2010:
Buddha Zhen produces 66 videos of shaolinINTERACTIVE.com |
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Online Kung Fu and Tai Chi.
Finally, the best Kung Fu in the world.
Finally, the best Tai Chi PROGRAM.
Finally, the best teacher will teach the best...
Filming starts June 1, 2010. |
October 2009:
Buddha Zhen creates the TAI CHI KIDS curriculum to compete with Taekwondo schools
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Studying the curriculums of local Tae Kwon Do schools in his area, Buddha Zhen realized their ranking system was much, much easier than even our nonprofit organization, TAI CHI YOUTH.
So, without changing or diluting our Kung Fu or Tai Chi programs, Buddha Zhen created a new ranking system for kids that could result in monthly Belt Test Awards as in the Tae Kwon Do schools.
With the goal being more students having more fun learning Shaolin Kung Fu, and Yang Taijiquan; we are anxious to utilize our new curriculums in an appropriate location. |
June 2009:
Kung Fu Kids Program Launched at 2 Strike Park |
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Over the past half dozen years, Buddha Zhen has been redesigning the Shaolin Chi Mantis Kung Fu and Tai Chi curriculums.
Several experimental programs have been taught at the YMCAs and L.A.County parks.
This program was cancelled due to the STATION FIRE and Flintridge Fires of 2009 Summer. The fires burned close to 2 Strike Park and the homes around it were forced to evacuate... |
May 2009:
Buddha Tai Chi Program Launched at 2 Strike Park
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This program was cancelled due to the STATION FIRE and Flintridge Fires of 2009 Summer. The fires burned close to 2 Strike Park and the homes around it were forced to evacuate... |
November 2008:
L.A.Parks & Recreation Cosponsor Buddha Kung Fu Push Hands Tournament
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Each year since 1994, Shaolin Chi Mantis has sponsored and promoted Push Hands Tournaments in Utah and California.
In order to promote our Tai Chi classes taught at CV Park, in La Crescenta, California, the L.A.Parks and Recreation Department helped spread the word about our tournaments... |
September 2008:
Kung Fu Bootcamp launched at CV Park
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CV Park 12 Foot Banner
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The first Bootcamp semester was taught from October 2008 to December 2008. Not all students graduated our final cold rainy night at CV Park.
These are still being taught, but we've changed it from a 12 week program to a 16 week program.
The first 12 weeks of the Bootcamp will be taught the same with four additional weeks added for those who might not have been able to pass the 12 Tantui test, and additional testing time.
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June 2008:
Buddha Zhen publishes Buddha Kung Fu Student Manual
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The world's first interactive Kung Fu manual, by Buddha Zhen, was created for the launch of his Buddha Kung Fu schools in January, 2008.
Required of all Shaolin Chi Mantis, Buddha Kung Fu, and Tai Chi Youth students.
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January 2008:
Buddha Kung Fu schools launched by BZ
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Launched at CV Park, La Crescenta, California, the Buddha Kung Fu programs are derived from the preexisting curriculums of Shaolin Chi Mantis Traditional Buddhist Gongfu.
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July 2007
4th of July Parade
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Some students battled back and forth from curb to curb, battling each other with staffs.
Other students mirrored each other performing Shaolin Kung Fu Forms.
It was very hot, but we had a great time. Many people said we were the highlight of the Tujunga 4th of July Parade. |
2006:
Staff Classes at CV Park
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I just got another new white waxwood staff the other day, when I was in Los Angeles Chinatown.
I love my staffs. They aren't toothpicks of a big tree, they are the entire tree. Maybe I'd imagine or feel the spirit of the wood anyway--but these staffs of mine are personal friends.
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2005:
Shaolin Kids Program launched in Tujunga |
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Buddha Zhen rents a dance studio for two days per week, in the afternoon.
Working with son, Zhen Song-Dao, they worked out the Tai Chi Youth Demo Team show and performed the Commerce Street Fair and other events that year.
The YMCA hired Master Zhen to start a Tai Chi Kids program at the VHY YMCA in Tujunga, California. |
2004:
Sword Classes in Tujunga House of Zhen |
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Sword classes were only held for two years from the House of Zhen.
