Hello

[Gary Steuer]

If you are new to this forum please tell the other people a little about yourself and what you study thanks

[tsanit]

Hi, I am new to this forum and I wanted to say hello and thank you . I have studied CLF and Muay Thai boxing. There are many places to learn in N.Y. City but there was not many I would want to join. Most of the teachers who are good eventually move out of the City and either move to California or Florida. Most seem to gravitate towards warmer climates.

[youngfool]

tsanitlure said:

Hi, I am new to this forum and I wanted to say hello and thank you . I have studied CLF and Muay Thai boxing. There are many places to learn in N.Y. City but there was not many I would want to join. Most of the teachers who are good eventually move out of the City and either move to California or Florida. Most seem to gravitate towards warmer climates.

I take it from your post that your in New York. This group began in California with Ark Wong (five family/five animal southern shaolin). Gary Steuer, who studied with Ark Wong and others, opened his school in West Los Angeles in the early 70's. He now lives and teaches in Thailand and several of his senior students keep classes going in West LA.

patrick

[jingwah]

Hi Everyone

I am Jim Stebinger, one of Old Guard of Gary's students at Stoner. I am glad we have our own forum and can keep in touch this way. Hope to see everyone 7/29 at our next Sunday class.

[tsanit]

Hello
From what I understand, Master A.Y. Wong and his style were known worldwide. He was known, even here in N.Y. as the direct link to the Shaolin temple. Is this true? If so, you are very fortunate to be able to learn a style that will withstand time! There is a Shaolin Monk who teaches here on the lower east side of Manhattan but from what I've seen it is just not the same as I have seen being done on such as the Discovery channel. The Monk is rather young and his directions lean more to the WuShu form of training rather than authentic .

[youngfool]

tsanitlure said:

Hello
From what I understand, Master A.Y. Wong and his style were known worldwide. He was known, even here in N.Y. as the direct link to the Shaolin temple. Is this true? If so, you are very fortunate to be able to learn a style that will withstand time! There is a Shaolin Monk who teaches here on the lower east side of Manhattan but from what I've seen it is just not the same as I have seen being done on such as the Discovery channel. The Monk is rather young and his directions lean more to the WuShu form of training rather than authentic .

I think most kung fu students like to think their kung fu is "the direct link", but alas none of us were there. However the story goes, that after studying with respected teachers Lam Ark Fun and Ho Yang, and being already well respected for is mastery, he went under the tutelage of chief monk Pang. What he learned from who is perhaps anyone's guess. What is sure, is that he taught no nonsense kung fu. Every movement is purposeful and strong, and the list of forms he had to teach seemed to go on forever. Perhaps over 300 forms. Sadly I think many were lost, but we try to keep the ones we have and teach them as close to the way we learned them as we are able, though we are human. I only had a few learning experiences with gm Wong, but anyone fortunate to feel his touch felt his incredible depth of power and knowledge, in both Chinese medicine and kung fu. We do feel very fortunate to have this style to learn and work with, and to have a teacher like Gary, who received an excellent transmission of kung fu from gm Wong.

pat

[Gary Steuer]

I hope you have a great BBQ and an even better workout ! Wish I was there...............

[palmdown]

Greetings:

I'm a new member. Like jingwah, I'm one of Gary's Old Guard, joining in late '74.
Learning a martial art was at that time was all the rage, and I scouted a few schools before deciding on Gary's.
I didn't have to ponder much; the other schools looked either too fly-by-night or too concerned with the bottom line. That reminds me of my visit to the Chuck Norris dojang one block over from the School of Kung Fu on Santa Monica Blvd. I think that's where I met just after talking with Gary. Aaron Norris, Chuck's brother, happened to be in the office that day. I spoke with him and another fellow. Just as Gary had warned, soon came mention of signing a contract for some length of time. I liked Gary's approach—month-to-month—much better.
I never did visit the Ed Parker Kenpo Karate dojo further east Santa Monica Blvd. Hey, but at least I later bought Parker's book, Secrets of Chinese Karate. No one can call me closed-minded!
So I signed on with Gary and never looked back. When you find an art that seems right, that seems to fit you like a glove, you stay with it. My only regret is that I didn't learn more while I had the chance, and practice more after I left Los Angeles.
What the hell. If I do no more in martial arts than really learn the Small Cross and the other "pre-Animal" forms, then it'll be worth it.

palmdown

[mic]

Hi everyboby,
It will take me a while to figure out who's who with all those nicknames!
Anyway, I studied with Gary and the guys in the 80's and I can't pin down for how long.
Talking about memory... If I make it down to LA in March 08 and if I remember Salute and Small Cross, I'll be lucky! I am working on those again and hope to accomplish more before March.
Glad to still be in touch,
Michele

[Gary Steuer]

Good to see you here Michele ! For those interested, Michele studied with us in the mid '80's.. and is still active !
The one thing I truly love about our style is that it is not " Fly by night." Most of our group go back 20 - 30 years + ....

[jingwah]

Hi Michele..hope you can make it down in '08...

Jim

[mic]

Hi Jim S,
As long as someone lets me know the dates when they are established... I hope to make it to LA. Also, have any of you seen Sherri pop up for a class or event? Any other women in class? Who is teaching these days? Taking turn teaching?
All those questions...

[jingwah]

hi michelle

give me your email and I will add you to the mailing ist...gary usually arrives aroun 3/8 and stays 21 days...

[Gary Steuer]

Just wanted tp say hello to everyone and let you know I am alive and well.. Actually, feeling very good ! I didn't eat too much turkey and kept busy at the gym.. Waiting to find out what the new airfares will be, then I'll cry a little bit and try to book a ticket for March to make sure you 've all kept up with your training and we can have some terrific workouts !

[blackravin]

Hi Uncle Gary, it's nice to hear from you.. I know I've been a stranger for the past few months and really haven't been out doing much, but it's not that I don't care about the system anymore or all the great friends I've met. I just need sometime to reflect on everthing that has occurred in the last three years since the forum went up. I sometimes wonder whether it was all worth it, but you know what, the only conclusion I come out with, is that it was well worth it.. It's quite pecular how it exploided onto the scene, it was all over the place and then like a star it turned into a dwarf (a black whole you might say).. The forum gave me a vehicle to get everyone out of the wood work, it allowed us all and of course myself to find other brothers and masters who now carry the legacy of GM Wong's teachings.. I still believe that lineage has it's special place and will always believe that.. But I honestly have to say, that the biggest reward I got from the forum was to meet my Elders (although some no longer want to talk to me); and fellow brothers around the world. Can you all believe that the forum gave us the chance to see how GM Wongs legacy has grown all over the Mexican Republic, I know that Uncle Gary played a part in this down South as well, and can you all believe we have people practicing the art in Taiwan, Europe, Canada and can you believe that rumor has it that the system is traveling to Central America now via some Mexican instructors who I will not mention at this time.. Now the power of forums and the internet is just fantastic.. Uncle Gary, I can't wait to you get back in town, I know that I at times I seem a little flaky, but I'm just always on the run and infact I am posting this message right now from my work office.. Please say, "Hello" to the guys and remember everyone, please support the forums, they are what you make of them.. Now let's get back to training.. See you soon Uncle Gary....

El Cuervo