My private picture library

Many of you have written in with an interest in the many unique pictures I have in my possession.

Remember a few e-mails back I mentioned Fang Shen Do had done the opening show for the Shaolin Monks a couple of years ago when they were passing through Montreal?

Since the Shaolin Monks were back in my school a few weeks ago I thought I'd post a few more pics from their original show for your enjoyment.

When reviewing my picture folders and CDs, I came across a whole slew of pictures I had forgotten about. I'll make sure to post them on a weekly basis from here on in.



















Here the Abbott prepares himself to bend the 2 edged spears on his throat while the monks brace themselves for what's about to happen...



















You guessed it...easy as pie. Well, he made it look as easy as pie.

Whenever you see a master in action in any field, they always seem to inspire you by making it look so damn easy and effortless.

When in reality it took dedicated practice, sacrifice and some good ol' stubborness.

























The tri-sectional Bo, a traditional weapon used to build superior hand/eye coordination. Unfortunately illegal in Canada.




















One Shaolin Monk, great.

2 Shaolin Monks, better.

Each Monk on stage brought their own special energy to the show, adding to the synergy of the group, as they say: "the result was greater than the sum of their individual effects or capabilities".






















Seeing a brawl in a bar is one thing but seeing a brawl among Shaolin Monks, better.

Seriously, their choreography skills were quite impressive, just watching them gave me lots of ideas for my own demos.



















At this point the show was going great, even asking myself: "How they could top what they had just done."

This demonstration brings a whole new meaning to threading a needle, hey gramma?

Throwing a needle through a plate glass and busting a balloon on the other side requires some skill, ok the monk is good... real good.



















Their fluidity and naturalness was like watching poetry in movement.





















Even when handling a Kwan Dao or Long-Handled-Broadsword which is considered a heavier weapon, the monks still showed excellent control and speed wielding it.
























What do you say to a guy who's holding on to 2 hammers and he wants to smash your head in?

Don't get hit.

The Shaolin Monks used a variety of old weapons like these ones during the show. Not practical in today's times but impressive to see them swinging these big ol' hammers at each other's heads without hurting themselves.

Note: Do not try this at home.













Classic Shaolin Monk memorabilia.


















Here's the Bow and Arrow Exercise I was mentioning about yesterday.

It's a great breathing exercise. Builds tremendous focus, gives you a good isometric resistance training, increases mental toughness and great for a quick solo training in the morning.



















A closer look at one of the 8 health and vitality moves I was talking about yesterday.



















Every exercise is designed to move your Chi freely throughout the body by getting into specific positions and holding them.

Something I mentioned on many occasions in our Neigong training in FSD.

Without a doubt the Shaolin Monks are impressive, being primarily a kung-fu practitioner, I owe it to them for keeping the art alive. To think on so many occasions the art was almost completely wiped out by Emperors and Foreign Country Invaders, almost forgotten and never to be spoken about again. How it survived against such odds is quite a feat.

You can own a small piece of Shaolin History by purchasing one of only a few DVD sets left available.

There's about 3 hours of footage of them going through different drills and exercises, as well as offering demos and answering questions from the students.

Expand your own library of unique DVDs and build something of value you can show your kids one day by grabbing a copy today.

Shaolin Seminar DVD

Master Yourself,

Sifu Martin

More Shaolin Pics

Here are more Shaolin Monk pictures for your enjoyment.




















A Big Thank You to Marieve for doing an excellent job with the pictures.

This exercise is designed to develop yang energy. A great conditioning exercise of the Shaolin Monks.























Here's a picture of my youngest brother Sifu Silvain performing some of the more intense striking drills of the Shaolin Monks.













This was 1 of 8 movements you should do daily to increase your health and vitality.





















Some students working the different close quarter techniques of the Shaolin Monks.



















The oldest of the Shaolin Monks led the students through a series of sword moves to increase finesse, balance, and coordination.





















The Shaolin Monks made sure to leave no student unattended. Proper form was a top priority.









Their technique was flawless. One can just imagine how many repetitions the've gone through in their training throughout the years.


They clearly don't understand the common western question: "How many more times do I have to do this?" or "I'm bored, show me something new"

Repetition, really is the mother of skill.























Even the Shaolin Monks believe in Push-Ups, this one will never go out of style, that's for sure.












Here the eldest Shaolin Monk opened the seminar with a drunken style form using the sword.

The level of explosiveness got a few students snapping their heads back, as you can see in this picture.

















With so many students in the school, it made for a very special 'ambiance'. Everyone feeding off of each others energy.































Here Sifu Brian and one of my Black Belts, Peter, engage in the more advanced hand to hand techniques.




Pierre-Olivier, another one of my advanced students, demontrates an exercise we also use in our FSD training, the Bow and Arrow.


