To follow are a number of letters from students and parents of students who have studied at the Shaolin Arts Studios. These letters reflect very typical concerns, experiences and outcomes of studying at our studios

22 February 1996

Kerry Gracey
8536 South 1300 East
Sandy, UT 84094

Mr. Gracey:

I wanted to take a little time and thank you for some of the things your instruction have done for my son Eric. Sixteen months ago, he started out totally focused on kick-boxing. You kindly but firmly informed him that a few basics were in order, then other things would follow. Many good things have followed.

Eric has a hard time staying with a task. I have been very pleased with the patience shown him, the reminders at appropriate intervals, and diversity of training that eliminates boredom. He comes home after nearly every lesson having learned a new technique, a new Kata, a new defense and wants to tell us all about it. In his fifteen years, he has never stayed interesting in anything for more than a few weeks. With every lesson, with every belt advancement, he looks forward to the next goal, the next belt... earning a Black before he is 19, perhaps to be a Sensei himself one day.

These things are good, but they are not all. He is learning patience and exhibits more with his family. He understands that just because he can’t have something right now does not mean he can never have it. He is less eager to fight. He has learned the value of keeping his composure and walking away from a confrontation - even one he knows he can win.

He shows his friends and siblings greater respect, and he shows his mother and me much more respect. We have fewer arguments, and he is slower to anger when we do. He is more grateful, more attentive, more kind. Self-confidence has never been an issue with Eric, but the display of confidence has subtly shifted from self-absorbed bravado to quiet strength.

No, I don’t think that you, John, Josh, etc. all are solely responsible. But you have helped reinforce the values and principles we try to teach him at home. You have helped fashion my son in a way unavailable to me as a father. You have taught him true and correct principles, in the setting of Martial Arts, which are applicable to his life. You have been teachers, mentors and friends.

My thanks for your genuine and sincere efforts. I may pay you for your time as you teach my son, but you have also given him things that cannot be bought... honesty, integrity, respect, and goodness.

Respectfully,

John David Moran

My husband and I were fortunate to have a friend visit last July who has studied the martial arts for the past five years. She spoke highly of her experience and her pride in her physical accomplishments. My husband and I were impressed by her enthusiasm and the fact that she has been able to learn at her own pace and be able to track her progress with every belt review. She also promised we would become more flexible and fit as a result of our efforts.

My husband, Donald, was the first to try our martial arts. He spent a week with his father in August and realized he had better get started with something if he didn’t want to end up as stiff and rigid as his father. He began karate the first week back from our visit. After a month of lessons his enthusiasm hadn’t waned. He loved coming home to show me the new moves that he had learned. He also started hounding me to begin learning karate. I waited another month because I wanted to be sure this was something he would continue to be committed to so we could learn the arts together and support each other during the process. I also needed to wait until my infant son could be cared for by a friend during our lessons.

I began my study of the martial arts in October; three and a half months later I’m still loving the process. Of all the forms of exercise I have tried over the years, this has been the most rewarding and the easiest to incorporate into my daily life. There is also no need for any extraneous equipment (unless I’m sparring with Donald) and the movements can be executed practically anywhere in my home.

Perhaps one of the most unexpected rewards of the martial arts is the peace of mind I achieve from my lessons. After a workout I have found it easier to approach daily frustrations and problems with a more positive attitude. I think I have become a more effective and patient parent and spouse as a result of my study of the martial arts.

The most important plus from this whole experience is what I am doing for me. It is exciting to feel more comfortable with the routines and feel my body become stronger with each passing day. There is an inherent amount of satisfaction in achieving the various skill levels because it’s a direct result and reflection on the strength of my efforts with guidance from my instructor. I am looking forward to years of learning and sharing this opportunity with my children.

Meg Dudley

Shaolin Arts,

We wanted to let you know how pleased we are with Brandon’s progress. The changes we are seeing in him are great!

Brandon is more responsible both at home and at school. He does his homework more willingly. His chores are done with less fuss. He is less aggressive with his little brother and sister. We have also seen his confidence increase. He is also more respectful towards us.

The four months he has taken lessons have been well worth the money the lessons cost. We checked several studios before we chose you. As we visited other places we were not impressed with the atmosphere or philosophy as we were here.

The Turners

December 14, 1993

I just wanted to share our experience with this studio and their kung fu program.

My son, TJ, has had an interest in martial arts since he was a little tiny boy. I thought it was just a passing fancy, and so I would just put him off when he would beg to take lessons. As he grew older, he continued with a great interest.

TJ had three older brothers who play all sorts of team sports, as he has himself, but I felt that he didn’t feel he could ever measure up to their ability. He seemed to not be feeling very good about himself to me, and I began to search for something that I felt would help. That is when karate entered the picture.