Buddha Zhen utilized this opportunity, while having several students in this Sword Class, to develop its curriculum since leaving Utah.
During the past ten years, Buddha Zhen had trained under several more Kung Fu sword masters and had some new additions to the existing Shaolin Chi Mantis Sword Program. |
2003:
YMCA Tai Chi Classes by Master Zhen |
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The Karate Sensei at the VHY YMCA blocked Buddha Zhen from teaching there during 2001 and 2002.
When Student Lucy told the YMCA staff, "You should hire this Tai Chi Master..." they did.
First hired by the Flintridge YMCA, the YHY would also hire Master Zhen the next year after their remodeling. |
2002:
Classes at House of Zhen |
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Master Zhen's landlord knew he taught Kung Fu and Tai Chi before he moved in.
His landlord gave permission for the huge dirt lot to be used for Kung Fu lessons in Master Zhen's front yard.
This dirt lot, 30 feet wide and 200 feet long became the HOUSE OF ZHEN. This also referred to the backyard which included Master Zhen's lawn.
Bookwork was usually read and studied by the students gathered inside at Buddha Zhen's kitchen table, or in lawn chairs on the front porch. The House of Zhen was a house of zen. |
2001:
Black widow bites Buddha |
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Shortly after moving into his home in Tujunga, California, Buddha Zhen is bitten by a large female black widow spider that climbed up his pantleg and caught in his pants, biting him more times than we will ever know.
It took several weeks for Zhen to be able to walk to the outdoor trash cans.
It took several months before he could walk to the store with his children.
It took seven years to overcome all of the injury but now Buddha Zhen seems stronger than before.
There were some bad side effects though... |
2000:
Buddha Zhen's cabin |
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Buddha Zhen intended to purchase this home, but it was not legal to live there year round. These almost 100 year old cabins were in the middle of the Angeles National Forest.
The park rangers don't want renters or homesteaders in the parks, so they are trying to eliminate these old cabins.
Whenever one of these is not purchased, it is demolished so the forest can reclaim the land.
It was an interesting year in the forest. We got our water from the stream in our front yard, had a cess pool, raccons and a puma mountain lion. |
1999:
Last Annual Chinese Gongfu and Taijiquan Tournament in Utah |
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After a decade in Utah, Master Zhen regretted not leaving a school behind or a lasting tournament event.
As the Chairman of the AAU Chinese Martial Arts of Utah, Master Zhen hoped to create a wider interest and lasting desire for Kung Fu and Tai Chi in Utah. |
1998:
Annual Push Hands Tournaments in Utah by Amateur Athletic Union AAU |
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Shaolin Chi Mantis and Tai Chi Youth were members of the Chinese Martial Arts Division of the AAU Amateur Athletic Union.
The AAU sponsored our tournaments and gave us low cost insurance that was required for us to rent Liberty Park for our Tournaments. |
1997:
Tai Chi Youth Demo Team and Master Zhen Earn Utah Governor's Praise |
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Several religions wanted to enlist, enroll, or hire Master Zhen Shen-Lang, Spirit Wolf of Truth, during the nineties, to join their religious sects.
Although Master Zhen taught at the Church of Religious Science, the Unitarian, and other Christian churches--he taught Shaolin Zen Buddhism.
Several Chan Buddhist, and a Daoist sect also invited Buddha Zhen's membership--he declined.
To priest, or not to priest. |
1996:
Tai Chi Youth nonprofit
founded in Salt Lake City, Utah |
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From 1994 to 1996, Master Zhen planned to launch a new sect of Chinese Chan Buddhism, Shaolin Zen.
After several years researching nonprofit organizations and studying business classes at Utah State University, Master Zhen Shen-Lang changes his nonprofit to be a non-denominational education organization that will eligible for government grants, which a Buddhist church is not. |
1995:
Shaolin Chi Mantis taught in Salt Lake City
Continuing Education Programs |
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After seeing Master Zhen's Shaolin Chi Mantis programs taught in elementary afterschool and spring break programs, the Salt Lake City Continuing Education department contacted Master Zhen to teach for them.
