Academy of Shaolin

The Pillars of Shaolin

The Four Cornerstones or Pillars of Shaolin Discipline



 

To receive the long-term benefits of Shaolin, a commitment to consistent effort, energy and time is necessary.

The Path is long, hard, and ever upwards.

- Shifu Rob Anger -

1st Cornerstone - Wude (Martial Morality)
Wude is the foundation of Shaolin.
Shaolin Students cultivate the 10 Essential Virtues of Wude.
The virtues of Wude are the morals of Shaolin.
Shaolin Students conduct themselves according to Shaolin Wude.

Shaolin Salute
The Shaolin Salute is a formal greeting that shows respect to the Masters, their Instructors, and peers.   A student should always salute another whenever in their presence; this is a formal and respectful way of saying Hello and Goodbye.
However, it is also much more than that.

Shaolin Students never display their skill in vain or abuse their power.
Shaolin Students protect the weak, the old and the righteous.

Cultivating Wude is a Cornerstone of Shaolin Self Discipline.

2nd Cornerstone - Consistency
Students should should practice Shaolin consistently.  Commit yourself to practicing on a daily or every other day basis, even if only for a few minutes.  In an ideal world, this would be for at least an hour a day.

Shaolin students should pursue this commitment to self for a minimum of 12 months.  This is the length of time required to begin appreciating the extensive curriculum and retain the long-term benefits of Shaolin.

Students who cannot keep a commitment to themselves for any amount of consistent training, should not endeavor to learn Shaolin. It will be too difficult to progress and retain the benefits.

It is always better to practice 10 minutes a day for 5 days than 1 hour of practice only one day per week.

Mountains are just as consistent as rivers.

Consistency in Deed is a Virtue of Wude.

Consistency is a Cornerstone of Self Discipline.

3rd Cornerstone - Health
Students must always strive to be physically and mentally healthy. One doesn’t get to be consistent in their practice without health. There is no better pursuit than to look after the self.  This is the very nature of what Shaolin training is.   Ultimately, only you are responsible for your health. At first, this may even appear selfish, however, service to others is compromised when self is not taken care of.

People groom themselves daily for personal hygiene and health;
Shaolin practice is also a form of personal hygiene.

Good personal hygiene shows respect for self and fellow students.  A Shaolin student is always mindful of their body odors, the length and condition of their fingernails, the cleanliness and condition of their skin, and their hair.   Students not respectful of their own physical hygiene may not be permitted to practice with others and may be asked to leave.

Wearing jewelry during training times is not permitted;
as it may unnecessarily hurt another or be damaged.

Mental hygiene should always be cleansed as well. The school does not tolerate a mind that is not clean. Foul language, racism, sexism, and verbal abuse are examples of poor mental hygiene, poor health and poor Wude.

Balance is the key to health.
Abuse of self, drugs, food, or any other substances is not healthy.
Addictions or compulsive behaviors to any activity is not balance.

Following the ways of Wude, promotes a lifestyle of health.

Health is a Cornerstone of Shaolin Self Discipline.

4th Cornerstone - Growth
Making the consistent effort to learn always results in experience.
Experience eventually leads to wisdom.
Wisdom always results in growth.

If you only do one thing, ask of yourself to make a consistent effort to learn something new each day.   Anything...

The moment you stop growing, is the exact point in time you start dying.

It is natural to be excited when first learning Shaolin. It also natural to have the desire to share your excitement with others. Please do! However, because the study of Shaolin is difficult, vast, and potentially dangerous, teaching others Shaolin is not permitted unless you are directed to do so.

If you feel that you have mastered all of the techniques and have the ability to teach others, then there is no longer any reason for you to continue your studies at the Academy.

Any Student attaining 30 Tao Lu, may test to become a Senior Student.  Senior Students bear the responsibilities of Assistant Instructors.  Assistant Instructors set the standard in the school by example and are required to assist teaching the Shaolin system.

Growth will happen when studying the ways of Shaolin.
Profound growth begins when teaching Shaolin.

Any Assistant Instructor attaining 60 Tao Lu may test to become a Life Student.  Life Students bear the responsibilities of a Shifu and are required to teach the Shaolin system, which also requires them to graduate at least 2 worthy Instructors within their lifetime.

Maintaining ones health, being open, and by simply learning new things, only then can one continue along the path of growth.

Growth is a Cornerstone of Shaolin Self Discipline.

---

These Cornerstones of Shaolin discipline are non-religious and transcend all cultures and races.  People of any culture and race would agree that these expectations promote values that are worthy and desirable in all humans. These ancient traditions are a practical means to help students achieve their objectives in life.  Only through the adherence to these Cornerstones of Discipline, will students attain the best possible results in combat efficiency, joyful living, mind expansion, self-actualization, and spiritual fulfillment.

The Cornerstones of the Shaolin tradition, are not intended to be punitive or restrictive.  There is no legal binding upon the student to Shaolin discipline; the binding is moral.

We do not force them upon the student, the student accepts them because they so choose.  They know that these laws are helpful to them in their physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual cultivation.

If a student consistently breaks the Cornerstones of Shaolin discipline, despite sufficient warnings, they will be asked to leave the Academy of Shaolin.  The peaceful and harmonious Way of Shaolin is not suitable for that individual.

“This is the Way.”
  -Master Woo-