Shaolin-Do: Secrets from the Temple

By James Halladay

Shaolin-do, secrets from the temple This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0787212423
• ISBN13: 9780787212421
• Release Date: September 1995
• Publisher: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.84 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 8.5" x 11.0"

Customer Reviews

The Book and the Shaolin-Do System

There's a lot of energy about this book ... and seemingly, the Shaolin-Do system! My opinion is that the book is a good book -- providing an overview of the system as well as a focus upon chi-gung and meditation practice. The primary author, James Halladay, has written articles for major publications (e.g., Inside Kung-Fu) as well. I find his writing style to be well organized and highly readable. As far as the system goes, the system is comprehensive and legitimate. I have worked out with the author, and other advanced Shaolin practitioners, finding them to be well-versed and highly-skilled martial arts practioners. I make this statement from the vantage point of 25 years of martial arts, with Black Belt rankings in different martial systems -- Shaolin Do, Tae Kwon Do, American Kenpo, and Goshin Aiki-Jujitsu -- and informal training in numerous other systems (e.g., JKD). The Shaolin-Do practitioners, as a group, are not kick-boxers or full-contact fighters ... not do they claim to be. They do, though, claim to be learning a comprehensive Chinese martial system ... one that gets much deeper as one progresses through the various Black Belt levels (especially at 5th degree and above). The long-term benefits of the system are impressive! As such, I have chosen to pursue Shaolin-Do training in the long-term ... there is more material than I will learn in my lifetime (regardless of whether there are 900 forms or some other number ... say 300 ... depending upon how the material is categorized). When compared to all but a few other systems, the system provides superior breadth and depth! Consider the fact that practitioners learn T'ai Chi and Pa Kua at 1st Black, along with numerous empty-hand and weapons forms ... and specialized conditioning. At 2nd Black, practioiners will learn Hsing I, along with numerous additional empty-hand and weapons forms ... and specialized conditioning. At 3rd Black, the Hua Mountain system is of major focus and major challenge (these sets are extremely long and physically challenging), along with additional empty-hand and weapons ... and specialized conditioning. At 4th degree, practitioners will face the pliability and coordination challenges of the Drunken system ... again, along with additional empty-hand and weapons forms ... and specialized conditioning. The list goes on ... the material is real ... and so are the people (including the Grandmaster). As with any system or field of endeavor, some people or schools are better than others. Jim Halladay, for example, is a quality practitioner ... more skilled than some other Shaolin-Do folks I have seen (of course, though, he has trained under the Grandmaster and Elder Master, Bill Leonard). I don't believe that the Shaolin-Do system is "better than all others"; however, I do believe the system to be a unique and impressive tribute to the wonders of the Shaolin temples! Check it out -- you may find things you never knew you were looking for ... Peace.

The Last Review and Testimony (Haters Should Be Ashamed)

I'll start my review with a good manly resume. I have studied Karate', Muay Thai, Ninjitisu, ECT.. since about 8 years old. I am currently 28 I have a degree in Psychology with a minor in Philosophy and plan to go for my PH.D. soon. So be just a bit arrogant, I'm not moron or an ill informed amature on the subject of martial arts. I have been a student of Sin The' for 10 years. I was a martial art student 10 years before I attened Sin you could say I lived on both side of the tracks in this SHAO LIN debate. I also just finished reading all 83 reviews. Well here is my review; It's a dawm good book for Shao Lin Do students and for people wanting to know something about us. For non martial artist it is a good read. So if your interested in marial arts give it a try. If not then get a book from DR. Yang Jwing-Ming, sin the's favorite author. If you don't like us, we don't care. I for one am not going to whine about it. I do agree with the reader saying we sound like NASCAR fans. (I personally love #3 Dale Earnhert) I will say this I HAVED USED MY MARTIAL ART TRAINING AS AN INFANTRY SOILDIER, A BOUNCER AT A BIKER BAR, SECURITY OFFICER, AND IN SELF DEFENSE. One would assume that I am still alive and well if this review is being wriiten. Currently, the West Virginia Police Academy is ranked one of the 10 best police training sites in the America. I give you one guess who trains the State Troopers in fitness and self defense. Shao Lin Do Black Belt Trooper Petry. He was picked over every other officer in the state and was only on the force for about 5 years. If you would ask who he owes alot sucess to most likley it would be Shao lin Master James Mooney. In conclusion, I am asking all shao lin do student to please stop debating this subject. We could all be training anyway. They persecuted the real Shao Lin monks in china. So we will just keep Sin The' to ourselves if they don't like him. That would be fine with me, because that means I have less Shao Lin students to bounce out of bars. (...)

