Cartmell Sifu,
What are all the martial arts and styles you teach at Shen Wu?

I teach Baguazhang, Xingyiquan, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and submissions grappling.

(and Yang, Gau, and Sun Style Tai Ji in private and semi private classes).

What styles of Baguazhang and Xingyiquan do you teach, as you've learned many?

Tim,

I am looking at your school and a MMA school in La Mirada, CA called United Mixed Martial Arts with an NHB teacher named Jay Martinez.

If I may impose upon you, can you compare/contrast the training at Shen Wu with that offered at a school like UMMA? Their URL is www.unitedmixedmartialarts.com (just in case you wanna look).

I like the idea of learning the Chinese internals, but I also think i need to get the experience of being slapped around a bit, so my sissy ass won't curl up like a wilting flower in a confrontation.

Sorry if my question is a little unfocused. I guess I just want a little more info in order to make my final decision. Oh yeah, do you require contracts at your school? Thanks.

Alex,
My advice is to try classes anywhere you are interested in training, it's the only way to make an informed decision.

If it's getting slapped around you are looking for, we spar in every class.

LOL....
nice tim...trying one class isnt gonna tell me much...but I get the drift and appreciate the suggestion.

I'm looking for a bitch to slap around. Come on down.

Tim,

Can I just show up before a typical shen wu mixed class or Xingyi class and just participate?

What would I start off doing?

Hi Alex,

Tim is taking a quick family trip & then hosting a seminar in New Mexico this weekend- so he may take awhile to respond.

I can answer the questions though, Yes- you can just show up- watch and or participate (The 1st class is free).

I believe Meynard & Donovan- two of Tim's senior students are teaching the BJJ and ShenWu classes Thursday-Friday nights. (both are well trained, good sub-teachers.)

I will teach this Saturday's Bagua/XingYi class.
(Possibly with Meynard's help)

Classes start off with traditional warm up exercises (the BJJ and ShenWu classes are generally very strenuous)...

Then- (in BaGua) the group work on forms for a while.

... immediately afterward applications and techniques are shown and the student pair up and work on them. Then the counters to those techniques are taught- and the counter to counters are shown. (Tim usually shows 4-8 techniques per class- he's very thorough and has a way of making most things easily understandable).

Depending on your skill level- someone might work with you on how to fall safely and cover the basics, if you've already got all that- you're considered one of the clan and you'll do whatever the rest of them do.

As class time goes on the partners work a little more realistically giving more resistance to make each other work harder to truly get the feel of making a technique work.

The students who want to spar within whatever rules they agree to. Student's aren’t required to spar- but short of stabbing or biting it is encouraged for those who like it.


Tim currently charges $100 per month (no contract)
and this gives the student full access to all classes- 6 days a week.

Tim has a very resonable rate for Private lessons and while they are much cheaper than what some chi-huggers charge- and his insight is invaluable.
(I knew a lady who charged $185 for private lessons- in her home... and all she knew was forms and some Chi Gung- she couldn't fight her way out of a wet paper bag).

I think Tim will be back teaching at ShenWu on Monday 2/7

Shane is excellent at teaching the classical styles. His Bagua is truely excellent.

If you want to get a taste of how Tim would teach you can come to class Saturday and get a feel for the classical IMA style. He is well trained and he is very much like Tim in the way he instructs.

Donovan is excellent at teaching Shen Wu and BJJ.

He has well trained fighting ability and instructs in a well paced easy to follow manner. He likes to drill the basics. If you want to see the Shenwu and BJJ method expressed by one of Tim's top students you should try to attend even when Tim is not around.

What I'm really saying is that Tim's quality as a teacher and a fighter is evident in his students. I think the hallmark of a good martial art teacher is his ability to consistently produce other teachers and fighters who are also as capable.

Now, I'm biased becaused I've trained with Tim for a while. I've seen a lot and you won't find a better teacher than Tim.

Best of luck on your search, but I hope you come and join us.

You should come by the submission grappling classes on tuesdays or thursdays. They are a great workout.

Answer to to the first post:
What are all the martial arts and styles you teach at Shen Wu?

Change 02/07/05: Pithy answer, (rename and close of thread).