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This training will enable you to do things which most people go through life never knowing to be possible. Nam Yang Kung Fu Retreat will teach you to feel chi energy, to see it, and to project it out of yourself and into another person. As you would expect from a course involving meditation, you will be taught to focus your mind, develop your concentration, and become fully aware, fully present. Get in touch with your own chi and heal yourself from the inside out!
You will be staying at Nam Yang Kung Fu Retreat. All of the rooms are designed with serious Kung Fu students in mind. Every room has an inspiring mountain view from the front door and a roofed front terrace to sit in the shade and get the benefit of the views and the fresh mountain air. They are within a very easy walking distance of the training facilities and the restaurant.
There are two types of room, shared and private rooms. Shared rooms can accommodate two people. They are spacious, have separate bathrooms and toilet or washrooms, and are equipped with fans. They are arranged in two buildings, each with six rooms. The front terrace is two meters deep and serves as a social area where students can relax and chat outside of training time.
The private rooms are designed for single occupancy. These rooms are finished to a high standard with tiled walls and thicker mattresses. Each "house" has two rooms which are completely separate. They are located slightly further away from the centre of the retreat, which gives a quieter feel. Nam Yang also supplies communal tea and coffee making facilities and fridges.
The rooms are very spacious and comfortable with fan and en-suite shower room and toilet or wash room. Nam Yang Kung Fu Retreat have wireless internet which is free to all those staying.
Two large training areas. Both with breathtaking views. One is open air, perfect for early morning chi kung. The other is roofed and matted but unwalled to ensure a constant circulation of fresh air. Ideal when the sun is hot.
This is divided into a matted training area, a hard floor training area and an area with equipment such as the general's pole, punch bags, kicking dummies, weights, parallel bars, chin up bars, gymnastics rings, and much more. It is designed to provide serious kung fu students with all that they need. It is not at all a hotel gym.
Restaurant or kitchen serving healthy food cooked with medicinal herbs. Tea and coffee making facilities. Library, washing machines, and clotheslines. Wi-Fi good enough for video calls and to stream video. The retreat has a good stock of training equipment including weapons, focus mitts, kick shields, skipping ropes, and much more.
The kitchen, gardens, and orchards provide healthy, organic food which you collect and serve fresh. They specialize in growing herbs. Whilst they are not able to grow all of your own food - you support poor farmers in the hill tribe villages by buying food directly from them at market prices ensuring that they get a good income and you get the best quality food.
Additional facilities include a prayer house, which may be used for meditation or prayer, an office, and a huge statue of Tat Moh (Boddhidharma) the Shaolin founder.
The program covers five full days each week with Wednesdays and Saturdays reserved for rest, relaxation, and exploring the local area. Training takes place on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Fridays.
Many are vaguely aware of the great benefits of Qigong and meditation to health and longevity but do not really understand how it works. Here is an overview. Chi (or Qi) circulates around the body in a daily cycle, mainly but not entirely through pathways called meridians and vessels. Chi is stored in energy centers or reservoirs called tan tiens. The two main sources of chi are the earth (yin chi) and the sky (yang chi). When the chi in the body is circulating freely, and is balanced between yin and yang, you will enjoy good health.
Opening the meridians through stretching exercises and guiding chi through them facilitates strong, smooth circulation of the chi. Drawing in fresh chi from the earth and sky keeps our chi plentiful and allows us to balance yin and yang. Expelling stale or excess chi keeps your chi fresh and prevents it becoming excessively strong. By its nature, Qigong is simple and easy yet amazingly effective. Anyone can practice it successfully, regardless of age or fitness. The essential requirements are a properly trained instructor and good, fresh air. Following the Tong Ling Qigong is Walking Meditation.
Usually referred to as "Shuang Yang" (sun frost) for short, this is the internal form of the white crane art. It is performed in a very soft, relaxed way, gently opening the chi flow in the meridians, training elasticity into all of the tendons, and massaging the internal organs. Whilst superficially very similar to normal Tai Chi, it is part of the Buddhist Shaolin tradition, rather than the Taoist Wutan tradition. Many people practice the Shuang Yang primarily to benefit their health, vitality, and longevity. Whilst the slow, gentle nature of the training make it ideal for older or less fit people, make no mistake, this is a genuine martial art.
