I come from a loving home, never had many problems in high school, and honestly don´t have a lot to complain about. My life thus far has been happy and privileged. With that said, I have often felt like something was missing. I´ve always been searching for something, never knowing what that something was. Something to push my energy past this point of near constant stagnation that I had become all too familiar with. If I´m not somehow challenging my understandings and perceptions (pushing my mind) then it´s easy for me to fall into wells of depression. I´m constantly trying to take mental and spiritual steps forward. This may be the reason why I´ve always been attracted to martial arts. It´s always been more then just the kicking, punching, and fancy acrobatics that draw me to it. It´s the extreme dedication and discipline that traditional martial arts are synonymous with.

     I started my first martial arts training when I was around 10 years old. I studied Taekwondo for over 3 years, sampled Karate and Eskrima, and dabbled in Jujutsu. The masters I studied under were all great individuals but I felt something was missing from the training. I needed more depth. I needed to push my mind and spirit, not just my body. I honestly didn´t care that much about learning how to ´kick ass´. If working on my physical strength, speed, and flexibility was a bi-product of developing my mind and spirit then great, but I felt that most of the time in those schools I was just learning how to ´kick and punch´. After being somewhat disappointed with my experience with martial arts I discontinued all my training. I spent several years casually searching for a new school and system of martial arts, not 100% sure what I was looking for. I knew that I needed something far from the Americanized martial arts systems that seemed to be so prevalent. I wanted a system that would stick true to its traditions, a system that offered more then just self-defense.

     One day when I was searching online for martial art schools I stumbled upon the Shaolin Lohan Pai. The website was cheesy but the information about the system and it´s history was intriguing enough for me to fill out an application. A week later I met with SiGung Cabais for my screening. I was surprised that I had to be accepted into the school by the master only after an interview process - I´m used to martial arts schools taking anyone that´s interested. A few weeks later I had my first class and I quickly realized that this school was about far more then just kicking and punching. There was something deeper here. I wasn´t learning how to overcome others. I was learning how to overcome myself. SiGung Cabais wasn´t pushing me, he was giving me the tools to push myself. At the end of class we were asked why we train the way that we do - the answer "To reach development of the mind through the discipline of the body." At that moment I realized that I may have found what I´ve been looking for.
     It´s been over two and a half years since that first class and my perception, understanding, and respect for this system as well as a corresponding perception, understanding, and respect for myself and the world around me has never stopped growing. I found just what I was looking for and so much more. This system is about unifying the body, mind, and spirit and it effects every aspect of my life. When I first joined the school I would have said "I study Kung Fu", but that is no longer the case. I now live Kung Fu... I should mention that I have spent quite a lot of time trying to write this testimonial (a couple years!). Honestly, I find it very hard to find the proper words when describing what this system has done for me. I can only describe my journey thus far as being amazingly revealing, enlightening, and rewarding. This path through the Shaolin Lohan Pai continues to evolve and surprise every step of the way. Shortly after I joined the school, around the time I earned discipleship and was first diving into Shantung Black Tiger, I remember saying to myself "wow, I can´t believe everything I´ve gone through and overcome to get to this point". Now I seem to say that same thing to myself at least once a month! I´ve grown in many different ways since joining this school. My Master and the students I train with have become family. I have stumbled upon energies and perceptions I never knew existed! And the most exciting thing... I have only placed my toe in the ocean that is Kung Fu. I can´t wait to see what tomorrow will bring!

-Dai-SiHing T. Ross Hyman-