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Zen from Zhen

In 1994, Master Zhen Shen-Lang decided to create a religion from the Buddhist teachings of Shaolin Chi Mantis. The Shaolin Zen Buddhist Magazine was being mailed out quarterly to hundreds of students, fans, Buddhists, and the Shaolin Temple on Mt. Songshan.

However, by 1996, Master Zhen realized that as a religion, Shaolin Zen would be ineligible for government grants. Hoping to accrue enough funding to acquire an abandoned church in Salt Lake City, Master Zhen changed the IRS nonprofit application from a Buddhist church, Shaolin Zen, to a Youth Program, Tai Chi Youth.

This did result in government grants from the Utah Arts Council and the N.E.A. National Endowment for the Arts. Tai Chi Youth programs were taught in several churches, half a dozen schools, and the Liberty Park classes which became a place for hundreds of martial artists from other styles to locate Master Zhen for weapon training or Tai Chi.

The Buddhism was continued within the Tai Chi Youth curriculums and the Shaolin Chi Mantis programs still contained all the original Buddhist Dharma that

YMCA Classes of Shaolin Chi Mantis

Since returning to California in 2000, Master Zhen has been teaching in Karate schools, parks, and his backyard.

Although Master Zhen had dropped off several press kits to the YMCA management, it was one of his students who approached the staff and said, "You have to hire this Tai Chi instructor!"

She convinced them. Master Zhen was hired at the highest fee they could possibly pay.

Now, after 4 years teaching at the YMCA, Master Zhen has created:

Tai Chi Beginner Classes
Tai Chi Intermediate Classes
Senior Tai Chi Classes
and in 1996 began the Tai Chi Kids classes.

 

Although Master Zhen has suffered a severe arm injury, back injury, and a few colds, he has yet to miss a single class. "Tai Chi has always been my rehabilitation. After injuring my right arm climbing a tree with my son, I had to teach 'one-arm Tai Chi' for two months. I couldn't even raise it over my head for over one month. Now, with my Tai Chi classes I am rebuilding the muscles and ligaments in my right shoulder. It feels strange having a left arm that is ten times as strong as my right arm. But thanks to Tai Chi I'm able to use my right arm again. I did my first pushups last week for the first time in two-and-a-half months. Thanks Past Masters."