed to be minimum 1.5Mps for a good training experience. You can test your internet speed here.
4. Have access to a small stick such as a broom stick, or follow our How to Make your Own Shaolin Dharma Cane video and have your own Shaolin Walking stick made.
We look forward to meeting some of you in person (via Zoom) and training with you in July!
Training Schedule
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01
Welcome
Show details- Shaolin Dharma Cane - The Story
- How to participate in this Virtual Retreat
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02
Shaolin Dharma Cain - Virtual Retreat
Show details- Preparation Tips for the Live Sessions
- REPLAY: Day 1| Thursday 15 July (19:30- 20:30 BST) - Welcome Tea, Preparation Stretch & Meditation.
- REPLAY: Day 2| Friday 16 July (15:00- 18:00 BST) - Shaolin Dharma Cane - Intensive Session 1
- REPLAY: Day 2| Friday 16 July (15:00- 18:00 BST) - Shaolin Dharma Cane - Intensive Session 2
- REPLAY: Day 2| Friday 16 July (15:00- 18:00 BST) - Shaolin Dharma Cane - Session 3 Form Training
- REPLAY: Day 3| Saturday 17 July (15:00-18:00 BST) - Shaolin Dharma Cane - Intensive Session 1
- REPLAY: Day 3| Saturday 17 July (15:00-18:00 BST) - Shaolin Dharma Cane - Intensive Session 2
- REPLAY: Day 3| Saturday 17 July (15:00-18:00 BST) - Shaolin Dharma Cane - Form Training
- REPLAY: Day 4 | Sunday 18 July (15:00-18:00 BST) - Shaolin Dharma Cane - Intensive Session 1
- REPLAY: Day 4 | Sunday 18 July (15:00-18:00 BST) - Shaolin Dharma Cane - Intensive Session 2
- REPLAY: Day 4 | Sunday 18 July (15:00-18:00 BST) - Shaolin Dharma Cane - Form Training
Pricing Options
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Shaolin Walking Stick - Dharma Cane | Virtual Summer Retreat 2021
€205,00
Register Now -
Shaolin Walking Stick - Dharma Cane | Virtual Summer Retreat 2021
€125,00
Register Now
KungFu.Life Member Pricing
Special Price for Warrior & Wellness Members
If you are subscribed to our Yearly, Quarterly or Monthly subscription plans, whether as a warrior member, wellness member or if you are a Lifetime Member, then you are a KungFu.Life member!
You will be able to find your Special Member pricing Payment Link to join this Live Shaolin Dharma Cane Virtual Retreat in your Student Dashboard:
If you are not yet a KungFu.Life member and wish to join us to benefit from the discounted pricing and much more (e.g. weekly live stream face-to-face trainings with Shifu Yan Xin).
See below to find out more about joining as a Warrior or Wellness Member.
Becoming a KungFu.Life Member
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FAQ
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What is the difference between enrolling as a Face-to-Face and a participation Only student?
Both training options, the Face-to-Face Interactive training and Attendee-Only option, take place at the same time. The Face-to-Face training is very similar to training in a physical class together with other students, where you can be seen by Shifu Yan Xin and he will be able to help you with your training and can correct your movements. In order to keep up with the quality of teaching, number of spaces for this option is limited. With the participation only (Non Face-to-Face Option), you will be able to see Shifu Yan Xin live but no one else will be able to see you, so you can still enjoy the live training atmosphere but would not be able to have your movements corrected.
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How do I know if I am a KungFu.Life member to benefit from the Warrior member price?
If you are subscribed to one of our Yearly, Quarterly or Monthly subscription plans (either as a Warrior or Wellness Member) or if you are a Lifetime Member of ours then you are a KungFu.Life member and you will be able to find your discount code to join the Live Yi Jin Jing program in your KungFu.Life Members page and/or in you email inbox.
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What if I can't make it to some or all of the Live Sessions
If you can't make it to some or all of the live training, the replays of the sessions will be available for you to catch up on. We strongly recommend you join the training live for a better training experience, but if life really gets in the way, then following the recordings is the second best option. If this is the case, then just opt for the non Face-to-Face pricing option at the check out.