Greek Shaolin Cultural Organization
少林希腊文化組织

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The community of the 11th Scout System of the local "Analipseos" branch lived a special experience during its recent action, that was organised by the Greek Shaolin Cultural Organization, in cooperation with Shaolin Cultural Center True Path. The action was titled "Getting Acquainted with the Shaolin Soft Arts" and took place at the club of Shaolin Center in Thessaloniki on Sunday March 3, 2019 at 11:00 am. The editor was the Shifu of the Center, Master Vassilopoulos Ioannis, together with the recently certified master in the soft arts class of Shaolin Rou Quan Gong Fa [Chin: Shàolín róuquán gōngfǎ 少林柔拳功法] Paipati Chrysa.

The purpose of the action was to get acquainted with Shaolin culture, and in particular the inner arts such as Qi Gong and Shaolin Rou Quan[Chin.: Shàolín Róuquán Nèigōng 少林柔拳内功], the precursor of the widespread Tai Ji Quan[chin.: tàijí quán 太极拳]..

The center was delighted to welcome the entire scout community that came to the center with the formal attire, in the presence of the chief and leader Mr. Chaitatzis Alexandros along with other qualifiers.

The head received a unique handbook for Shaolin arts. Then there was a talk about Shaolin story and Shaolin Fighting Virtue [chin.: WǔDé 武德] , which is the cornerstone of the Arts practice. He also referred to "the four treasures of Shaolin study" [Chin: Shàolín wénfángsìbǎo 少林 文房四宝] what Kung Fu really means, and how this should be manifested in our everyday life.

Then followed the teaching of basic principles of qi gong [chin.: qìgōng 气功], leaving the team amazed, since they did not expect such simple moves to limit their physical strength. In spite of the strain, the group's smiles were permanently there, moving peacefully in the second part of the presentation that was Rou Quan [chin.: róu quán 柔拳].

The harmonious movements of the first unarmed skill were complemented by some self-defense techniques, and were completed with meditation exercises, followed by a discussion of the advantages of Shaolin arts, the relationship of Master-apprentice, the difference between Chan and other inner paths , Shaolin story, customs, etc.

Master Paipati Chrissi, described, in turn, through her years of experience in Shaolin soft arts, how useful these arts are in everyday simple tasks, but also in the general shaping of the character of the trainee.

Apparently excited, the head of the 11th system, Mr. Haitidis Alexander, said:

"We had a wonderful time! It is worth mentioning that the seemingly simple exercises had a great difficulty factor. We understood that the Shaolin principles and especially the fighting virtue have so much in common with the principles of scouting and that education in these arts can meet the vision of Lord Baden Powel's founder of scout 1857-1941, that "Through our actions we try to let the world a little better than we found it". We would love to repeat it and get to know more about Shaolin arts and its 1500 years of history. We will certainly recommend this action to other wider parts of the scouts. "