Weight is sunk down and movement is generated from the core of the body, moving out to the limbs like a wave through water. Training connects all of the tendons in the body into one resilient, elastic network with incredible strength. All movements are performed with the whole body. Benefits of the Shuang Yang art: Shuang Yang training gently stretches and releases the body’s tendons in a slow rhythmic fashion, increasing its strength, and stimulating chi to flow. Shuang Yang practice involves a great deal of flexing and twisting in the torso, as well as opening the meridians and energizing the tendons, which strengthens muscles which we do not usually use.
It also wrings out and cleans the internal organs, pushes fluids along their course and manipulates the joints of the spine, keeping them moving freely to promote a healthy spine and body. Shuang Yang training is performed in a meditative state and is a genuine "meditation in motion". It requires sinking of the chi, calming of the mind, and breathing from the core of the body. Regular practice greatly improves health, vitality, and combats ageing.
In line with a long tradition, Nam Yang Kung Fu Retreat takes great care in making their tea!
Classes covering advanced breathing techniques, soft and hard qigong routines such as the Sum Chien (three wars), relaxation drills, meditation, old-style training, and internal Kung Fu lessons on basic movements and self-defense.
The Mid-day lesson begins with a group warm-up and stretch, followed by Bodhidharma's Vein Tendon Qigong, Grinding Exercises, Sum Chien Training, Kung Fu Gym Circuit, Conditioning Circuit, and Pushing/Sticky hands training.
Early nights are recommended.
As shown in the sample timetable above, Nam Yang Kung Fu Retreat's timetable also incorporates Internal Kung Fu which is intertwined closely with Qigong as a whole forming a balance mentally, physically, and spiritually. It can also be quite fun!
Martial Chi Kung goes a step beyond Chi Kung for health. It develops abilities well beyond those of normal people. Mastery of this type of Chi Kung is what enables martial arts masters to perform such "super human" feats as punching the ends off bricks, washing in broken glass, rubbing red hot metal, and being hit with hammers and axes.
There are different systems of martial Chi Kung. First, the vein Tendon Chi Kung is a simple but effective system which tones all of the tendon in the body and increases its elasticity so that it can store energy. Second, Tat Moh Chi Kung is a straightforward system which emphasizes reverse abdominal breathing and therefore trains elasticity into the internal organs, energizing them and making them resilient to injury.
Thirdly, The Sum Chien routine from the Tiger or known as Crane Combination Art is perhaps the most powerful exercise for martial Chi Kung. It involves building elasticity into the whole body and then using it to store energy in the lower tan tien (the lower Chi energy center of the body), releasing it in explosive bursts down to the hands, and then returning it to the tan tien to be used again. It incorporates reverse abdominal breathing and exercises absolutely all of the tendons in the body.
Fourthly, Iron Shirt Chi Kung involves several sets of exercises which train the tendon to be elastic and store energy for explosive release. It also incorporates reverse abdominal breathing. It serves as a good supplement to the Sum Chien training. Fifthly, Martial Chi Kung can be learned by people of reasonable fitness, male or female.
It takes regular training over a period of time to achieve a high level of skill, but the exercises can be learned in a relatively short space and then practiced anywhere. Martial Chi Kung has numerous benefits. Among them are the fact that they pack chi into the internal organs, strengthening them, energizing them, and making them resistant to injury or disease.
It replenishes essential chi in the kidneys, combating ageing, and greatly increasing vigor. It builds springy and explosive strength which can be released at short range to produce large amounts of power.
Meditation forms an intrinsic part of the training program. Generally, you are taught how to perform simple and safe meditations and then encouraged to practice them in your own time, quietly, and comfortably. On nights of the full moon, a special meditation together at midnight is practiced directly under the full moon. These can be combined with natural or reverse abdominal breathing.
Full moon meditations take advantage of the pure yin energy which emanates from the moon at midnight (the most yin hour) when it is full (the moon’s most yin phase). These special meditations will give you an amazing charge but are best practiced under supervision to start with! The complement to the full moon meditations is the practice of Chi Kung just at sunrise on the day of the new moon, taking advantage of yang energy.
