Celestial Dragon Temple Boxing

Martial arts in Pickering, North Yorkshire and Beverley, East Yorkshire, UK.

Celestial Dragon Temple Boxing 天龍寺拳 (also known as TianLong Temple Boxing or Heavenly Dragon Temple Boxing) is a style of kung fu, founded in the United Kingdom by Feng Shou 3rd Tengchi Neil Brown.

Picture Aboved: Neil Brown - Teacher of the Ryedale Dragons in Pickering, North Yorkshire.

 

Pictured Above: Gary Bielby - Teacher of the Beverley Dragons in East Yorkshire.

 

Students of this martial arts organisation are dedicated in the study and of two kung fu styles:

1. Celestial Dragon Temple Boxing.

2. Feng Shou Hand of the Wind kung fu.

Both styles combine spiritual principle, meditation, mind training and energy work with martial arts/self defence practice.

The Celestial Dragon Temple Boxing syllabus was submitted as a new style of kung fu to the Executive Committee of The Amateur Martial Association in March 2010, where it was assessed, officially recognised and accepted as a new and valid style of martial art.

Spiritual Philosophy
In Chinese dragon mythology, the Celestial Dragon (Chinese: 天龍 pinyin: tiānlóng; Wade-Giles: t'ien-lung) is held to be a guardian of holy places.

Celestial Dragon Temple Boxing students are encouraged to embrace spiritual development by embarking (or continuing) on a Path of Enlightenment as the foundation of their study and practice, focusing primarily, but not exclusively, on the tenets of Taoism and Buddhism, interwoven with aspects of the Western Wisdom Tradition. This approach is not intended as a replacement for religious beliefs the student may already hold.

Martial Influences
Celestial Dragon Temple Boxing’s primary martial influences are Lee style Feng Shou (Hand of the Wind), a Taoist art of kung fu over 2000 years old, and Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do (Bruce Lee’s Way of the Intercepting Fist), an approach to kung fu established by Bruce Lee and officially recognised in the 20th century.

Years of blending the primary underlying principles and techniques of Feng Shou and Jeet Kune Do, through practice, application, exploration and reflection, naturally resulted in a new viewpoint. The essence of this has crystalised in the form of Celestial Dragon Temple Boxing.

The martial concept of ‘firing an arrow and touching fire’ – ie, striking fast and withdrawing the hand, foot or even the whole body with equal speed – is integral to the art, as is the utilisation of the straight line, curves, spiralling techniques, evasions and ward-offs or parries. Relaxed poise to facilitate the flow of chi, and a state of readiness, much like that of a cat which in an instant can spring into action if necessary, is combined with adaptability and fluidity of movement. This is summarised in the following description of the art’s Celestial Dragon stance, attained by students when they reach 1st Degree black sash:

Celestial Dragon Stance
Like the shifting form of a dragon manifesting in clouds or water, Celestial Dragon stance represents fluidity of posture. Previously conditioned by form (stability gained by the numerous stances learnt, understood and mastered throughout the course of training), the student is now in a position to free himself – to ‘break the mould’ – and is able to continuously adjust his posture in subtle ways to best suit the needs of the moment. Like a dragon in the clouds, he cannot be pinned down to one shape. Just when you think you see him, he changes before your eyes to something you may not even recognise, yet still he is present in the invisible wind, the shadows of bamboo, the swaying of strong-rooted trees, the thunder and lightning, the spiralling of a tornado – with it’s inherent stillness at the centre of the storm, the rain and the rivers, and the warmth and light of the sun. (extract from The Art of Celestial Dragon Temple Boxing, by Neil Brown, © 2010)

Training
Training methods include those of a teacher-led group in which students regularly alternate training partners throughout each lesson - because no two martial artists are the same. Students are also advised that daily practice on their own or with a partner, outside of the school group training sessions, is also necessary, and indeed this becomes a way of life for many.

Suitability for membership and martial arts training is based on factors such as respect for others and intention to learn/practice/use in a controlled, law-abiding manner for reasons such as self-defence purposes and self-development (physical, emotional, mental and spiritual). The Celestial Dragon Temple Boxing motto being: 'Valour, Honour, Clemency'.

The teacher’s main aim is simply to be a way-shower (and there are countless ‘ways’), providing each student with the opportunity to realise their true potential, enabling them to become their own master whilst retaining their humility.

Elements of Celestial Dragon Temple Boxing kung fu include unarmed martial arts/self defence training, nei kung/energy work, mind training and meditation, sparring, stick/staff and knife/sword defence.

"Students are also fully trained and graded in Feng Shou style"

The underlying principle of Celestial Dragon Temple Boxing philosophy is that of a Western approach to the inclusion and practice of Eastern Wisdom through meditation and martial arts self defence training - for a healthy mind in a healthy body.

There are many 'true' paths and all eventually lead to the same goal. Essentially, at the higher levels, both Eastern and Western ways meet as one and both should be given equal respect.

Naturally, then, the paths are suited to different temperaments, whether determined by cultural life experience or an innate sense of belonging more to one or the other. Rarely is a person suited to walk both paths together.

Traditionally, the Sifu (teacher) regarded his students in a Master-Student hierarchical sense, in other words there was a clearly defined arrangement of individuals in formally ranked order, with the Sifu at the head. Such an approach is a highly effective one that commands discipline, quality of skill, subservience and respect of a particular flavour or type – agreeable to some, though not to all.

The Celestial Dragon Temple Boxing teacher, likewise initiating discipline and utilising the hierarchical system to a degree, does not impose a strict adherence to traditional ideas of a Master-Pupil relationship. Instead, a less formal attitude is adopted, more conducive to modern perceptions of teacher-student interaction. Friendship and mutual respect is encouraged. An appropriate Western symbol for this is the Round Table prominent in the Arthurian Legends wherein Arthur sat at a round table with his knights to demonstrate unity and equality. Such a round table, with an Eastern element - a Tibetan singing bowl - at its centre, is an excellent unified symbol for the Celestial Dragon Temple Boxing student to consider in meditation.

