"Secrets of Shaolin" Youth Summer Camp June 18th-22nd.
Camp Directed by Sifu Trevor Haines.
Assisted by: Jacob Haines, Chad Pickeral, and Chuck Smith.
Photos by Leslie Harrelson.

DAY ONE: After sweeping the "temple grounds" and proving their patience and work ethic the Jr. Monks were admitted to the temple.  Training began with meditation and Chi Gung (Qi Gong) followed by a rigorous warm up of stretch kicks and stance work.  The emphasis the first day was on conditioning arts of Shaolin for strengthening grip and stance.  "Pot Lifting Arts", "Iron Bag Tossing", "Eagle Claw Arts", and "Stone Pillar Arts" were the foundation of the training with additional specialized training in the "Wrist Room Chamber" where each chime of the bell meant swinging a staff held by one hand to touch the target.
DAY TWO: After meditation, Chi Gung (Qi Gong), and warm up exercises, new Shaolin conditioning exercises were trained:  "Iron Ring Arts", "Sand Bag Arts", "Iron Palm Arts", and "Sunlight Hand Arts."  The first three condition the body for striking through the external school of Shaolin while Sunlight Hand Arts is an internal Shaolin exercise to teach the extension of internal energy.  Special training that day was in the "Eye Room Chamber" where first they had to track a light without turning their head.  Any head turn would have resulted in the marker pen dotting their temple...  Next in the eye room they were tested by striking only the bags that were  illuminated.
DAY THREE: After morning meditation and warm ups, emphasis on this day was on the balance, footwork, and agility needed for Shaolin Kung Fu.  "Plum Blossom Stake Arts", "Jumping/Leaping Arts", and "Light Body Arts" were all introduced.  Special training was the "Clay Pots through the Rings" Chamber where striking a moving target through a hoop (without touching the hoop) was drilled.  Also this day the fighting techniques of "The Hall of 108 Wooden Men" were sampled.  This was an action packed days with monks flying and running everywhere!
DAY FOUR: After meditation, training began with Shaolin Staff.  Four specialized drills to develop the accuracy with the weapon, the economized handling of the staff, the pushing and pulling power of the weapon, and the lifting power of the weapon.  Then the camp went outdoors to the secret forest behind the Dojo where conditioning and movement exercises were all done using water.  Splashing water out the cauldron, a modified water balloon toss for working continuous flow of movement, and the carrying the water exercise for building strong arms! My favorite though was the iron head training ("Head Room Chamber") where a mesh sack full of water balloons was their target.
DAY FIVE: Graduation through the final test...

Inspired by the traditions of the monks of old who had to pass through a hall of 108 attacking wooden men and the grab, lift, and carry the 500lb burning cauldron then branded the dragon into the left arm and tiger into the right arm -- our monks had a similar (with less burning flesh) test and final exam to leave the temple.  Our timed obstacle course borrowed from the skills learned throughout the week and only upon its completion could they grab the "burning cauldron" where their forearms would be marked with the emblems of dragon and tiger.