Great for conditioning the Shoulder, increasing focus and strengthening the kidneys.

































I got to work with the Shaolin Monks throughout the night and was fortunate enough to receive a gift from him, one of his personal weapons which he used during the seminar.


A souvenir I'll hold on to, to remember the experience.

You can also hold a piece of Shaolin Monk memorabilia by way of DVD.

Yesterday I mentioned how I would be making these DVDs available to a select few who act quickly.

I only made 50 copies and I have about 37 left.

Reserve one today

Until next time,

Master Yourself,

Sifu Martin

Like being taught by Bruce Lee himself

Last Monday was a dream come true for many of my students, any kung-fu practitioner would agree it could of only be topped by being taught personally by Bruce Lee himself.

They got a chance to learn and train with the famous Shaolin Monks.


Something to the equivalent of meeting in person one of your biggest idols. Would you be excited?

The school was jam packed with close to 70 people in attendance.

They made sure to grab everyone's attention by starting with a dynamic demonstration of their kung-fu skill, both armed and empty handed.

You could feel the energy in the air, their intensity and presence that kept everyone's eyes glued to them was impressive.



















Both had been studying since the age of 8 and I was curious to see how they were going to teach us, you know with the language barrier and all.

To my surprise, after a demonstration of a technique he was doing with me, he uttered the words: "Encore".

Which you know is french for "again". He had taken the time to learn a few french words so he could better connect with us.

At first they seemed too focused and stern, I guess because of years of training in a very regimented way at the temple in China, as the seminar went along you could feel them getting more comfortable and managed to get a few smiles and chuckles out of them.



















I came to realize that they are no different from us. They're Human.

And they love their kung-fu training as I do.

They find great joy in discipline, they want to be happy, they treat their body as a precious temple, and they don't shy away from taking the journey within via meditation.

Do you share these same desires?

I hope you do.

No other sport or activity can connect you like Martial Arts does. It really is the sport of the 21st century.


In Fang Shen Do we're commited to giving our students the best possible, martial art experience. That's why inviting the monks was a no-brainer.

Although I know most of my students wouldn't (or couldn't) spend the rest of their life in a monastery and train 8 to 12 hours a day, I know meeting the monks, seeing them and hearing them talk about their experience certainly inspired most of my students to take their FSD training even more seriously.

It also opened their eyes to the possibilities of what can be accomplished with disciplined effort, commitment, and intensity.

The monks are powerful models you can learn from.

What if you couldn't make it when I sent out the announcement?

I made sure to film everything. Capturing every moment so you can revisit it whenever you wish.

It will be like having a monk look over your shoulder like this student, Mathieu, had the privilege of having.

I'm going to make it available for the next 5 days after that it's going in my prized video library where it will stay there as a souvenir for my kids one day.

To grab a copy of the whole seminar whether you were there and want a souvenir or if you're just curious about seeing the kind of demos, drills and techniques they had us do, Click here.

Master Yourself,

Sifu Martin

It's Louse Time! Fear of Success

If you're new to my list of focused, motivated, self- starters, Welcome.
(if you're not new jump right away to today's lesson below)

Every day I communicate to you the best ways to train and the kind of mindset it takes to get results either in your physical fitness or martial art training.

Friday is always what I call: "Louse Time". Modeled after Bruce Lee's strategy in Enter the Dragon.

You know that part where he's having tea with the government agent but he's disturbed by one of his students and Bruce Lee tells the agent: It's Louse Time! The agent replies with his British accent: "yes of course".

Since I'm 6 years old that scene has always stuck with me and I'll be using that same strategy with YOU every week.

Friday is where I share with you Life Lessons and Direction given to me by my dad (and Sifu) every Friday.

Today's lesson is: Fear of Success

Did you know more people have a fear of success than a fear of failure?

When it comes to fitness, more people will choose to avoid exercising and losing weight, miss out on the opportunity to transform their body while raising their self-esteem and be generally happier just to please other people.

"If I lose weight and look better than ever what will my friends say about me?"

"If I get strong and independent, my spouse might feel threatened and feel like they're losing their control over me"

"I've never been good at anything why should I even start, I'll fail anyway"

"My whole family is fat, I'm doomed, it's my family genes"

"Once I get slim and toned I won't be able to enjoy the food I really like"

And the classic statement that goes: "It won't last forever. You know what THEY say, after 30 your metabolism starts slowing down, so why bother?

Who is They?

When you listen to people talk, pay attention to the words being used.

THEY is just another way to pass the responsibility to someone else.

When it comes to fitness, your health, your family, your business, your life, THEY have absolutely no say in anything.

It's your responsibility.

Maybe that's the biggest fear of success. Responsibility.

Are you ready to assume it?