The meditation session includes:
The tiger-crane combination is a classic southern Shaolin style which emphasizes intricate hand techniques thrown from a solid and stable stance. Being close to the original Shaolin white crane, this style emphasizes the use of touch sensitivity to connect to an opponent and feel their movement and intention, countering them immediately when they initiate a move, before it can become dangerous.
Benefits of practicing the tiger crane art include:
The self-defense training is very practically based and can be tailored to suit the individual. What is emphasized is avoidance as opposed to confrontation and it is much safer. Techniques which do not inflict serious injury such as killing or maiming an attacker are likely to get you into very serious trouble in most countries, especially if they are a local. Practical self-defense involves forward planning, awareness, positive body language, quick thinking, diplomacy, and confidence.
Physical confrontation is a last resort. If it does get physical, take downs and restraints are both good options. They prevent an opponent from hurting you without inflicting injury on them. It may be necessary to disarm them first. The defense techniques that are taught are based on Kung Fu, Chinese boxing, and a great deal of experience. The training which is simple and effective, will enable you to travel without fear.
Weapons have always featured strongly in Shaolin Kung Fu training and are one of the most popular parts of the syllabus, even in the modern era and in Qigong. Training starts with simple basics such as how to stand, grip the weapon, and more. This program will also cover simple and advanced moves, strategies, tactics, target areas, and more. The weapon training is not just "show of style."
The genuine art of weapon use for combat will be taught. Unlike in many other cultures, the Shaolin weapons were still used for war very recently, such as by the Chinese army in World War II and by Kung Fu groups as recently as the 1970s. Some of the teachers here at Nam Yang have direct experience with these weapons. This is not something which you will find in many schools.
Benefits of weapon training:
Conditioning and flexibility are vital for any artist. At Nam Yang Mountain Retreat, morning meditation and soft arts are complemented with active workouts and stretches to improve endurance and elasticity. Conditioning routines are borrowed from various martial and athletic disciplines to maximize stamina, cardio, and strength improvement while maintaining safety and a mind for technique.
Stretching routines employ methods from both Kung Fu and yoga to greatly improve joint and muscle flexibility and teach body relaxation. Students often notice significant improvements in flexibility and elasticity after leaving the mountain retreat.
Master Iain is a Kung Fu philosopher and author with 36 years of living in Kung Fu. Trained personally by Grand Master Tan Soh Tin in Singapore, he’s a two-time world champion and veteran of real street battles. Famous for his high-quality Kung Fu teaching, his instructional films and magazine articles, and for his demonstrations of Iron Shirt Qigong, Master Iain is a mine of information but retains a very practical, down-to-earth, and realistic approach. Most people who meet him are struck by his air of calm, patience, and wisdom.
Ophir found Nam Yang looking for personal recovery, injury management, and healing. He found our training and stretching routines aided him in this direction and found more than what he was looking for regarding personal development. Eager to make his life better and aid those around him, he joined our instructor team seeing that it would do just this! Ophir is usually present at Nam Yang 4-6 months a year. He also assists with the Children's Classes.
Michael is an integral and very much valued member of the Nam Yang family. He first came in 2015 and loved it so much that he returned to become an Instructor. Passionate about Kung Fu and Nam Yang's history, he strives to live Kung Fu in all aspects of his life, as well as helping others looking for the same thing. When not at the Retreat, he teaches Kung Fu and Qigong in Guatemala and assists students coming to the Retreat remotely as our Ambassador.
Buddhason comes from a Chi Kung background with 20 years experience, has passed a 1 year medical Chi Kung course, and is a qualified teacher of both yoga and meditation, having studied Vajrayana Buddhism under several master lineage holders. He came here to build up his Chi in preparation for performing Chi healing and to be part of a community focused on self-development. He chose Nam Yang because we offer chi kung teacher training and have an English speaking master with real/serious credentials: lineage holder, world champion etc.
