Welcome Back! You can always email me at: stevehamp@yahoo.com
Chinese Strength Development Video's that have assisted folks from all over the world since 2005.
We are now on track to bring you some of the most useful and practical techniques to ever
be brought to the martial arts community.
The Plan hasn't changed...
Step 1 - Get strong enough to pull off the techniques being learned.
Step 2 - Develop the ability to deliver strikes with heavy limbs.
Step 3 - Develop the ability to withstand a strike.
Step 4 - Learn the Techniques.
You must LEARN...instead of being TAUGHT.
We are now on track to bring you some of the most useful and practical techniques to ever
be brought to the martial arts community.
The Plan hasn't changed...
Step 1 - Get strong enough to pull off the techniques being learned.
Step 2 - Develop the ability to deliver strikes with heavy limbs.
Step 3 - Develop the ability to withstand a strike.
Step 4 - Learn the Techniques.
You must LEARN...instead of being TAUGHT.
My Lineage
I began my formal martial arts training when I was twelve years old. My first teacher was Master Jang Soo Son. He held the rank of 5th Degree Black Belt. We trained in Preying Mantis Kung Fu, Hapkido and Judo. Classes were held Monday through Saturdays and were two hours long. I never missed a class. When Master Son opened a Westside location, I taught the kids class for 2 hours, took a 10 minute break and then joined the adult class for another 2 hours, loving every minute of it! The lessons I learned while at this school and from my elders there have lasted me a lifetime. Master Son, was a great teacher. I learned more about teaching from his lessons then I have anywhere else. This was the 1970's, laws were different, so when we practiced knife defenses...it was with a real knife and you actually tried to cut your partner. I had a phone conversation with Master Son, several years ago and we spoke about that training. I thanked him and realized those days were gone forever in this Country. And he said, "Yeah Steven, no more. No one can train like this anymore".
After completing my four year tour in the United States Marine Corps, and coming back to my hometown of Cleveland, Ohio, I enrolled in Shaolin Kung Fu, under the instruction of Sifu Bruce Ledger. Sifu Bruce, was on crutches the day I met him. But, after seeing a photo of the Great James Cook, and asking what Master Cook's photo was doing here, Sifu Bruce told me that he was Master Cook's first Black Belt. I enrolled at that very moment. Those of you that might never have heard of Master Cook, he was a hero to me growing up in Cleveland. He was a fighter that I would cling to every word he said. As a boy I would see Master Cook at a tournament and follow him around listening to the conversations he had with other adults, lol crazy. Sifu Bruce was also well known, being the first inductee into the Cleveland Martial Arts Hall of Fame, for his competition victories and dedication to the community and the martial arts.
The next school and teacher, I had on my last site as my "secret teacher". I put that there because I was told by some former classmates that this teacher wanted his name down as I was just "using his name to promote myself". My third teacher's name is, Grand Master Gene L. Chicoine. I was his student for almost twenty years. I am his adopted son, and the grandson of the Great Chang, Tung Sheng. I am not using his name for anything other than he was my teacher, he is my adopted martial arts dad, and this is my lineage.
I am going to talk a little more about the education I received there as well as my opinions of what I learned. The strength development exercises that I learned at my third teacher's school, Ho Chun School of Chinese Martial Arts, were second to none. To be called a Kung Fu School and to NOT be teaching such exercises is a crime. But, as most people do, they water down the difficult training and replace it with simple push-ups and jumping jacks. I learned everything from the beginning exercises to the more advanced special training such as The Muscle Change Classic Part 1 and 2, Iron Vest, Iron Palm, and Poison Hand. I would never have reached the level I'm at without this school, Grandmaster Chicoine and his teachings.
With all that being said, I did notice that with such a famous teacher, with such a historic school background, and the lineage, wow the lineage!! Think about it, you've got Chicoine who trained under Feeman Ong, and Chang, Tung Sheng. But, the students there could not translate what was being taught into real fighting. They got strong bodies training there, but had no idea how to fight...what a shame. I saw many of my "brothers" come to the school looking like they got the worse end of a scuffle. And they were fighting, what I always called ( what Teacher always called as well ) a "commoner". A commoner is a person without any formal martial arts training. Think about it, to come back to class with a black eye or broken nose, only to then brag about what the "peasant" that they fought looked like. I mean, if you're fighting a peasant....he's a peasant, then no marks should be on you. Right?
I guess this is what becomes of students that never really "get" the lessons. I also think this is what happens to students that only receive instruction through words. What I mean by that is: How good of a swimmer do you think you could be if you only learned about the different strokes used in swimming on a blackboard? To "know" how to ride a horse, but to never have even sat in the saddle...wow.
