In
1990, a local Fukien farmer was tilling the land and he unexpectedly
hit stone. After digging around the area, he realized that
he had struck the foundation of an ancient structure! The
authorities were immediately called in. After two years of
excavation, archaeologists confirmed that was indeed the famous
Southern Shao-Lin Temple!
In
2000, the Year of the Dragon, Shao-Lin students were the first
Westerners to officially visit the newly reconstructed temple.
In a beautiful ceremony of huge crowds, festive music, and
firecrackers, a tablet was unveiled, denoting the lineage
of the Chinese Shao-Lin Centers and Grandmaster Sin Kwang
The'. Tablet rubbings can be seen hanging on the walls of
most of the Chinese Shao-Lin Centers.
In
2004, students returned to the Southern Shao-Lin Temple where
this time, the ceremony in front of the CSC tablet was to
promote Senior Masters David and Sharon Soard to 8th Degree
Black Belt Elder Masters! Training with Grandmaster The' for
over 35 years, they are most dedicated and most successful
martial artists and instructors.
Other
highlights included joint performances of CSC Traditional
Kung-Fu and the local Putian wushu group. Some CSC students
tested at the Fukien Temple to the next belt rank, including
Albuquerque student, Adam Collingsworth, who advanced into
3rd Degree Black Belt!
Perhaps
the greatest moment of the trip was the opportunity to witness
the Shao-Lin Grandmaster, Sin Kwang The', demonstrate the
Pa Kua Sun and Moon Forks! Spinning, slashing, and jabbing,
each section climaxed into a whirlwind of attacks! It was
by far the most memorable martial performance of our visit
to China!
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