The Truth about Shi Yan Ming & Iron X

[Maestro]

i agree about the fainting or whatever, i fainted 3 times in my life, once in a mall and i woke up with everyone standing around me with some woman takeing my pants off trying to give me "air"

another time was when i was real young in elementary school and i was playing the saxophone and people where painting and i just fainted

another time was at burger king in the summer and i passed out before i got to the drinks

everytime there was a big fuss about it, i just felt wierd afterwards and welcomed the ambulances because i just didnt feel right afterwards...

but then again i would rather have been taken to a resturant for a meal instead of a hospital..but i like to eat so....


and from what i can gather, this kid sounds like his general gripe is with the whole school, not moreso the passing out or whatever, and this is the same fool that was talking shit to me before and hes just a chump anyway

i could tell that much early on, so why talk about the same chump everyday and bash yan ming because the chump is just being himself

youll never be a real fighter anyway chump, you seem to really like wushu considering your MA history, why dont you try some real gung fu and act like a man and stop whineing you little

CHUMP

[zachsan]

and from what i can gather, this kid sounds like his general gripe is with the whole school, not moreso the passing out or whatever, and this is the same fool that was talking shit to me before and hes just a chump anyway

Ah, the truth comes out.

[Iron Cross]

maestro is soooooooo cute

[master splinter]

haha, iron cross is a wussie.

[Iron Cross]

Yep total wuss..... I sleep at night with my blanket same one I've had since I was 3... And plenty of stuffed animals.... with a night light of course.... in my power rangers pj's and my harry potter matching sheet set....

[Shi Heng Zhi]

Amitabha

I received an e-mail from this site containing everyone's responses, and out of morbid curiousity, read them despite my earlier protestations to the contrary.

I provided my full name because I do not hide behind an assumed name to find the courage to speak. I state my words plainly, and let you know who I am. I am listed in the phone book (New York) if anyone wants to speak with me directly. My e-mail address is ptraub@verizon.net if anyone wants to write to me directly. If I know anyone responding to this post, please let me know who you are. Let's talk directly and honestly.

I do not understand anyone requiring the use of someone else's words to define a simple four letter word like "cult". Any word that requires a million words to define it, is a word with no meaning. If you used to train at the USA Shaolin Temple, and now believe it is a "cult", you did not understand, and it is probably best that you went somewhere else to understand yourself. If you have never trained at the USA Shaolin Temple and believe it is a "cult" based on the on-line comments from a few unhappy students, the lack of any factual foundation to make such an assessment speaks for itself.

Shifu encourages individuality, self respect, respect for others, and being responsible for one's actions. Everyone is free to come or go, speak or remain silient. There are mirrors all around all of us, and when we make false judgments about another, it tends to be a reflection of ourself.

There have been over 1000 students who have trained at the USA Shaolin Temple. 95% move on after they get out of it what they needed to get, and are grateful for the lessons in life Shifu has taught them. They lead productive, well adjusted, happy lives. In fact their lives seem to blossom after training for a short while. 2% of the students miss the point entirely, and leave with hurt feelings. But love causes pain, and their pain would not exist if they did not love Shifu at one time or another. A girl breaks a boy's heart, and the boy is bitter. Here, in the virtual world, the bitter ones seem to write alot. To the person who posed the rhetorical question of why Shifu's former students seem so bitter, the answer is that only a small percentage feel that way. The vast majority are grateful for their time with Shifu; it is just that they are too busy with their beutiful lives in the real world to be spending alot of time in the virutal, on-line world.

It is true that during the 10-year anniversary many mistakes were made with some very good people who use to train at the Temple. Life is a lesson in humililty, and our mistakes are our teachers. Those students who left following the 10-year anniversary had some good reasons, and it is sad. Things have changed alot since then. My comments about 2% of the students in the preceding paragraph was not intended for those good students who were treated improperly during the 10-year annaverary.