Next I got involved in an art that I knew I needed. That's when I began training in Baguazhang. My instructors name was Rick Krausman, and through him and this beautiful art, did my skill level flourish. I learned that the true "advanced" techniques were the most simplistic. The exercises, were very easy, no tension, no stress, just pure softness. Simplicity is the key, basics were the advanced things, and everything comes from within. Mr. Krausman, was a very big help to me and my family. He learned this art through his teacher, Dr. John P. Painter. I have been fortunate enough to been around Dr. Painter, for several seminars. I have said this before, anyone having the opportunity to attend one of his seminars...by all means, should! Although I would think that ones skill level should be a little on the high side. Like Chicoine's school, I didn't see anyone that could really translate these styles into real world self defense. I believe it's because both Chicoine and Painter, teach at such a high martial level, that novices are often left scratching their heads.
This is my lineage. I am very honored to have studied under each one of these great teachers. If there was such a thing as a martial arts lottery, then I have been so very fortunate to have won it numerous times over. I thank you all so much.
After completing my four year tour in the United States Marine Corps, and coming back to my hometown of Cleveland, Ohio, I enrolled in Shaolin Kung Fu, under the instruction of Sifu Bruce Ledger. Sifu Bruce, was on crutches the day I met him. But, after seeing a photo of the Great James Cook, and asking what Master Cook's photo was doing here, Sifu Bruce told me that he was Master Cook's first Black Belt. I enrolled at that very moment. Those of you that might never have heard of Master Cook, he was a hero to me growing up in Cleveland. He was a fighter that I would cling to every word he said. As a boy I would see Master Cook at a tournament and follow him around listening to the conversations he had with other adults, lol crazy. Sifu Bruce was also well known, being the first inductee into the Cleveland Martial Arts Hall of Fame, for his competition victories and dedication to the community and the martial arts.
The next school and teacher, I had on my last site as my "secret teacher". I put that there because I was told by some former classmates that this teacher wanted his name down as I was just "using his name to promote myself". My third teacher's name is, Grand Master Gene L. Chicoine. I was his student for almost twenty years. I am his adopted son, and the grandson of the Great Chang, Tung Sheng. I am not using his name for anything other than he was my teacher, he is my adopted martial arts dad, and this is my lineage.
I am going to talk a little more about the education I received there as well as my opinions of what I learned. The strength development exercises that I learned at my third teacher's school, Ho Chun School of Chinese Martial Arts, were second to none. To be called a Kung Fu School and to NOT be teaching such exercises is a crime. But, as most people do, they water down the difficult training and replace it with simple push-ups and jumping jacks. I learned everything from the beginning exercises to the more advanced special training such as The Muscle Change Classic Part 1 and 2, Iron Vest, Iron Palm, and Poison Hand. I would never have reached the level I'm at without this school, Grandmaster Chicoine and his teachings.
With all that being said, I did notice that with such a famous teacher, with such a historic school background, and the lineage, wow the lineage!! Think about it, you've got Chicoine who trained under Feeman Ong, and Chang, Tung Sheng. But, the students there could not translate what was being taught into real fighting. They got strong bodies training there, but had no idea how to fight...what a shame. I saw many of my "brothers" come to the school looking like they got the worse end of a scuffle. And they were fighting, what I always called ( what Teacher always called as well ) a "commoner". A commoner is a person without any formal martial arts training. Think about it, to come back to class with a black eye or broken nose, only to then brag about what the "peasant" that they fought looked like. I mean, if you're fighting a peasant....he's a peasant, then no marks should be on you. Right?
I guess this is what becomes of students that never really "get" the lessons. I also think this is what happens to students that only receive instruction through words. What I mean by that is: How good of a swimmer do you think you could be if you only learned about the different strokes used in swimming on a blackboard? To "know" how to ride a horse, but to never have even sat in the saddle...wow.
Next I got involved in an art that I knew I needed. That's when I began training in Baguazhang. My instructors name was Rick Krausman, and through him and this beautiful art, did my skill level flourish. I learned that the true "advanced" techniques were the most simplistic. The exercises, were very easy, no tension, no stress, just pure softness. Simplicity is the key, basics were the advanced things, and everything comes from within. Mr. Krausman, was a very big help to me and my family. He learned this art through his teacher, Dr. John P. Painter. I have been fortunate enough to been around Dr. Painter, for several seminars. I have said this before, anyone having the opportunity to attend one of his seminars...by all means, should! Although I would think that ones skill level should be a little on the high side. Like Chicoine's school, I didn't see anyone that could really translate these styles into real world self defense. I believe it's because both Chicoine and Painter, teach at such a high martial level, that novices are often left scratching their heads.
This is my lineage. I am very honored to have studied under each one of these great teachers. If there was such a thing as a martial arts lottery, then I have been so very fortunate to have won it numerous times over. I thank you all so much.