Kung Fu Destiny 功夫命運

2010 Year of the Metal Tiger

Da Shi Xiong Matt Talbert — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 01:53:05 +0000

February 14th, 2010 marks the beginning of the Lunar New Year. 2010 is the year of the White Metal Tiger. This year symbolizes toughness, generosity and wealth earned with hard work. The year is characterized by a dutiful, family oriented and dependable year. During the year of the Metal Tiger, one may show his love [...]

Kung Fu Destiny Turns Two

Da Shi Xiong Matt Talbert — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:37:59 +0000

Kung Fu Destiny turns two years old today and a lot has happened during the last year. I have traveled to China for the second time, this time training on the Wudang Mountain. I have written a book about my first trip to China which is available for purchase. I have started my [...]

Shaolin Chan City

Da Shi Xiong Matt Talbert — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:33:57 +0000

Shaolin Chan City Shaolin Chan City is the only center under the direction of Ven. Shi Deyang in the United States and second internationally. The center’s vision and aim is to provide an authentic Shaolin Cultural experience to enrich the lives of the people of St. Louis, surrounding areas, and the United States. This is to be [...]

Preparations Are Underway

Da Shi Xiong Matt Talbert — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 15:58:15 +0000

I am still working towards a tentative departure of June 2010 for my upcoming move to China. I have a lot of things that need to be done prior to June so that I can leave without having to worry about things back home while I am away. I need to secure some travel insurance, [...]

My New Book

Da Shi Xiong Matt Talbert — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:46:12 +0000

I have spent the last few months working on a book about my first trip to China in 2008. I put together a selection of pictures along with my journals, which are featured on this site, into a hard bound coffee table book. The process was long but rewarding. I was able to relive my [...]

In Pursuit of Kung Fu Destiny

Da Shi Xiong Matt Talbert — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:00:38 +0000

Those that know me will find it no great surprise that I have found my passion in the study of Kung Fu. To that end I am always studying and researching to further my understanding of kung fu, in particular the unique style of kung fu that is the family of Song Shan Shaolin Temple martial arts. Along with kung fu there is the study of Chan, or [...]

Buddhist Meditation Retreat

Da Shi Xiong Matt Talbert — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:54:38 +0000

This past weekend I went to a Buddhist meditation retreat conducted by the Buddhist Society for Compassionate Wisdom in Chicago, IL. The retreat lasted from 7pm on Friday the 13th until Saturday the 14th at 12pm and covered the basics of Zen meditation as taught by the Korean Zen tradition. The Buddhist Society for Compassionate Wisdom [...]

An Experiment in Non-Attachment

Da Shi Xiong Matt Talbert — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:55:23 +0000

The other day I was driving to work contemplating various aspects of Buddhism when I devised a small experiment for myself. The night before as I drifted off to sleep I was listening to the rain. My mind was trying to decide if it was good or bad that it was raining when I sleepily [...]

Day 6 Wudang Shan

Da Shi Xiong Matt Talbert — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 02:00:18 +0000

I woke up after a good night’s sleep and got ready. I spent time packing my suitcase and gathering my things, since we would not have time after breakfast. Today was our last day training with Zhang Shifu, and I was not sure how long it would take us to learn the remainder of the [...]

Day 5 Wudang Shan

Da Shi Xiong Matt Talbert — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 04:00:35 +0000

I woke up and got ready pretty early. I went outside in the morning air, but it was still a little too early for everyone to meet for breakfast. I walked down to a small patio and sat at a small circular stone table that was there and enjoyed the morning sunshine and cool air. [...]