#600 Flying Saber

My Chinese name is Zhen Shen-Lang “Spirit Wolf of Truth.” I am the founder of Shaolin Chi Mantis Traditional Buddhist Kung Fu in 1984. In 1998 I graduated the San Francisco Jing Mo school of Grandmaster Wong Jack Man who fought Bruce Lee in the sixties. I was certified as a Shaolin Jing Mo / Chin Woo school and received these ancient Chinese paper-cuts at a Chinatown graduation celebration. These are the famous 107 “Outlaws of the Marsh” who were the Robin Hoods of the Chinese Song Dynasty as they robbed the rich and gave to the poor. They are an important inspiration to me and now can be an inspiration for you in these ancient artworks probably hand cut in the 1400s when their stories became popular in Chinese novels. There were 107 of the original bandits in 1120 A.D. and there are 107 of these artworks depicting each of them including some women warriors. Each of these 107 paper-cuts is Photoshop edited into 24 variations for a total of 2,568 unique NFTs minted “one-of-one” for collecting. Each of these NFTs is handmade by me, Richard Del Connor.

We have three GRADUATION CEREMONIES each year for my three Kung Fu school systems: Shaolin Chi Mantis Buddha Kung Fu Tai Chi Youth nonprofit

Graduations are held annually by all schools: First Saturday in February Last Saturday in May Saturday after Thanksgiving

Students create a horse-shoe gauntlet with highest ranking students to right and left of Shifu in the center. Students are prioritized by school first with Shaolin Chi Mantis students nearest to Shifu, then Buddha Kung Fu students, then Tai Chi Youth students, then guests and relatives farthest from Shifu at the ends of the gauntlet sides.

As students are called to be presented their Certificate and new sash of earned color and stripe rank they step backward and proceed clockwise outside the gauntlet then enter the horse-shoe and proceed towards the Shifu. Per Chinese custom students must walk backwards to exit the horse-shoe gauntlet, then proceed clockwise to their previous position now wearing their new sash. It is possible for a student to receive a belt and certificate from two of the schools simultaneously.

In all three schools founded by Buddha Zhen Shen-Lang (Richard Del Connor) a student pays only $50 for each belt test which allows one retest for free. Failure to pass a belt test requires taking that semester classes over again. To prevent anyone ever failing a belt test, Buddha Zhen designed the “Belt Test Approval Form” which requires each student to pass their belt test requirements twice before scheduling their actual belt test.

After the Graduation Ceremony, students gather in restaurants or banquet halls or homes to eat Chinese food and watch Kung Fu movies. Graduation CELEBRATIONS have strict Chinese etiquette protocol to honor our Kung Fu traditions and bestow respect on the Shifu. https://www.shaolinchimantis.com/Pages-M/oath-SCM.html

Shaolin Chi Mantis Curriculum Poster 1992 https://www.shaolinchimantis.com/Pages-M/cur7year-SCM.html

Shaolin Chi Mantis Online Kwoon: (Traditional Chinese Zen Buddhist Kung Fu school) https://www.ShaolinInteractive.com

This NFT is from Rock Opera 13 of the Kung Fu Cowboy Metaverse based upon the life of Richard Del Connor. Rock Opera 13 is named LEVEL 2 which corresponds with the American Zen album LEVEL 2 = Christ Killer when Richard was living amongst the Mormons in Salt Lake City, Utah from 1993 to 1999. During these years Richard founded Shaolin Chi Mantis Traditional Buddhist Kung Fu and the Tai Chi Youth nonprofit. From 1994 to 1998 Richard traveled to San Francisco to study under Grandmaster Wong Jack Man who was the Shifu of his Tai Mantis Kung Fu master Dr. Kam Yuen. So now he was the “brother” of his “Kung Fu Father.” In San Francisco Richard studied Choy Lay Fut Lion Dance drumming under Michael Leong; Praying Mantis under Arthur Chin; and had Rick Bucky Wing as his translator when studying with Shifu Wong Jack Man. Richard also marched in the San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade with the Jing Mo school as a spearman.

Tai Chi Youth nonprofit https://www.TaiChiYouth.org

KungFuCowboy#7370 36 Rock Opera Metaverse DISCORD https://discord.gg/WuJX2dkU6G

Ancient handmade Chinese paper cut artworks portraying the “Outlaws of the Marsh” with the weapons they were famous using as they robbed from the rich and gave to the poor in 1100 A.D. Each of these 107 Kung Fu warriors has been individually edited in Photoshop by Richard Del Connor creating 24 variations of each paper cut to be minted “one-of-one” for a total of 2,568 unique NFTs for collecting.

This collection of ancient Chinese papercuts was a gift to Richard Del Connor in 1998 when he graduated the Jing Mo San Francisco school of Grandmaster Wong Jack Man (who fought Bruce Lee in 1964). The Chinese dragon blood chop on each NFT was also presented to Richard Del Connor whose Chinese name is Zhen Shen-Lang "Spirit Wolf of Truth" for signing certificates and graduations of his Kung Fu school, Shaolin Chi Mantis. Richard is also the founder of the Tai Chi Youth nonprofit and Buddha Kung Fu schools teaching Northern Shaolin Kung Fu, Yang Tai Chi Chuan and Northern Praying Mantis.