The martial arts practiced by the Celestial Dragon Temple Boxing student (Feng Shou Hand of the Wind Chinese boxing kung fu, and Celestial Dragon Temple Boxing kung fu) are specifically for health and self defence reasons appropriate to living conditions in the civilised world today, in a highly effective yet none aggressive manner. Emphasis is placed on control of the mind and emotions as well as the physical body, hence training in meditation is a necessary component of study and practice. Control your mind and emotions first and you will not be let down by your physical action or reaction.

 

Neil Brown – Martial Arts Background

Boxing
            Neil’s first introduction to martial arts for self defence was through his father teaching him the basics of boxing.

Judo and Karate
            Neil also attended judo and Wado Ryu karate classes at an early age, which served as a good introduction to Eastern martial arts and its application in sparring.

Jiu Jitsu and Aspects of Jeet Kune Do
            Although Neil started practicing Feng Shou kung fu in his early teens, he also attended weekly classes in Jiu Jitsu, focusing also on aspects of Jeet Kune Do and Nunchaku, under the tuition of Kevin Low. So even then, a pattern involving the practice of more than one martial art was emerging. During that time, Neil won the Humberside County Jiu Jitsu Championships, in two sections – Kick/Punch sparring, and also in Back to Back (ground-level fighting), which was a good note to end on before Neil went away to study at Art College at 19.
Additional Jeet Kune Do seminars/training sessions attended include training with Tommy Gong and Tommy Caruthers in London.

Medieval Swordplay
            Focusing now on his Western roots, in his spare time Neil’s interest in the medieval knight and the ‘age of chivalry’ found expression not only through his artwork but also by becoming a member of The Golden Lions of England medieval reenactment society. After learning traditional combat techniques, primarily with the sword, Neil took part in medieval reenactments in York and at Warwick castle - focusing around Henry VIII and the knights of the Order of the Garter (whose patron saint is Saint George, slayer of the dragon).
            "It was great fun," Neil recalls, "and it provided an interesting angle on the study of martial arts.
            “Nowadays, I live not that far from Pickering castle in North Yorkshire. In fact, it’s only a short walk to Beacon Hill (an earthwork siege-castle) and from there I can see Pickering Castle close by to the East. This set me to considering not only doing an oil painting of it, but also, in addition to the kung fu classes I teach, creating a medieval re-enactment group (inspired by the one I used to be a member of) with the idea of putting on shows for the general public. Grail Knights is now in its early stages of development - Please see www.grailknights.co.uk for more details."

(Heraldic Chivalry, painted by Alphonse Mucha)

Lee style: including Kung Fu, Tai Chi, Sword, Staff, Nunchaku, Knife Defence, Silk, Yoga, Breath Art, Meditation
            Perhaps the most influential Eastern martial art that Neil has trained in is the Lee style. Neil attended the late Grandmaster Chee Soo’s courses throughout his teens, while attending classes taught by John Jordan and then John Stone, within the International Wushu Association. In later years John Stone moved to Australia for some time, where he successfully established some kung fu schools before returning to live in England.
           Neil said: "Although John no longer teaches Feng Shou classes, experience has shown he has retained his martial arts capacity, proving that what you put into it through years of hard work, ultimately stays with you for life."
            In his early twenties, Neil chose to focus on Western and Eastern meditation practices based in London (which he continues), as well as medieval knight combat reenactment for a period of time, and returned to regular Feng Shou kung fu training in his late twenties, this time under the skilled tutelage of Ted Oxley and one of Chee Soo’s personal students Howard Gibbon (East West Taoist Association). It was during this period of training that Howard awarded Neil his 1st Tengchi.
            Neil then began running his own club and left the EWTA on good terms with Howard and Ted, due to a deep need to further pursue his love of other aspects of kung fu, such as stick work and Jeet Kune Do principles - in addition to continuing with his regular practice and teaching of Feng Shou.
            During this time, Neil corresponded with former World Champion Darryl Cross (Fung Yang Sau Kung Fu Association) in Wales and joined his association for two years, while continuing to run his own club in England. Neil describes Darryl as “Probably one of the best examples of modern day kung fu fighters in the world, who took his art into the arena in China and proved its effectiveness beyond all doubt.” Darryl provided Neil with deeper insight into his own kung fu, demonstrated great generosity by recording extra instruction on film for Neil due to distance, and gave Neil some of the most important martial arts advice of his life: “Be true to your kung fu!” before they parted ways.
            Now, at the age of 42, after years of blending the primary underlying principles and techniques of Feng Shou and Jeet Kune Do, through practice, application, exploration and reflection, Neil's kung fu has naturally resulted in a new viewpoint. The essence of this has crystalised in the form of Celestial Dragon Temple Boxing, which Neil has established and continues to develop.
            He also teaches and grades students in Feng Shou and remains in constant contact with his friend and former class teacher 5th Tengchi Ted Oxley (Head of Chinese Arts Lee Style) who awarded Neil his 2nd and 3rd Tengchi grades.
            Neil describes Ted as being "Gifted in all aspects of the Lee style taught by Chee Soo, a man of great integrity in his practice, application and teaching of the arts, and is a person who has unceasingly demonstrated true friendship." (Watch this space for a transcript of a recent interview with Ted Oxley).

CelestialDragonTemple.com and practitioners of Celestial Dragon Temple Boxing, and Feng Shou, promote meditation and martial arts for self defence, and do not support in any way the actions of individuals or groups of any kind inimical and dangerous to society and the welfare of mankind.