I was not asked to speak here by Shifu because I am an attorney. I provided my back ground so that my limited knowledge of medicine and emergent situations could be placed in context. I am not a doctor. I do not diagnose medical conditons. THAT IS WHY I HAVE ADVISED YI ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS TO SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. Nonetheless, I am not without some knowledge, having experienced numerous fainting spells myself, having been seriously involved for 5 years with a girl who had a seizure disorder, and having had several clients who suffered form seizure disorders requiring some serious study of the subject matter beyond Time Life magazine. My daughter used to suffer from heat stroke as a child and I often cared for her following a stroke without going to the emergency room, where they will simply tell you to see your own doctor in the morning. My experince as a person and as a professional was relevant to the discussion.

At no time was Yi in danger of dying, and if he seriously believes that, why did he not ask to go to a hospital that evening? Why did he insist he was fine and could drive home, whether it be 1 or 2 hours? Shifu checked his pulse and monitored his breathing. Everything was fine. The emergency room is a medical clinic for the uninsured and the uneducated. One goes to the emergency room for an "emergency". When vital signs are fine, when a person is conscious, talking, walking, eating, and driving a car, it would have been wrong to go to an emergency room. Especially when fainting was a part of one's history. This was not Yi's first fainting spell. However, it is even worse to have not sought medical attention the next morning. It is irresponsible to start training martial arts at another place without having resolved one's medical condition.

Finally, I read with sadness that Yi beleives I have belittled or berated him. I have responded publicly because Yi chose to to air out his understanding publicly. I have invited Yi to come speak with me directly. Yi does not understand himself or the situation, yet continues to believe he was close to dying. Because I say Yi does not understand himself, does not mean I am disparaging him. I believe his friends tell him the truth, and all others who give in to a false sense of facts are just people who harm him - albeit unintentionally. I consider myself Yi's friend. I will speak the truth to him even it means his legs get stretched. I can state with confidence that there were no objective signs Yi's life was in danger. He was breathing normally, he was not ashen, his pulse was strong, and the situation was no different than the 3 or 4 other times he has fainted. It is true he seemed to stare vacantly and shook for 10 seconds. This is why I beleived he suffered from a seizure brought about from over heating. Once it was over, it was over. Nonetheless, having been the one to have told Yi this that evening, I was also the one who recommended he seek out medical attention. The emergency room was no place for him to have gone that evening. Not when he was eating, talking, walking, and stating he was fine to drive. Once the seizure - if that is what it was - was over, there was nothing an emergency room would have done. He was conscious. He was responding verbally. This has nothing to do with my being a lawyer, all cynicism aside. If anyone knows me, they know I care about people a great deal, and Yi in particular. I have been to Yi's home. I took good care of him that evening. I am fond of his sister Kirsten. These are very good people. Yi is always welcome in my life. This silliness ought to stop. People ought not post responses when they know absolutely nothing about what happended that evening.

Shifu has no knowldge of what I have written here. Shifu in no way fears the legal system, since he did nothing wrong. The proof is in the pudding; Yi walked, talked, breathed, went out for dinner, refused hospitality, and then insisted on making an hour long drive home alone. Sued for what? I understand, although I do not know for sure, that Yi went to his family doctor for some tests following one of his earlier fainting spells and was cleared to train. If there is any lawsuit out there at all, it might be against said physician for clearing him to train or for failing to refer Yi to a neurologist or other specialist. If there is any lawsuit out there it might be against another martial arts training center allowing this young man to train without a definitive diagnosis. Yi bears his own responsiblity for trainng without a definitive medical diagnosis. I say this with love to Yi, and I say it nonetheless because he needs to hear it.

Again, Shifu loves Yi, always has and always will. When Yi better understands himself, his body, his medical condition, his responsibilities, Shifu will welcome him back to the Temple. If Yi needs assistance in understanding himself, all he has to do is ask Shifu. To the extent I can be of any help, Yi can ask me.

This ought to be the end of this thread, but undoubtedly it won't be.

Amitabha

Zhi

[Iron Cross]

I was soooo waiting for the 'You don't understand yourself response"

Zhi I think you got your head up in the clouds a bit.... I'm so tired of arguing about this... I don't understand myself you say and should go talk to the big man... I can say with complete and total honest that I know for a FACT now that he has more issues to work out than I do.....

