This photo was probably taken around 1995 at the Shaolin Temple school of my Tai Mantis school brother, Bill Fannon. I helped Bill complete the school and attended the official launch. The property was owned by a Christian Church and they were attending… so Bill restricted me from providing some of the Buddhist “BLESSINGS” and traditional Dharma I had expected to provide for the temple launch and Shaolin Buddhist initiation.

I have tried to locate Bill Fannon through school brothers and internet and Facebook… but he has disappeared. Dead? Shifu Steve Baugh has died. Shifu Wong Jack Man has died. (He lived 40 years longer than Bruce Lee which proves who had the better Kung Fu). My school brother Manuel Marquez was the closest friend and disciple of Dr. Kam Yuen. I attended events with both of them until 2018. Manuel says, “Kam isn’t talking to anyone anymore. He’s done.”

A couple of my school brothers of Jing Mo are active on Facebook. Shifu Rick Wing has published many excellent books detailing the 10 Shaolin Forms of our Jing Mo school. I tell my students to use these books as our official reference. Rick travels and teaches workshops and still teaches the Jing Mo classes in San Francisco. There are a couple pictures of us together in 2017 with him wearing my black cowboy hat. I’ve tried reaching out to other school brothers, but they are all retired…

That’s another part of my evolution. I want to leave some of this Kung Fu behind for other people live and grow with. I don’t know if I’ll live long enough or even find a disciple to inherit my Shaolin Chi Mantis school. It would take 10 to 20 years for me to teach the entire system. So Tai Chi Youth is my hope for providing the future with ENOUGH KUNG FU and TAI CHI to improve and maintain a person’s life. Tai Chi Youth ends with the staff program so it will benefit the body, spirit and mind of anyone who can graduate it and learn how to teach it. I think by teaching other people you learn a lot and improve your Kung Fu. The belt rank advancements were created in 1996 before I ever imagined Tai Chi Youth being a “VIRTUAL REALITY” school.

I need to create the instructor videos and hopefully in the future my TAI CHI YOUTH ONLINE SCHOOL will create Tai Chi Youth INSTRUCTORS. Help me create these 400 videos to create the Tai Chi Youth Online School. Help me to help the future. This physical fitness program would be the ideal martial arts, health, and spiritual program to take with us to other planets or exercise with in outer space. This is THE BEST PHYSICAL and MENTAL FITNESS PROGRAM IN THE WORLD! ***https://www.TaiChiYouth.org *** ***https://www.ShaolinInteractive.com/courses/ ***

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###MIRROR .XYZ Launches Tai Chi Youth Online School CROWFUND ***https://mirror.xyz/0x44043C6DFB93765434D1c7b6E413fD88df3F2cc5/crowdfunds/0x991e9521BAaa592e3656a678acCc23a0647aFA40 ***

***https://mirror.xyz/taichiyouth.eth ***

###MingTai Chi Crane Wing NFT: Tai Chi Youth Online School CROWDFUND ***Https://mirror.xyz/0x44043C6DFB93765434D1c7b6E413fD88df3F2cc5/editions/0xe6098D276b6e8C4D05111418153A3f6E5FAbaE17 ***

###Monk Donor NFT: Tai Chi Youth Online School CROWDFUND ***https://mirror.xyz/0x44043C6DFB93765434D1c7b6E413fD88df3F2cc5/editions/0xC4E0f3Ec24972C75dF7c716922096F4270b7bB4e/423 ***

###Friend Donor NFT: Tai Chi Youth Online School CROWDFUND ***https://mirror.xyz/0x44043C6DFB93765434D1c7b6E413fD88df3F2cc5/editions/0xC4E0f3Ec24972C75dF7c716922096F4270b7bB4e/422 ***

###Hero Donor NFT: Tai Chi Youth Online School CROWDFUND ***https://mirror.xyz/0x44043C6DFB93765434D1c7b6E413fD88df3F2cc5/editions/0xC4E0f3Ec24972C75dF7c716922096F4270b7bB4e/421 ***

###Legend Donor NFT: Tai Chi Youth Online School CROWDFUND ***https://mirror.xyz/0x44043C6DFB93765434D1c7b6E413fD88df3F2cc5/editions/0xC4E0f3Ec24972C75dF7c716922096F4270b7bB4e/420 ***

###Tai Chi Youth ROADMAP ***https://richarddelconnor.gitbook.io/taichiyouthonlineschool/ ***

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I learned my Shaolin spear form from Shifu Steve Baugh “Ru Jing Shi” who was a Southern Kung Fu master of Shifu Ark Yuey Wong in Los Angeles Chinatown. The Spear form he taught was from Dr. Kam Yuen and was the Northern Shaolin Spear Form. I compared my version of the spear form with the San Francisco Jing Mo school spear form and they furthered my training and gave me information on its history. Since that was almost 30 years ago and I’ve only taught one student the Shaolin Spear, I’m reluctant to share much information right now before reviewing my notes from then. It’s a really cool form and I regret at this moment that I haven’t continued practicing it… That’s why I enjoy teaching. It forces me tor resurrect these weapons and remaster them as I teach them to people.