Prisca first came to the Retreat in 2021 to connect body and mind and find something to help her evolve. She enjoyed it so much that she returned in 2024 to join the instructor team. She aims to become a great teacher, sharing her passion for Kung Fu and how it supports people in their daily lives. For her, Kung Fu is a way of life that brings happiness and lightness. She hopes to open her own school in France in the future.
From a young age, Shawn wanted to learn Kung Fu as a means to master himself and become the best version of himself. After facing a personal challenge, he decided to pursue this path at Nam Yang in 2022, which came highly recommended by a friend. As an Instructor, he aims to teach others how to become their best selves and plans to train for life, continuing to learn and grow. Shawn has previous experience in Karate as a child, and has been training Kung Fu for 6 years.
Brad first came to the Retreat in 2024, but has been training with Nam Yang Pugilistic Association as a student of Master Iain for 26 years. He first started training with Nam Yang through the Nam Yang Kung Fu Club in Epsom, England. He enjoyed his time so much there that he decided to come to the Retreat and become an Instructor. He finds honor in being an Instructor of Nam Yang, to help those who lack self-confidence and raise them up to see their potential. One day, he hopes to attain the title of Master.
This training will take place in Nam Yang Kung Fu Retreat, Pai, Thailand. When Nam Yang Kung Fu Retreat set out to design the Kung Fu Retreat, they inspired to make all of their dreams about a perfect Kung Fu, Chi Kung, and meditation school come become reality. They spent many years choosing the ideal location then set about building a full time, a residential school with all of the elements needed by serious students and teachers alike.
The Pai Valley is an area of incredible natural beauty. High in the mountains, it epitomizes the Kung Fu dream of training in pure, fresh air with awesome views well away from the distractions of modern life and the pollution of modern cities. It is easy to grow and prepare healthy, natural food in the farmland around Pai and this allows you to eat the sort of diet which best supports your training.
This area is famous amongst the Chinese for having some of the best chi in the world. It flows down from the plateau of Tibet, high in the Himalayas towards the lower land to the south. This makes it perfect for the practice of Kung Fu And Chi Kung.
Pai is an incredible town with a unique culture. It is massively popular with travelers and has all of the facilities that you might want. Very easy to get by in English. A fun town where everyone wants to stay longer.
The retreat is set on two acres of land on the side of a mountain spur, bordering the jungle, and with awesome views across the Pai river valley to mountains which rise steadily to the mighty Himalayas.
In the early morning, when you begin training, the mountains are usually shrouded in mist which gradually clears as the sun rises. Indeed, the sun rises are a highlight of many people's stay. The school is built in the local Shan style architecture according to Chinese Feng Shui principles.
The views from the retreat are truly awesome and all of the rooms are built so that when you walk out of your front door you get the full impact. Most of their students say that although the pictures look amazing they do not do justice to the reality!
For most of Nam Yang Kung Fu Retreat guests, the food is one of the highlights of their stay. Quality food is essential for martial artists in hard training. Nam Yang Kung Fu Retreat has their own kitchen garden, herb garden, and fruit trees all of which are entirely organic. Nam Yang Kung Fu Retreat is now partially self-sufficient for fruit and vegetables. What they don’t grow by themselves, they will choose carefully usually from the local farmers' market or from people they know well.
The rice is bought from a rather remote hill tribe village in the mountains. By buying rice directly from poor ethnic minorities, they support their families. Nam Yang Kung Fu Retreat prepares local style food with an emphasis on the use of beneficial herbs to increase its value. Their diet is calculated to best support your training as they understand that you are what you eat.
Food prepared on site is as fresh, organic and healthy as possible and is usually delicious local Thai or Shan style, or occasionally Chinese or southern Thai style. Meals will start with one or two types of fruit and usually some salad. Nam Yang Kung Fu Retreat then typically serves two main dishes with rice. Most dishes are vegetarian but Nam Yang Kung Fu Retreat does serve meat. There will always be at least one vegan dish as part of each meal. Nam Yang Kung Fu Retreat will also try their best to cater for specialist diets.
Nam Yang Kung Fu Retreat supply breakfast daily and evening meals on training days. Drinking water is supplied free with meals and is available from the kitchen free of charge at any time for resident students. They also serve specialist teas two to four times a day. Either high-quality Chinese tea - something integrally connected with Kung Fu training - or herbal tea for health benefits.
