Holy Grail Part 1 - In Search of the Lost Art

On the 4th April 2006 Mike Mitchell and Laurence Newton will be heading off on a journey to bring back the advanced Shaolin Chuan Fa Kung Fu syllabus from Ancient China and Australia.

Our journey will start in London on the 4th April.

On the 5th April we will be landing at Hong Kong International Airport from there we will be heading over to Lantau Island in search of the Po Lin Monastery and any other monasteries that represent our style.

On the 7th April we set off to Melbourne, Australia.

On the 8th April we will land in Melbourne to meet 3rd Degree Sifu Leon King and many other Grandmasters in the chain of our system.

We intend to return with advanced knowledge of the San Chien, more knowledge of the Ching Lo healing system and also the advanced Dragon forms of the Shaolin System.

04/04/06

Set off from London

05/04/06

Land at Hong Kong International Airport

06/04/06

Travel To Po Lin Monastery

The Concentration almost cause the vein in Mike’s head to pop

We had no Idea where we were

Up close and personnel with the Po Lin Monastery Big Buddha

3 statues on the right hand side of the Buddha giving offering their hands are in different Mudras positions

3 more statues on the left of the Buddha

The back of the Big buddah and whats Mike doing

It looks like old Snake hips has spotted something

Oh no not another Bin this is the 8th one in 20 minutes

It was no easy task getting in to the Shaolin Temple

After hours spent Translating ancient scriptures we found the answer

To go back down and buy a vegetarian meal ticket, Doh

New Discovery the Holy Shrine of Paul Taylor

Entrance to the Hong Kong temple

Po Lin Monastery

Drawing the Bow without Thought, Its in every paper over there

Trip to Hong Kong Island

The amazement of the height of the building put Laurence into great awe

This is the tallest building we saw, we couldn’t see the top as stupid clouds where in the way

Hong Kong has a George Bar too

After Making our way to a Hidden tavern we were challenged by a Monk

Chi Sao was the challenge of the day and after a long arduous conflict….

We were shown secret techniques

His eyes can shoot lasers unfortunately we didn’t have enough time to learn it

I think she’s nervous but so would you if you were this close to the Sweetest of Cheeks

Mike using his skills as a stalker managed to photograph 3 women practicing the Ba Duan Jin

Hong Kong at night

It changes so much in the night time

07/04/06 Leave Hong Kong and Land In Australia

On Arrival we set up our main Headquarters, Vietnam all over again

The Camp Site using the age old tradition of setting up your tent with the use of a Bo Staff, lawn mower, table leg and chest of draws

With the heavy armour and deterrents armed we knew we would be safe from wild dingo’s

Safe and Sound

08/04/06

We Ventured into the city centre with Leon as a tour guide. We found Amazing book shops with all sorts of posters on anatomy and books on Martial Arts.  We will be bringing back a lot of Katsu posters.  The night time event consisted of a trip to the local pub luckily we were given a lift.  8 pints later and after a lot of small time gambling which turned into a nice little profit we decided to head back to HQ.  This was not as easy as expected. We left at 3am and made many wrong turns. The police stopped us and their exact words were “Well your in the wrong suburb to start with”. We arrived home eventually with the walk only taking 2 and a half hours.

09/04/06

A late start due to the night before.  We were made to cut down old bamboo, was this part of our training I don’t know all I do know is that I don’t  want to see bamboo again for a long time.  Later that evening we were taught some nice new warm up methods.  Lets just say ouch and that it involves a lot of Horse stance.

10/04/06

Shopping day in Melbourne centre.

11/04/06

Tri sectional staff training, the most painful and most dangerous training ever done, and we mean it. Lots of lumps on bones and lumps on ears. Laurence gained more confidence in the later evening by attempting to swing the staff in a windmill method and figure of eight method in the pitch black with several injuries.

Also training in advanced staff work

12/04/06

Discovered the original variant of the San Chien form, this is very interesting work and answers a lot of questions.

We also discovered the first documented version of the Dragon Form from our style which consists of approximately 71 moves. There are approximately 7 Dragon forms to learn after the 2nd degree gradings.

Advanced 3rd dergree work on the system of Dah Jong (strengthening of the Forearms, Fists and Palms) was discussed. This is all new stuff that is going to be available to Hull Kung Fu students.

Leon Showed us some advanced forms on the tri-sectional staff which we documented on video, unfortunately over writing the video footage of Lantau Island.

Building more confidence with the tri-sectional staff soon we will be masters.

The Camp Site (and Leon’s house)

“Awwwww its to Hot”

13/04/06

Learnt a very long advanced Dragon Form and a very long spear form. The principles of the dragons claw was explained in depth. More and more practice on the Tri-sectional staff including all the exercises. Completed more of the advanced staff forms from the weapons syllabus.

Went for a game of pool with Leon and his friends on the evening.

14/04/06

Had a break and visited Melbourne. The first stop was a book fair. Then we visited the Melbourne stadium to see a kids fair. Then we visited the Rialto that gives some excellent views of Melbourne.

After a vigorous search the two Michaels could not find any Heinz Beans

We were challenged by these 2 fairy folk but soon got rid of them by the flash of the camera

Di Sifu Leon King 3rd Degree Kung Fu (back), Michael King 8th Degree Kung Fu (bottom left),  Katarina King 7th Degree Kung Fu (bottom middle), Mike Mitchell 2nd Degree Kung Fu (bottom right)

A big boat

The Shaolin Motto

Chinese Dragon Dance

Chinese Dragon Dance

Chinese Dragon Dance

A bird

The experiment to splice both dog and mad went slightly askew

Views of Melbourne from the Rialto Tower

Views of Melbourne from the Rialto Tower

Views of Melbourne from the Rialto Tower

Views of Melbourne from the Rialto Tower

Its tricking time

Mike searched frantically for a copy of Destiny of Souls but could not find one at all

Merlin’s keyboard jam

15/04/06

Constant studying of the tri sectional staff, its getting easier but there is a lot in store for people when we get back.