Every man and woman should be able to run a mile, do a minimum of 50 push-ups and sit-ups, stretch and touch their toes, bike at full speed for 10 km, swim 10 laps and put in a full days work every once in a while without eating anything and not be affected by it.

Once every citizen understands that, we'll have a society that is strong and willing to take full responsibility for our happiness, results, success, motivation and our future.

Practicing Martial Arts makes you quickly understand that. No significant development can be achieved without concentrated effort and discipline.

Since it's my dad's birthday this week (Feb 18 th) I'd like to invite you to put any of our products to the test and take advantage of a 18% percent discount on any one of them by simply punching in '18' in the coupon/promotion box at check out.

FSD Product Page

There is great pride in knowing the results you've gotten in any area of your life, especially physical fitness, was your way of staring fear of success in the face and proving to yourself that results can be long lasting when you apply a bit of perseverance, sprinkled with consistent effort.

Master Yourself,

Sifu Martin

See Bob Wall Live

"Show me your friends and I'll show you your future."

I wanted to give you a heads up of what's happening at FSD Central in the early spring.

If you live in eastern Ontario or western Quebec and maybe even in the Vermont area or close to the border you might want to mark these dates on your calendar: May 8th to May 19th.

Bob Wall is coming to town.

Yes, Ohara from Enter the Dragon.

Yes, one of Bruce Lee's closest friends.

Yes a Black Belt under "Judo" Gene Lebell and the Machado Brothers of Brazilian Ju-Jitsu fame.

And let's not forget, friend, business partner and student of Chuck Norris.

An Encyclopedia of knowledge when it comes to martial arts and a pioneer in the martial art world.

Why is he coming to town?

To hang out with my Dad.

I mentioned on past posts how they met in Germany and how they instantly hit it off because they have so much in common.

It's very special.

Consider how many people Bob meets in a month or year and never get to spend an hour, let alone a week with him.

This is our goal, our service to you: To give you unique opportunities to take your training to another level.

So mark these dates on your calendar, it's an event you will not want to miss.

As we get closer to the dates I mentioned above I'll make sure to give you links and more information on how to get involved in the many different seminars which will be made available to both our students and to the general public.

Stay tuned,

Sifu Martin

P.S. Remember a few months ago I interviewed Bob about his life growing up, behind the scenes details of filming with Bruce Lee and so on? Well I'm almost done editing it (over 3 hours worth of audio), I'll let you know how you can get a hold of it shortly.

Happy B-Day Sijo

I know you've stopped counting a long time ago and you're a strong believer that aging is the same as any other kind of disease, it can be cured.

With enough research, many organizations and scientists around the world are coming up with breakthroughs in this area.

It's only a matter of time before it's completely eradicated.

Until then, Thank You for leading by example and I know you attribute your level of physical fitness to regular Station Training as taught in our Fitness Kits.

If you would like to find out how our Grand-Master stays in top physical shape and not look his age, you can visit this page to find out how you can get started.

Sifu Martin

Balance is when you fight like hell to catch it

Had a blast last night with my dad heading our Chi Sao Seminar.

Whoever has mastery of the basics will be in control most of the time.

The basics of footwork, sensitivity, sticking ability, center of balance, and the understanding of how to use pressure or remove pressure are the keys to acquiring skill in this drill.

How much time do YOU dedicate to the basics?

Even before mentioning footwork, the first element you should focus on is Balance Training.

Bruce Lee once mentioned how he turned every moment in his day in a training session, even with some thing so basic as putting on his pants, he would turn it into a balancing act.

"Balance is when you fight like hell to catch it" Sijo mentioned during the seminar.

Just like a plane is never on course 99% of the time, small adjustments are made to eventually land in the right direction, the same holds true with balance.

Balance is one ability we all lose as we age and what better way to maintain it as long as you can through special drills like Chi Sao.

The better your stability, the better you can deliver devastating power in your strikes and by having a decent control over your center of balance you can make it way harder for your opponent to throw you, sweep you, lift you or manipulate your body is such a way to put you in a compromising position.

As martial artists those are elements that we are constantly on the look out for.

After you've taken care of your balance training then you can move on to footwork development, jumping ability, Ladder work, Grounding work and Closing Attacks.

If you can't reach your opponent you're in trouble. Don't you agree?

When you do decide to attack, you have to do so in an explosive manner, with speed and power, while maintaining control over yourself.

That's exactly what you'll learn in our New 2 Disc Closing Series.

Re-shot in full HD with almost 2 hours of footage guiding you through the steps to acquire the ability to quickly exert your power while maintaining control and removing your greatest enemy:

Distance

Learn to cut the distance that's stopping you from your main objective:

Knocking out your opponent.

See what I'm talking about here.

Master Yourself,

Sifu Martin