Martial Study
Environment:
The Academy of Chinese Martial and Cultural Arts
SHMKF was established in Colorado by Shī Fù H. Solow in 1993 (see Founding of Shaolin Hung Mei in Colorado).
The Association offers a comprehensive system of martial practices intended to cultivate the defense skills,
health, character and spiritual development (see Martial Study) of its students. From its first days, the Association
realized that in order to fully realize its mission and goals (see Mission, Values and Goals of SHMKF), it would have
to establish a center for its teachings. The result, the Academy of Chinese Martial and Cultural Arts, is unique in its
structure, purpose and composition. The Academy is designed to have broad appeal to all Asian and non-Asians in the
Boulder/Denver metro area and is intended to be Boulder’s premier location for events and activities related to
traditional Chinese martial and cultural arts.
The Academy of Chinese Martial and Cultural Arts, established in June of 2002, was founded and is managed by the Shaolin
Hung Mei Kung Fu Association, a 501(c)(3), non-profit corporation. One hundred percent of the Academy’s initial funding
was earned through SHMKF’s performances and virtually all renovations done by its students. Much of the Academy’s ongoing
operations are still funded by the proceeds earned through these presentations allowing the organization to keep membership
fees at a minimum. All teaching, all operations management and all facility renovations are done on a volunteer basis by the members.
From the fountain located in the reception area, to the artwork displayed throughout the center, to the Shrine in the front of
the training floor, the Academy is specifically designed to create the proper environment for the practice of authentic Chinese
martial and cultural arts (see Respecting Our Ancestors and Lineage).
The approximate 5,000 square foot facility plus 1,200 square foot mezzanine presently includes 6 main areas:
- Training Area
- Viewing Area
- Reception
- Conference/Education Room
- Treatment Room (Acupuncture, Tui Na, Traditional Chinese Medicine)
- Mezzanine for Gong Fa (Foundation Methods) Training
Presently, on-going classes in Shaolin Kung Fu (see Class Structure), Yang and Chen Tai Chi, Chinese Folk Dance, and Chinese Lion and Dragon performance training (see Lion and Dragon Performance Training) as well as Traditional Chinese Medicinal care are offered at the Academy. In addition, the ACMCA has played host to such lectures, seminars, workshops or recitals as:
- Chen Xiao Wang: Chen Tai Chi Workshops
- Wu Bin: Actor Jet Li’s coach on the Beijing Wu Shu Team
- He Jin Bao: Lineage carrier, Yin style of Ba Qua
- Yu Juanjuan: The only person to have ever bicycled around the entire perimeter of China
- John McGee: Photo exhibit by a local photographer who spent a year in China
- Wu Fei: International performer of the Gu Zheng
- Kasey Chatuparisoot: Internationally known for skills in the Royal Thai Art of Fruit and Vegetable Sculpting
- Panayoti Kelaidis: Director of the Denver Botanic Gardens, presented "Chinese Gardens"
- Chinese Culture Camps for Children taught by Xiao Ping Ma
- Bohua Chinese School Chinese Folk Dance rehearsals
- Headquarters for the Bohua Chinese School
- Venerable Jian Hu: Abbot of Chung Tai Zen Meditation Center, Sunnyvale, CA presented, "Bodhidharma -The First Zen Monk in China"
- Mr. Kenneth Cohen (Gao Lao Shi): Numerous lectures including the “Tao of Chinese Tea”, “Introduction to the I-Ching” and “Introduction to the Dao De Jing”.
“...As an instructor, I chose the Academy for their final exam [final exam given to the students of the Tai Chi class which is part of the curriculum at the School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Denver, CO,] because of the facility’s dedication to promoting traditional Chinese culture and martial arts in a classical fashion”.
Stephen Harms - Tai Chi Teacher at the School of Traditional Chinese Medicine(see Testimonials)
