Shaolin Chi Kung with Sifu Joan

Part of my work as the Chief Instructor in Ireland is to organise courses, for when my Sifu, Grandmaster Wong Kiew Kit, kindly visits us here in Killarney, Ireland.

I first invited Sifu here in 2001, when I had completely overcome the severe back and neck pain I had been suffering from. What Sifu had taught me on my 3 day trip to see him in Malaysia in 2000 had worked. I realised that not many people from Ireland may have to chance to meet this wise Shaolin Master in Malaysia and even if only one person overcame their chronic pain or illness in Ireland, it would be worth hosting a weekend workshop.  I had been the first Irish person to have taken a course with the Grandmaster in Malaysia at that time.

Sifu kindly accepted my invitation and over 40 people attended the workshop in Kerry on Valentine’s week 2001. The local paper ‘Kerry’s Eye’ were a wonderful help in getting the message out to people and ran a story on my own trip to Malaysia, it was all very exciting. I was also contacted by a TV presenter from Granada TV who wished to interview Grandmaster Wong, the film crew had booked into the hotel, and everything was organised, unfortunately she broke her leg just before she left the UK so the interview never took place. I guess it wasn’t meant to be at the time but it was very disappointing.  It was a few years later we were invited onto OPENHOUSE on RTE 1, where Sifu transmitted chi to people watching at home! I will never forget after the interview how my phone never stopped ringing and it was some time before I could even chat to Sifu. The Hothouse Flowers were on before us and whenever I hear them on the radio, it brings back wonderful memories of our day in RTE!

Radio Kerry have also been very kind to us and interviewed us many times. The power of the media always amazes me and the calls I receive afterwards from people who suffer from chronic pain and illness is what makes me so determined to continue what I do and also to continue inviting a world renowned Shaolin Grandmaster to our beautiful country each year.

In my next post I will write more about the courses which will take place in Killarney in February this year and what benefits they bring to participants.

Thank you ‘Kerry’s Eye’, ‘Radio Kerry’, RTE and even Granda TV for your interest. The Shaolin Arts are over 2000 years old yet are as important today in helping people as they were then.

Grandmaster Wong Kiew Kit’s website is www.shaolin.org

Sifu Joan: www.smilefromtheheart.ie

With Shaolin Salute,

Sifu Joan