Review from the purple ninja an honest opinion

I have read this book so many times i memorized most of it. This is a overall good book. It gives you a scope on what is some of the most accrate martial art technique and history there is. How I know this ? Not only do I know this book well. I know the man who wrote it personally. I am a life time student of Grand Master The' and Master Jim Mooney. I do not only study the martial arts wich is the Quan but also the Zen the philosophy. I was studying the Tao Te Ching 5 years before I met this man. I've been with this system now for eight years, longer than any other I have studied with. The main reason for this he has so much to teach and it live up the the never ending challenge that martial arts are. If any one knows what Zen is its is the sect of Buddhism that originated at Shaolin by Bohdidharma. I was only by grace that I met this individual who had this INFORMATION that was only three generations old. not tained by centuries. This I pondered my self but one day i saw a shorin ji ryu karate student praticing and he was doing an alternate translation of one the shao lin white crane forms. This not only substanciate karate's history but mine also. I my extensive study of martial arts wich has been my path since age 9 when I picked up my first katana that was a war relice of my grandfather. I have been studing the history and the techniques of almost any style that you can name. I have learned at least the basics of the systems if not in to the intemediate levels. My point is that with a clear and open mind you can see the truth. I opened my self to many styles and found the were all similar just diiferent ways of thinking. Just like people. I just happen to find two good friends that knew all of this information under one roof. These are Master jim Mooney and Grand Master The'. I have been in real combat situations as a US Infantry soldier. The techniques that I had learned impreesed a Major and my DRILL SEARGENT WHO WERE BOTH ARMY RANGERS SPEC OPS. I was known for my training in boot camp and was asked to perform for my company commander and drill seargent on of our black tiger forms . My drill seargent was also a high level student of Mas Oyama. It was not only the techniques but the simplicity and my understanding of them as I was tested by these two to see if I knew what I was talking about. Needless to say Uncle Sam approved. Once again I owe this to Sin The'. It is only your self that seperates you from the truth. If you would see this man & stand in his present you would know without seeing him lift a finger he was a master of masters. I you do get to see him perform, he will be what bohdidharma commanded of the shao lin monks : "to stand as firm as a montain, to move like water this is the way, every figer a dagger, every foot a sword, to be the hardest of the hard the softest of the soft " This is the most fittting description of the author of this book. It fits him to the core of his deepest self. T

Objectivity

It seems that people have lost their objectivity on this book. The books is an insightful look into the Shaolin Do system and that is why we buy books like this, is it not? If your looking for a "how to beat people senseless in 3 weeks" style book, look else where. But if your curious about Shaolin Do, or are a student of Shaolin Do I highly recomend this book.

This book is an incredible and invaluable reference.

It is unfortunate that a number of the negative reviews that have been posted are not objective reviews of the book at all but instead are obviously personal attacks on Grandmaster Sin, motivated by some hidden agenda (e.g. by students of another art who feel threatened by Shaolin-Do, etc.). True martial artists try not to judge or attack other styles. If one wants to see if Grandmaster Sin is the real deal (which I think he is), they should go to a Shaolin-Do school and judge for themselves. Regarding the book, I have found it to be one of those treasures that reveals more each time that I pick it up. It contains so much information, especially regarding breathing and meditation, that I think it could be a little overwhelming for people that are not familiar with Chinese martial arts. The book as a whole is an impressive work revealing, as the title states, a wealth of secrets and details regarding authentic Shaolin training.