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An Art for All Seasons:

This northern Shaolin philosophy of Kung Fu is believed to have originated within the Shaolin temple with a priest named Yue (circa, post A.D. 1,100). In the 1950's, renowned Karate master Eizo Onishi traveled to Taiwan and studied with the northern Shaolin master, Kochi Kyo. Beginning in the early 1970's, Sifu Thomas F. Smith studied Yue Chia under Master Onishi for several years in Japan (Sifu Smith later founded the Shaolin Temple of Michigan, which has been in operation since 1985, located in Westland).

Rooted in efficiency and self-expression, Yue Chia is both science and art. Yue Chia includes long range, close range, joint locks, chokes, throws, grappling, weapons, chi-kung and meditation. Emphasizing practical application and using the attacker's energy against them, the art is ideal for all students regardless of size and strength.

In the Shaolin tradition, Yue Chia rejects all notions of sport or competition. Students work together as partners; not opponents, thus learning is safer, more thorough, and far more meaningful. In Yue Chia, the only opponent is one's own ego. While students of Yue Chia develop total mind / body conditioning and highly practical self-defense skills, the true nature of the art is personal transformation, the unlocking of one's infinite potential in all areas of life. The practice of meditation is a cornerstone of the art.

Sifu Christopher Scafone has studied Yue Chia since 1994 and he is the first and only 5th degree black sash under Sifu Thomas Smith (while also earning numerous ranks in Aikido and Karate, and has studied Kriya yoga since 1995). Robyn Scafone holds a black sash in Yue Chia. She has been studying Yue Chia since 1997 and Kriya yoga since 1999. The Scafone's founded Infinite Path Martial Arts in 2002, located in Clawson, MI. 248-336-8488.

• The Fighting Forms of Yue Chia:
• Hsing Yi
• Hsing Er
• Hsing San
• Hsing Si
• Hsing Wu

• The Temple Forms of Bodhidharmo-Tamo:
• Circa A.D. 521, Tamo introduced an already ancient system of mind/body training known in India as, "Vajramukti" (Divine Thunderbolt) to the monks of the Shaolin Monastery. These exercises formed the genesis of the Shaolin martial tradition
• Sanchin ("Three Battles": Dated at 4000-6000 years old)
• Seisan ("Three-Lives")
• Sanseiryu ("School of 3 Lives")

• Taught at the Black Sash Level: (Direct contributions of Master Kochi Kyo)
• Renshukenichiryo (Practice Fist)
• Jakenichiryo (Snake-Fist)

• Weapons:
• Shaolin Staff
• Japanese Katana
• Chinese Saber

• Other Forms offered at Infinite Path Martial Arts:
• Chinto ("Fighting Where the Sun Rises" or "Suppresson": From the Norhtern Crane system, this ancient Shaolin form dates back to A.D. 900)
• Chibanakushanku ("2 Martial Artists": The highest form in the Norhtern Crane system)
• Wu Hsing Chuan (Five Animal Fist Form)
• Wu Tai Hsing ("Five Elements Form": A Wu Dang form)
• Gojushiho ("Fifty-Four Movements": Believed to be up to 900 years old, this is the highest form in the Southern Crane system)
• Passai Dai ("Attack on a Fortress": Another ancient crane form from the Southern Shaolin Temple)

Now is the time to begin unlocking your infinite potential!