Being 50 years old, I was pursuing a life long dream to lean kung fu. I wanted kung fu and no other form. I also wanted the authentic kung fu, not a watered down version where the name "Shaolin" was only a clever marketing ploy. So in May 2009, after a lot of research, I walked into the Shaolin Lohan School and was met by the Sifu. What was different was that the Sifu while very friendly wasn´t overly eager to have me sign up. Missing was the "hunger" for money that many schools display replaced with an expectation for dedicated students. After observing one class, I was impressed with the technical degree to which the Sifu corrected students and with this, signed up. It´s almost embarrassing to share my physical reaction to the training. During basic stance training, it felt like my head was going to burst. In fact, I even brought in a blood pressure monitor to test my blood pressure on breaks because it felt as if it´d climbed to alarming levels. There were classes where we were stretched beyond what I ever imagined possible, but felt huge satisfaction afterwards. Amazingly, the headaches stopped and I believe today they were a result of my body revolting against the demand placed upon it. Facing this battle between mind, body and desire is one of the most significant challenges one constantly faces in this training. I´ve been in the school now for over 8 months. Many times I´ve question my sanity regarding continuing with the training. Never have I dreamed that the challenges would be so real. The best way to describe the school is a "little piece of the Shaolin Temple Kung Fu training in St. Louis." Coming to this school means being prepared to test yourself, to commit yourself both in and out of class. It means learning authentic kung fu. I´m still in school and more enthusiastic than ever about what I´ve learned, learning and will learn both about myself and kung fu.

     -Stephen Newlon-