The instructors eat in the dining area, together with the students, which is a testimony to the quality of the food and helps provide a good ethos for the school. Almost any style of food can be purchased in Pai, (Italian, western, Middle Eastern, Chinese, Indian, and much more).
The local diet is based mainly around rice, meat, fresh-water fish, vegetables, fruit, and spices. Kindly note that seafood is relatively expensive in the mountains. Local fruit and vegetables are great, fresh, and very cheap.
Pai is a hub for adventure tourism. Most of the students hire a moped so as to get around and appreciate what the area has to offer. Moped hire is very cheap. Safety first is recommended when dealing with mopeds. There is a huge range of activities available locally, including:
There is also a masseuse available on call who specializes in traditional Thai massage, herb massage, and oil massage. The cost of the massage is 200 TBH per hour. Compared to prices in the West, this is ridiculously cheap.
Chiang Mai International Airport
88 km
Transfer available for additional US$ 108 per person
Head out of town towards the airport / Mae Hong Son.
On the far side of the airport turn right, parallel to the runway.
We are the first turn on the left, about 400m down the road, on a sharp right hand bend. We have a prominent sign. A little way before our sign is a flashing orange sign signalling sharp bend / left hand turn.
The best way to get to Nam Yang Kung Fu Retreat is to fly to Bangkok or to Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai is much nearer to the Kung Fu Retreat but Bangkok has more flights and is usually cheaper. There is an abundance of hotels, guest houses etc in Bangkok to suit all budgets, should you need to arrange an overnight stay.
If you are on a budget to get to Chiang Mai, we suggest flying to Bangkok and taking a train to Chiang Mai or a bus. Please be aware that trains in Thailand often run very late. The trains are very comfortable and afford great views of the Thai countryside. If you are on a very tight budget, you can go to Kao San Road in Bangkok and get an overnight coach for about 300 Baht or so. This is the least comfortable way to travel. We recommend the flight, especially if you have not spent much time in Thailand before.
You have a choice between taking a minibus, taxi or flight.
Minibus: The minibus trip from Chiang Mai is about 150 Baht and has awesome views. It takes about three and a half hours, most of which is spent on amazing winding roads through mountains the like of which you have probably never seen before. The views are breathtaking and the journey is an adventure in itself so we recommend that you travel during daylight. We suggest taking a minibus with the provider Prempracha Transport. To get there from the airport, simply take a taxi with a meter or a Tuk Tuk to Chiang Mai Arcade Bus Station. It should take 15 – 30 minutes depending on traffic and cost very little.
You can book your seat in advanced online and pick up your bus ticket once you arrive to the Bus Station. Once you arrive, if you didn’t book your seat in advanced, you will need to book on to the next available minibus.
Minibuses run between about 6.30 am and 5.30pm. If you arrive in Chiang Mai later than about 3.30pm you are likely to need to either stay overnight in Chiang Mai or get a taxi to the Kung Fu Retreat. If staying overnight, which is the cheapest option, we recommend that you still go to the Prempracha office when you arrive and book on to a minibus for the next day. Then look for a guesthouse. You should be able to get a nice room near the centre of Chiang Mai with fan for 400 – 500 Baht. If in doubt try looking on tripadvisor.
Taxi: We can arrange for a taxi from Pai to come to the airport to meet you. Alternatively you could speak with drivers in the taxi rank outside the airport. Recently taxis have been charging about 4,200 Baht for the trip. This does vary and will likely be higher if late at night or in December / January. If we arrange a taxi for you we will need to pay in advance so please do not pay the driver otherwise he will think that he has just got the best tip of his life and likely take a week off! If you do want to give a tip, 100 – 250 Baht would be about right.
Flight: Wisdom Airlines has recently started providing flights from Chiang Mai to Pai for 1790 Baht per flight for 1 person. Currently, you can book tickets in person, online, through a booking agency or by phone. We suggest doing this in person or through a booking agency though as sometimes the website does not always work. Wisdom Airlines is the only carrier that flies from Chiang Mai to Pai.
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