I also befriended Arthur Chin who was a student of Wong Jack Man but also inherited the San Francisco Tai Chi Praying Mantis School. He was surprised that I had learned/inherited the “Half-Drunken Praying Mantis” form of Grandmaster Chiu Chuk Kai that he never learned. He completed my whip chain program but I never got back to San Francisco to teach him the “Half-Drunken Mantis” form that I have never taught anyone. Will this form die with me?

I usually only practice one or two weapons each four month semester of teaching my classes. You need to carry a weapon with you every day and everywhere to fully understand it and master its use in various environments big and small. At the time of these photos I was carrying the spear and for the only time in my entire life wore a “Fu Man Chu” mustache that went down to my chin. This may have given me a slightly Chinese appearance because Shifu Wong Jack Man always befriended me. According to his high-ranking student who took over the San Francisco Jing Mo school when he retired, Shifu Rick Bucky Wing, Wong Jack Man continually asked him how I was doing.

I enjoy all the Northern Shaolin weapons for unique reasons. The spear is very fluid and snake-like.

In my staff and spear and halberd classes we start and end each class with “8 Staff Salutes” of Shaolin Chi Mantis.

1. SALUTE Shifu.
2. SALUTE Past Masters.
3. SALUTE Kwoon altar or aim at Original Shaolin Temple in China.
4. SALUTE “Prayer for Peace” with compassion in mind.
5. SALUTE “Informal Salute” with gesture of friendliness toward Shifu.
6. SALUTE “Formal Salute” used in tournaments and performances.
7. SALUTE “Weapon Salute” used for declaring devotion to Shifu or employer.
8. SALUTE “Luohan Bow” with the 2,000 ton staff of Heaven held by an angelic guardian “Luohan” of Buddha.

These “8 SALUTES” each have a different mind set, mental attitude and employ a different image or scenario in the student’s mind.

This is another reason I ALWAYS teach the staff before sword or any other weapon. Shaolin Weapons can kill people and require a mental maturity that must master and comprehend all the above attitudes and convictions before learning any other weapon after the staff. The staff training completes the Tai Chi Youth nonprofit program because without it, none of the Tai Chi Youth students could possibly be Kung Fu or Tai Chi masters.

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#AMAZON AUTHOR PAGES:

##Buddha Zhen ***https://www.amazon.com/Buddha-Zhen/e/B008BY0YWQ/ *** ##Richard Del Connor ***https://www.amazon.com/Richard-Del-Connor/e/B008BXLZLQ/ *** ##Rachel Connor ***https://www.amazon.com/Rachel-Connor/e/B008CT4UIY ***

###BOOK: Shaolin Kung Fu Initiate

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***https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/137559 ***

###BOOK: Shaolin Kung Fu Beginner

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***https://www.shaolinrecords.com/RecordStore-R/ShaolinKFBeginner-R.html ***

***https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/137554 ***

###Book: Tai Chi Beginner Class Reading Manual ***https://www.shaolinCOM.com/Products-S/Book-TaiChiBegCLASS.html ***

***https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/137609 ***

##BUDDHA ZHEN SECTION of ShaolinCOM.com

###ABOUT Buddha Zhen ***https://www.shaolinCOM.com/Buddha_Zhen/AboutBZ-S.html ***

###ARTWORK of Buddha Zhen ***https://www.shaolinCOM.com/Buddha_Zhen/artworkBZ-S.html ***

###BOOKS of Buddha Zhen ***https://www.shaolinCOM.com/Buddha_Zhen/booksBZ-S.html ***

###INSPIRATIONS by Buddha Zhen ***https://www.shaolinCOM.com/Buddha_Zhen/inspirationsBZ-S.html ***

###LECTURES and SEMINARS of Buddha Zhen ***https://www.shaolinCOM.com/Buddha_Zhen/lecturesBZ-S.html ***

###MUSIC by Buddha Zhen ***https://www.shaolinCOM.com/Buddha_Zhen/musicBZ-S.html ***