I could probably even make the arugement that the reason why things became edgy there for me prior to my near death experience was because I was open and hoenst about my feelings and udnerstanding and was quite understanding of myself...

I mean I think back and I have to laugh about all of this... A week before my heat stroke I'd be out at dinner with people and they would tell me I should write a book and so and so thinks I'm like a sage dropping philosophy like its no bodies buisness... blowing minds left and right... Spitting hot fire...

People would come to me and say things like "Yi you are amazing you understand yourself so well, your an inspiration to all of us".... one night someone asked someone to demonstrate a movement he did so then he was asked to explain he said "i just look at YI and do what he does"....

Now not long after the same folk have pulled a 180.... now I dont udnerstand myself am inspiring to no one and are completely worng and crazy about everything... the only way to fix said problem is to talk to yan ming... I mean come on.... think here...

Do you realize everyone I've talked to has said the same thing... "I think the only way to solve this is to talk to Shifu" "YOu should go talk to shifu".... As if talking to him is the end all be all in any situation... doesn't anyone else see the insanity in that? I feel like I'm taking crazy pills....

I also LOVE the feelings that since I've left I've become a bitter angry person that is so mad at everything he jsut has to lash out.... I don't understand why you think the only way to be happy is to stay there... or that being unhappy is somehow linked to leaving the place.... Thats a very arrogant and ignorant point of view in my opinion.... Actually since I've left I feel happier... not only am I learning more interesting forms and styles but also getting better instruction.... on top of that all that nonsense you have to put up with is gone... I mean serioulsy like a giant weight was lifted from my chest...

I then ask if I didn't understand myself and was so negative nad a bad influence then why did yan ming send me to mexico alone for a week as his official representative to help them out???? Surly he could've done better than me than...

In terms of the whole medical diagnosis thing... all I can say was oyu were there you saw me cunvulsing on the floor you could hear that shit across the room.... If you wanna say nothing like that happened then fine keep telling yourself that... But then its not I that doesn't understand himself or isnt being honest with himself is it????

My breathing was not fine.... recall the coughing during the non existant seizure....

Since all has gone down and hearing everything you and others have said ... it really does break my heart.... I took the place very seriously... and the commitment....

But you know what... it doesnt matter... I'm gone from there... tell people there whatever you wish about me... hell make up stuff if you want...

"I heard Heng Yi killed a man in Chinatown and is now on the run"
"I heard Heng Yi challenged Shifu to a duel and lost and thats why hes angry at him"

Whatever use your imagination.... YOu know what I'll even back you up... when people ask I'll agree with them...

From your side whats important here is the reservation of the institution and your master... thats all it is... right and wrong does not matter.... he could've shot me in the head and someone it would be my fault, or I jsut dont understand myself...

I'm not even sure if you realize that or not actually... but everything said thus far has been an attempt to preserve the institution and the man... no one cares about the student.... and this applies generally to me and everyone else that got royally screwed and left.... I could name a dozen people off hand probably...

But then again cant say Im surprised the place has never been about the student... but always about the master.... he doesn't teach level 2, expects you to drop everything and help him with whatever side project is going downa nd is unsympathetic if something comes up.... I'll probably get hosed for saying that with a thousand different 'But what about when..." senarios.... I'm speaking generally here....

In closing.... if Yan Ming loves me so much why did he kick me out? why did he berate me for not attending his book signing? why was he angry at me for this that and the other thing? why didn't he call in the days after that incident to see if I was ok? Even that night I tried to talk to him and he scolded me for asking if I could wear a lighter uniform.... You have a funny definition of love Zhi.... I'm glad I'm not married to you..... ha

I'll throw out a totally general question for all..... If shifu doesn't teach you kung fu after level 2, doesn't correct your basics, doesn't answer questions you might about about what all the movements in the forms are used for, doesn't help you with personal advice, and just tells you to leave and figure out whats wrong then come back..... then why do you train there???? After you negate all that all I can think of to be part of the community which relates back to giving of yourself to him and the whole... which negates individuality...