This resulted in a wide variety of Kung Fu and Tai Chi classes including the SHAOLIN STAFF classes which were shut down as "weapon classes" until Master Zhen's letter to the Board of Directors pointed out they would have to also elminate their fencing classes. |
1994:
Shaolin Chi Mantis taught in YWCA and Liberty Park |
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The YWCA was a wonderful place to teach for several years. They provided seasonal advertising and had a basketball gymnasium with a wooden floor.
Buddha Zhen prefers wood floors. |
1993:
Shaolin Chi Mantis taught in Prisons and Rehabilitation Centers |
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With the success of his first classes at Decker Lake Maximum Security Prison, several other rehabilitation centers contacted Master Zhen to teach at their facilities. |
1992:
Shaolin Chi Mantis founded by Sifu Richard O'Connor |
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Richard O'Connor, The Coyote, moved to Utah to create success as a movie maker and record producer with his own independent record label, Shaolin Records.
Richard's girlfriend Michelle, had been his booking agent in Los Angeles, and promised that she get better gigs and more money in Utah.
Naively, Richard followed his wife to Utah where she quit working for him and said she would never obey him or be his wife again.
Stuck in Utah, Richard stayed home and cared for his daughter. Unable to get jobs in the movie or record business in Utah, he volunteered to teach at a local prison on the recommendation of a counselor there.
His work with the inmates was so successful that Sifu Richard O'Connor was hired to teach his Shaolin Kung Fu and Tai Chi by the Utah Governor, Michael Leavitt. |
1991:
Relocation to Salt Lake City, Utah destroys Shaolin Communications and Shaolin Records |
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With two full time interns and three part-time interns, Shaolin Records was working hard in 1989 to release the cassingle, "It's Your Shadow," in the college radio market.
Michelle McCarty joined Shaolin Records and took over as the new booking agent for THE COYOTE, who was performing as a soloist on acoustic or electric guitar, and also as a three piece band with Coyote fronting on lead guitar.
Shaolin Records was destroyed when all the interns were left behind in Los Angeles with all of Richard O'Connor's connections and networkings he had accumulated, acquired, and creating since moving to Los Angeles in 1978 with his power pop trio band, THE RICH. |
1990:
Shaolin Communications Business Plan is Shaolin Buddhist Business Practice |
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During his marriage to Raquel King Hajata, Richard Del Connor began work on structuring his independent record comany, Shaolin Reords which he established in 1984.
After graduating UCLA in 1987 and divorcing Raquel in 1988, Richard completed the books to establish his way of doing business in the entertainment business. All employees, business partners, and interns were required to read and sign the book on completion. |
1989:
Shaolin Records interns learn Shaolin Kung Fu |
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With an ad in Music Connection Magazine, Shaolin Records became flooded with interns.
The ad specified that all interns were required to attend the FREE Shaolin Kung Fu classes each day.
People, students, and disciples of Tai Mantis came over for these workouts. Some people started making donations or paying small fees which became Buddha Zhen's first teaching fees and Buddhist donations. |
1988:
Rocktography by The Coyote with Whip Chain Belt |
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His advertisement in the rock'n'roll newspapers was, "ROCKTOGRAPHY BY THE COYOTE."
Since his reputation and main interest in photography was shooting rock'n'roll bands and album covers, Coyote coined his own style of photography and business as, Roctography. |
1987:
Prison Boneyard Kung Fu |
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Always good in math, Richard Connor was in charge of all the circular column walls at the Wayside Prison near Magic Mountain, in Southern California. |
1986:
MTV Lighting DIrector and Apogee Special EFX |
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1985:
UCLA Whip Chain Trees |
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1984:
Tai Mantis Federation
graduation in Redondo Beach |
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1983:
Tai Chi Praying Mantis and 7-Star Praying Mantis Boxing |
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1982:
Yang Style Taijiquan |
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1981:
Tai Mantis Federation Kung Fu in Torrance, California |
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1980:
Sifu Douglas Wong's White Lotus System Gung Fu |
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1979:
The Rich are Disciples of David Carradine's Kung Fu TV |
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Buddha Kung Fu Student Manual