###PRIVATE LESSONS of BUDDHA ZHEN ***https://www.shaolinCOM.com/Buddha_Zhen/privateLessonsBZ-S.html ***

###RESUMES OF BUDDHA ZHEN ***https://www.shaolinCOM.com/Buddha_Zhen/resumeBZ-S.html ***

##Shaolin Chi Mantis ***https://www.shaolinCOM.com/Shaolin_Chi_Mantis/Bodhidharma-S.html ***

***https://www.shaolinCOM.com/Shaolin_Chi_Mantis/Bootcamps-S.html ***

***https://www.shaolinCOM.com/Shaolin_Chi_Mantis/classes-S.html ***

***https://www.shaolinCOM.com/Shaolin_Chi_Mantis/membershipSCM-S.html ***

***https://www.shaolinCOM.com/Shaolin_Chi_Mantis/membershipTCY-S.html ***

***https://www.shaolinCOM.com/Shaolin_Chi_Mantis/seminars-S.html ***

***https://www.shaolinCOM.com/Shaolin_Chi_Mantis/tournamentREG-S.html ***

***https://www.shaolinCOM.com/Shaolin_Chi_Mantis/tournaments-S.html ***

***https://www.shaolinCOM.com/Shaolin_Chi_Mantis/weaponry-S.html ***

###NEWSLETTERS of Buddha Zhen https://www.ShaolinRecords.com/press/BZ_eNEWS-LIST.html ***

###PRESS RELEASES of Buddha Zhen ***https://www.ShaolinRecords.com/press/BZ_PR-LIST.html ***

##Shaolin Kung Fu Beginner book by Buddha Zhen 2008 ###EPK - BOOK - ***https://www.ShaolinRecords.com/EPK/_BOOKS-EPK/BZ-ShKungFuBeginner-EPK/EPK-ShKFBeginner-BOOK.html ***

###EPK - ONE-SHEET - ***https://www.ShaolinRecords.com/EPK/_BOOKS-EPK/BZ-ShKungFuBeginner-EPK/EPK-ShKFBeginner-ONESHEET.html ***

##Tai Chi Beginner Class Manual book by Buddha Zhen 2008 ###EPK - BOOK - ***https://www.ShaolinRecords.com/EPK/_BOOKS-EPK/BZ-TaiChiBeginner-EPK/EPK-TaiChiBegin-BOOK.html ***

###EPK - ONE-SHEET - ***https://www.ShaolinRecords.com/EPK/_BOOKS-EPK/BZ-TaiChiBeginner-EPK/EPK-TaiChiBegin-BOOK-ONESHEET.html ***

##Tao of Taoism book by Buddha Zhen 2008 ###EPK - BOOK - ***https://www.ShaolinRecords.com/EPK/_BOOKS-EPK/BZ-TaoOfTaoism/EPK-BZ-TaoOfTaoism-BOOK.html ***

###EPK - ONE-SHEET - Tao of Taoism — Using the Dao Te Ching to Improve Your Life ***https://www.ShaolinRecords.com/EPK/_BOOKS-EPK/BZ-TaoOfTaoism/EPK-BZ-TaoOfTaoism-ONE-SHEET.html ***

###EPK - Enterprise: BUDDHA KUNG FU ***https://www.ShaolinRecords.com/EPK/_ENTERPRISES-EPK/BuddhaKungFu-EPK/EPK-Enterprise-BKF.html ***

###EPK - Enterprise: BUDDHA ZHEN ***https://www.ShaolinRecords.com/EPK/_ENTERPRISES-EPK/BuddhaZhen-EPK/EPK-Enterprise-BZ.html ***

###EPK - Enterprise: SHAOLIN CHI MANTIS ***https://www.ShaolinRecords.com/EPK/_ENTERPRISES-EPK/ShaolinChiMantis-EPK/EPK-Enterprise-SCM.html ***

###EPK - Enterprise: SHAOLIN COMMUNICATIONS ***https://www.ShaolinRecords.com/EPK/_ENTERPRISES-EPK/ShaolinCommunications-EPK/EPK-Enterprise-shCOM.html ***

###Tai Chi Beginner - Yang Style Tai Chi Short Form of Shaolin Chi Mantis Class Reading Manual by Richard Del Connor "Buddha Zhen" ***https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/137609 ***

###Tao of Taoism - Using the Dao Te Ching to Improve Your Life by Buddha Zhen ***https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/144831 ***

##Masonic Kung Fu book by Richard Del Connor “Buddha Zhen Shen-Lang”