16/04/06

Up early (07:30am) and training again. Three sectional staff and spear experience. Finished training at 16:30, couple of beers, Calamari and bed.

17/04/06

Operation Saving Private Skippy commences.  That’s right were heading out to enemy territory to bring back the orange sash Ian Marsham.  We need his help on the war against the Deadly Dingos and the Raging Red Backs.

Arrived at Geelong Station after a long hazardous journey on train.

We’ve found Skippy, he looks a bit battered, but after a quick clean up and a shave he was right as rain

After a night of negotiations playing Poker and drinking 50 cans of Carlton Extra Strong Lager (hmmmmmmm) we came up with a result. Laurence 5 Aces in one hand won the release of Mr Skippy, Mrs Skippy and Little Skippy

We nearly changed our minds when we saw Ian’s number plate

18/04/06

We treated the Skippy family to a day out to the biggest Aquarium in the world (apart from the Deep in Hull)

I’m Squidword

No i’m Squidword

Everybody’s Squidword

19/04/06

Long hard training again. Learnt the Water Forms and Dragon Forms

We met Brian Cairns, one of the original three who worked in conjunction with Wayne and Angela on their organisation. He had a lot of stories to tell of the history of Sigung Wayne Short.

20/04/06

A visit to Melbourne zoo, I hope the animals are all awake and lively

Laurence talked to a leopard and it fell asleep

Laurence talked to a lion and it fell asleep

Laurence talked to another lion and it fell asleep

Laurence talked to this and it fell asleep

Laurence talked to a  hippo and it fell asleep

Laurence talked to a tiger and it fell asleep

A Meerkat and it’s awake

Nope Laurence talked to them and they quickly said its bedtime

21/04/06

Training again, advanced Tai Chi forms where shown and we ended up going through our grading work for the Bo Jutsu qualifications

Mastered the art of the Tri Sectional Staff. You had to be there to see it but Mike sliced a lemon (yes it’s a lemon) in half with one swing of the Tri Sectional Staff

22/04/06

We hear rumours that there were some furry penguins (don’t use that word it’s politically incorrect) in Australia. We set off to southern Australia in search of these fluffy beings. Our first point of contact was the Kangaroo farm that may hold more information

On entrance to the farm we encountered a male Kanga who continued to ignore us. Laurence used some of his  Kanga sign language which he learnt in his tour of duties in Vietnam

The Kanga seemed very unimpressed

We then attempted to tell the  Kanga a really boring story about Gerbils in order to bore him into giving s the secrets of where the Penguins reside

The Kanga got really angry and started to smash some bricks up. After he had calmed he started to chat to us

We all became great friends and talked about the weather and other Kangaroo topics

But as we started to talk about the penguins the  Kanga decided to go for a swim

Just before we left the Kanga whispered into our ears – “see the Koalas”

The Koalas were not very friendly, in fact they just ignored us and went to sleep. But the oil we poured on his tree worked a treat

On again with the journey. Look over their it’s the Australian Grand Prix

A black Llama

Spot the Wallaby

The cruel sea

We finally found the penguins but unfortunately they would not let us take any photos of them (they skanked us). And they said we would see 600 furry penguins but we only saw 20

23/04/06

Waited for Leon outside his place of work

Got a bit board so we invented a game that we called  Stones and Leaves (or Noughts and Crosses)

Met a very honourable man called Mr Tan, he made us some sashes for our 2nd degree work. We thank him and his family very much for all the work that they put in to help

24/04/06

Leave Australia

25/04/06

Land Home

Phrases of the Journey

Canna hop on it

Oh its too hot

Awww I’m fed up of all this walking

Markal, come here

Is that Darth Vader?? No it’s the fridge

Don’t let the dingos get yer

We’ve not seen any red backs yet

Happy opposite day

Watch out for the funnel webs

18, 17, 18, 17, 18…….

What’s that

Awww don’t go all moody

Im not

Shall we go to the pub

Is That Dingo Juice

Awwww we’re lost

I don’t like…..(followed by anything)

Is there a dog on it

Sweet cheese (by Michael King)

That bats massive

Too many chips

I’m looking for a book on the Hulk

The war against the Raging Red Backs

Humans	Red Backs
2	0

 

Conclusion

The holy grail, did we find what we where looking for. Well yes we did but is it the end or has it stirred our minds more

The basic sayings that we will tell you are

As one door closes another one opens

and

Its not about finding answers, it all about asking good questions

So what now

Is this the man we aim to seek more information about or do we know enough

Is this the soul of our art

Is there more to the way of the sword than we know

What does this shield represent and does it give clues to the future of the art

What does the San Chien represent, what are the secret 108 moves. Why was the Way of the Sword introduced. If you have your black sash you need to know these answers then we have them

So again is this the end of what we are trying to achieve? Only the people who really know us will know our next move

Best regards,

Sifu Mike Mitchell, 2nd Degree Tai Chi, 2nd Degree Kung Fu, 1st Dan Bo Jutsu

Sifu Laurence Newton, 2nd Degree Tai Chi, 1st Degree Kung Fu, 1st Dan Bo Jutsu

To be continued……………