He was so excited when I told him I thought it would be a great thing for him to try, and so I began checking around. This studio came very highly recommended to me by a friend whose son took lessons here. She had previously checked around and had a very bad experience elsewhere.

I have found that kung fu has been absolutely the answer for TJ. He has learned a great deal of discipline from this experience, and he has definitely had a great boost in his self esteem.

I have found their studio very professional and very excellent in every way. They are willing to listen if a concern develops, and handle any problems that might arise in a very appropriate manner.

Kung Fu has been everything that I’d ever hoped it would be for TJ and I’m so glad I found Shaolin Arts.

Sincerely,

Jan England

February 14, 1996

Mr. Kerry Gracey and Staff
8536 So 1300 E
Sandy UT 84094

Dear Mr. Gracey and Staff,

Prior to my joining the studio in Sandy, I had a complete physical by my family physician. He outlined the following to improve my health:
1. Loose weight
2. Lower my blood pressure
3. Lower my cholesterol
4. Reduce stress

It didn’t seem like much to ask of a stressed-out, aging 48 year old salesman. He told me that I needed to work to achieve "Good Health" and that my body warranty was on the decline.

It was shortly after my physical that my daughter invited me to her yellow belt session. I enjoyed it very much and decided to join feeling classes would be a good source of on-going physical exercise.

I’ve now been a member of your studio for approximately one year, received my purple belt and have made a real effort to change my health through better eating habits, exercise and attempting to reduce stress.

At a follow-up appointment with my doctor this month, he was pleased with my weight reduction from 205 lbs to 185 lbs with a 2" reduction in my waist size, and a lower blood pressure reading from 144/102 to 102/90. My cholesterol is down. I feel better and have more energy. Overall he was as extremely pleased with my progress as I am. I need to continue to work at reducing my stress level and "loosen up".

At 48 it isn’t east to keep up with your young talent; but, I feel that you, Kerry, and your staff have helped me make strides toward my health goals. I’m anxious to see what next year’s physical will show.

Sincerely yours,

John Hoonakker

October 4, 1997

Shaolin Arts

This is a letter to recommend the benefits of the programs at Shaolin Arts. My daughter has benefited in many ways from these programs in physical and emotional areas as well as the maturity she has achieved and the poise that she shows.

As a baby, she had a serious heart condition which she was very blessed and fortunate to have recovered from. It is unfortunate to say most of the other babies that had this disease did not. Even so, it took a few years to get back to normal. This condition distracted from her physical development so that she was thinner and weaker than she would have been. In junior high she was expected to run a certain number of laps around the track with the other girls, but she was simply unable to do this. She did her best by walking but she got a lot of criticism from an unknowing and uncaring teacher.

In recent years, she has had an arrhythmic heart condition where the heart can start beating excessively fast, such as 220 beats per minute instead of the normal resting rate of 78 bpm or even 120 bpm while exercising. This was symptomatic of her previous heart problems as well as her reduced physical capacity. Her cardiologist has had her on a medication designed to strengthen the heart. She has had a significantly reduced need for this medication, her strength has increased tremendously and her stamina is so much better than it was before after being involved in the martial arts for a few years.

Partly as a result of her reduced physical capacity and a genetic nervous condition, she grew up being teased by her classmates, particularly in junior high and didn’t have a lot of self confidence. She was a beautiful girl, now a beautiful young woman who shows so much confidence and poise that it is hard to compare with how she was growing up.

She had expressed an interest in Kung Fu when she was quite young, but as a father I was really not convinced that it would be beneficial to her since in my ignorance, I equated it to fighting. Of course, I know better now. Now I’m grateful for the good that she has achieved through Shaolin Arts, but still regret that we didn’t start earlier. There was a problem with money earlier, but if I had known how beneficial this would have been, I’m sure that we would have found the money for this. Now the money situation is better, but even if it wasn’t we would not hesitate to make the commitment. We don’t even question spending the money now because of the value that it brings.

Her maturation has been a benefit during the time that she has been involved and she has grown up to be a great, confident woman with great self respect and maturity. I credit a lot of this to Shaolin Arts.

It’s true that we live in a dangerous world and the ability to protect yourself is an important attribute, but I realize now that this is just part of the benefits you can gain through these programs. Again, I’m impressed and grateful for the good that this has done for her and wish that we had started earlier, but still glad that she started when she did. She has made great advances in these areas that I’ve mentioned as well as the professional level of proficiency that she has achieved with her rapid and successful progression through the belt reviews. This is an indication of how convinced she is of the worth of Tai Chi and Kung Fu at Shaolin Arts and is a great reminder of her character in overcoming the difficulties and obstacles that she has.

Bob Howard