###Kindle eBOOK.
***https://www.amazon.com/Masonic-Kung-Fu-Book-1-ebook/dp/B0083DF27M ***

###Paperback
***https://www.amazon.com/Masonic-Kung-Fu-Entered-Apprentice/dp/1575513501/ ***

###Shaolin Records
***https://www.shaolinrecords.com/RecordStore-R/MasonicKungFu1-R.html ***

###ShaolinCOM.com
***https://www.shaolincom.com/Products-S/Book-MasonKF-1.html ***

###Audiobook at Audible
***https://www.amazon.com/Entered-Apprentice-Masonic-Kung-Book/dp/B08P5YX4D5/ ***

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##Buddha Zhen YouTube CHANNEL

***https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcKiDa7cTlmxJVkptMWUSPA ***

##Kung Fu Cowboy YOUTUBE CHANNEL ***https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-54AuGDssg2MwfQmn2Ev_Q ***

##Tai Chi Youth CHANNEL YouTube.com

***https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCe2PWhWFvT9yNOlWU_555A ***

###”TAI CHI YOUTH" - Richard Del Connor Explain's Tai Chi ***https://youtu.be/cYplNJogI4s ***

###”CHINESE YOGA" ***https://youtu.be/CDnlDvxS2pA ***

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These are what I’m leaving behind. I’m evolving into something new for the rest of my life. I’m 68. I’ve gone through 3 surgeries, chemotherapy and cobalt radiation treatment. I should live a little longer. I am anxious for a NEW PHASE of my life. No kids. No wife. No parents. Just my cat.

Maybe I’m dead when you read this. I’m trying to leave behind a couple organizations to keep my creativity, creations, products and inspirations alive for the future. My kids won’t help me. I have no wife. None of my relatives will keep my memory or legacy alive.

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#American Zen Peace Foundation

***https://AmericanZenPeaceFoundation.org ***

Perhaps this FOUNDATION will use the profits from sales of my products to pay salaries to people to maintain my websites and keep my books and albums on the internet shelves.

##American Zen Peace Foundation DAO

***https://app.SuperDAO.co/american_zen_peace_foundation ***

Perhaps this Web3 crypto organization will keep my legacy alive. Can I evolve onto the blockchain?

##American Zen WEBSITE: “America’s First Buddhist Rock Band™“

***https://www.americanzen.org ***

Perhaps this website will inspire youth the way I wanted to be inspired and enlightened as a teenager.

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#Tai Chi Youth NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION

This 501(c)(3) public charity education organization was founded in 1996 and never had enough money to hire anyone or pay me for teaching the classes. Fundraising was never my calling in life. But I took the SHAOLIN CHI MANTIS Beginner Program and stretched it out into the BEST KUNG FU PROGRAM on the planet Earth. The best. Never seen anything even close.

***https://www.TaiChiYouth.org ***

Help me keep this organization alive. If my other products make enough money to keep the American Zen Peace Foundation alive, I created as part of the American Zen Peace Foundation MANIFESTO: instructions for supporting and maintaining the future of the Tai Chi Youth nonprofit.

Tai Chi Youth also has a DAO I am creating right now with our first FUNDRAISER NFTs I created from the “Blue Painting” I made at the Martin Luther King Hospital and chopped up into 13 different NFTs.

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#Tai Chi Youth DAO

***https://app.SuperDAO.co/tai_chi_youth ***

You’ll see 7 NFTs on the Tai Chi Youth DAO homepage.

1. Tai Chi Youth Online School “SCHOOL MANAGER” NFT: Airdropped to people administrating TCY school.
2. Tai Chi Youth Online School “STUDENT” NFT: Airdropped to registered students of TCY school.
3. Tai Chi Youth Online School “DONOR” NFT: Airdropped to people donating to TAICHIYOUTH.ETH wallet.

The other FOUR NFTs were created using “Blue Painting” sections by Buddha Zhen. (See below).

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#Tai Chi Youth DAO FUNDRAISER for Online School

##DAO HOMEPAGE: Displays all NFTS ***https://app.SuperDAO.co/tai_chi_youth ***

###Core Investor: 1200 MATIC ***https://app.superdao.co/tai_chi_youth/08B57B02D6714AE2B0E3BF6F83463B2 ***

###Early Believer: 600 MATIC ***https://app.superdao.co/tai_chi_youth/88B6CF4179E044B297779FE4021010B ***

###Contributor: 120 MATIC ***https://app.superdao.co/tai_chi_youth/950686DD8E894D30B083999FE51F615 ***

