Articles for Members

Front of t-shirt:

“北少林拳”

Pinyin: “Běi Shào Lín Quán”

Translation: “North Small Forest Technique”

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Meaning: The system (technique) of Chinese martial arts that you study is known as “Northern Shaolin (Small or Young Forest)” in English. It is a style that was made famous in the 1920’s by Master Gu Ruzhang (1894-1952) of Jiangxi, China. The name of the system is in reference to the martial techniques of the Shaolin Temple in Henan (northern) China. This system in no way is related to what is currently taught at the temple and is believed by some to be a “time capsule” of the techniques taught around the Shaolin Temple in the 1700’s.

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Back of t-shirt:

“忠義國術館”

Pinyin: “Zhōng Yì Guó Shù Guǎn”

Translation: “Loyalty and Justice"

(Righteousness) National Arts (Chinese martial arts) Hall”

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Meaning: The name of our school in English, Zhong Yi Kung Fu Association, conveys a similar message in Chinese. The term “Guoshu” is interpreted in Chinese as “traditional Chinese martial arts and culture”, we use the term “Kung Fu” in the English translation as it relates to the general public’s view of what is “Chinese martial arts”. The term “Guan” is interpreted in Chinese as “Hall”, in the context of a “Guoshu Guan” it has the implication of a “Chinese martial arts and culture training hall”, in English we use the term “Association” because a “Guoshu Guan” is much more than a place to learn martial skills, it is a place to learn also culture, traditional customs and associate with others with the same interest.

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Dragon:

The dragon symbolizes the intellectual and internal strength necessary to be developed to understand our system.

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Tiger:

The tiger represents the physical and external strength necessary to be developed to practice our system.

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Yin & Yang:

The yin/yang symbol represents not only a balance to strive for in your training of the intellectual and physical (internal and external, immaterial and material, etc…) aspects of our system but also the constant pursuit, the student must observe, of one after the other (opposing forces) to increase their knowledge of the system and life in general.