Peace

IC

[Alin]

I don't know if i understand righ all this arguing about fainting because of heat or over exertion. I've read the most of the posts made here and i don't think i've seen a good explication about it. I've seen this kind of fainting before and one posible reason why this could happen, considering that the most of the times is related to the outside temperature or body temperature, is the low blood presure known as hypotension or the high blood presure also called arterial hypertension. When one has arterial hypertension and expose himself to heat or to low temperature (also when is cold the body increase automaticaly the blood presure to generate more heat in order to keep warm, so to throw water on somebody who has hypertension it's verry wrong because that will make the boody to increase the blood presure even more as a natural reaction to cold water and the risk to have an cerebro-vascular atack is huge) it is posible to pass out.The blood presure can cause fainting in two ways: 1.The blood presure is to low (hypotension) - if the blood presure is to low there will be insufficient blood and oxygen reaching the brain wich could cause seizures, dizziness, loss of consciousness; 2 - high blood presure (hypertension) - wich can sometimes cause the same effects and also in time can cause arterial aneurysm (dilation of a blood vessel) wich can cause instant death. So, when one suffers from low or high blood presure has to use antihypertensive or antihypotensive agents to normalize the blood presure but if you don't have any the most indicate thing to do is to call the ambulance, they will give you an intravenous injection with immediate effect. You cant blame the training conditions. One should train in many different conditions.. heat, cold... in order to be prepared for different situations and this doesnt include only the tempearture. About SYM i can say that he is god at kung fu but i had a friend who trained with him and he wasnt to happy about what he learned from him considering the big amount of money he was paying for every little thing... so...

[doc]

There have been over 1000 students who have trained at the USA Shaolin Temple. 95% move on after they get out of it what they needed to get,

I always find his posts, well, "informative". Just FYI, Decheng has thousands of students in Europe, and Xinghong has thousands in Hungary, that are still with them. And it is not uncommon for people to stay at these American McDojo's for years.

Oh, and as for cults and cult like behavior, I think you'll find it in many martial arts organizations and schools. Whether the teacher fosters that concept, or the students go there looking for it, is a matter of debate.

[DOZO]

well, uh ... you know ... a family with a strong father who expects his kids to do as their told upto a certain age falls right into that cult category. the connotation of the word 'cult' tends to be negative but the definition doesn't necessarily imply that. Think critically. Anyway glad to see the hoopla over (the perception of )not getting enough attention after passing out is over with. wow- how do those guys who use the sauna do it? Unless you've got some circulatory or neuro pathology...next time it happens, when you wake up-crack a cold one, sit down and re-evaluate your diet. you're either weak or sick. now stop bitchin.

[SongshanMonk]

Well, after reading various posts by Iron Cross I think the main issue is that he has a gripe about Shaolin in general. I read some of your account about what happened to you at Yanming's school. I really think you fainting is a serious health issue you need to look into but shouldn't hold that against Yanming or his school.

[Iron Cross]

Except my gripes about shaolin really came after the fact...

On a side note i'm surprised anyone bothered to post on this thread again... Your a little late to the discussion buddy. Sorry... I think we can all agree there are more relevant and important issues going on in the shaolin community these days that should require our attention and energy... ie. Guolin

[SongshanMonk]

Yeah but by what you are saying is exactly what I am talking about. It's my understanding that because of your experience, which you seem to blame Yan Ming/school for, caused you to become anti shaolin? All of a sudden all the "monks" are BS martial artists?

Yeah there is stuff happening in the shaolin community, ie Guolin, but why are you concerned if you just hating?? You are just applying negative energy.

[Iron Cross]

Someone says one thing.. you agree with said statement... an event happens that reveals this statement was in fact completely false.. thus this person was bullshitting you the entire time...

Get off of it dude... I think this discussion of my incident is rather a dead issue... We seemed to have beaten it to the ground a long time ago... YOur a bit late to the discussion..

[SongshanMonk]

Yea was a bit late to this discussion, but hey any topic posted is open for discussion.