###Tai Chi Supporter: 30 MATIC ***https://app.superdao.co/tai_chi_youth/C75EB7755ED8456EA9EB00B35DA0B10 ***

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#WEB3 CRYPTO CROWDFUND at ***https://Mirror.xyz/taichiyouth.eth ***

###NFT: Ming Tai Chi Crane Wing ***https://mirror.xyz/0x44043C6DFB93765434D1c7b6E413fD88df3F2cc5/editions/0xe6098D276b6e8C4D05111418153A3f6E5FAbaE17/0 ***

###Tai Chi Youth Roadmap ***https://richarddelconnor.gitbook.io/taichiyouthonlineschool/ ***

I donated two sets of the “KUNG FU OUTLAWS” NFTs to Tai Chi Youth. One set to keep forever and use for bank loan Web3 collateral. The other set of 107 NFTs are for auctioning and fundraising.

***https://OpenSea.io/collection/kung-fu-outlaws ***

###Mirror CROWDFUND for building the TAI CHI YOUTH ONLINE SCHOOL:

***https://mirror.xyz/0x44043C6DFB93765434D1c7b6E413fD88df3F2cc5/crowdfunds/0x991e9521BAaa592e3656a678acCc23a0647aFA40 ***

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#Shaolin Chi Mantis Traditional Buddhist Kung Fu and Taoist Tai Chi Chuan

***https://www.ShaolinChiMantis.com *** ***https://www.ShaolinInteractive.com *** ***https://www.ShaolinKungFuBeginner.com *** ***https://www.ShaolinZen.org *** ***https://www.ShaolinZen.TV *** ***https://www.ZenBuddhistPodcast.com ***

This is the most amazing Kung Fu school in the world. Shaolin Chi Mantis is parent school of Tai Chi Youth and Buddha Kung Fu.

***https://www.shaolinchimantis.com/Pages-M/cur7year-SCM.html ***

***https://www.ShaolinInteractive.com/courses/ ***

It teaches 18 Classical Chinese weapons. It teaches the 10 super difficult Shaolin Kung Fu forms from 1000 AD. It teaches the Shaolin Chi Mantis BEGINNER PROGRAM which is also the entire Tai Chi Youth curriculum. It teaches Buddhism: Shaolin Kung Fu Beginner, Shaolin Kung Fu Intermediate, Shaolin Kung Fu Advanced. It teaches Taoism: Tai Chi Beginner, Tai Chi Intermediate, Tai Chi Advanced, Tai Chi Shifu. It teaches Confucianism: Human Values for Success in Family & Business. It teaches Yang Tai Chi Chuan: 5-year program with new lessons every week.

Richard Del Connor, Buddha Zhen Shen-Lang, Spirit Wolf of Truth, The Hippy Coyote, Don delaVega, Tom Calder, Rory G, Steve Hixon, Rachel Connor, and Kung Fu Cowboy here… for a moment more. I’m evolving.

***https://www.RichardDelConnor.com *** ***https://www.BuddhaZ.com *** ***https://www.BuddhaZhen.com *** ***https://www.BudddhaKungFu.com *** ***https://www.HippyCoyote.com *** ***https://www.CoyoteRadio.TV *** ***https://www.FolkRockTroubadour.com *** ***https://www.PsychedelicRockOpera.com *** ***https://ScorpionResurrection.com *** ***https://ShaolinDigital.com *** ***https://ShaolinFilm.com *** ***https://KungFuCowboy.com ***

So this book EVOLUTION OF A SHAOLIN MONK was written while recuperating in a hospital and meditating on my future as the disciple of Grandmaster Wong Jack Man (who fought Bruce Lee in 1964) and my owning the book publishing company, Shaolin Communications.  I also own Shaolin Records and wanted to have a successful music career as the Kung Fu Cowboy.  Plus I was building my online schools for Shaolin Chi Mantis and Tai Chi Youth.

This book EVOLUTION OF A SHAOLIN MONK will detail what I was thinking during those "Crossroads" in my life.  I hope you find this enjoyable, entertaining and inspirational.  It was all three for me.

###eBOOK: Evolution of a Shaolin Monk ***https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BD4Z2K7C *** $9.99

###PaperBack: Evolution of a Shaolin Monk ***https://www.amazon.com/dp/1575514761 *** 66.99

###Hardcover: Evolution of a Shaolin Monk ***https://www.amazon.com/dp/157551477X *** $79.00

#Shaolin Communications BOOK STORE PDF: Evolution of a Shaolin Monk ***https://www.ShaolinCOM.com/Products-S/Book-EvolutionShaolinMonk.html *** $9.99