Ngo Cho Kun
Distance Learning
Our distance-learning program for Five Ancestor Boxing begins with the "Core" course. Five Ancestor Boxing "Core" provides the practitioner with exposure to the art's foundation, which is then expanded upon in additional courses.
Five Ancestor Boxing "Core" includes:
- Body development exercises
- Foundational stances, stepping, defensive and offensive boxing movements
- An overview of techniques specific to each of the Five Ancestors
- Classical Form: Three Battles
- Classical Form: Twenty Punches
- Classical Form: Four Doors, Hitting the Corner
- Classical Form: Three Battles, Cross Pattern
- Classical Form: Double Banner
- Unique Monkey ancestor training form: Traveler Points the Way
- Weapon Form: Chua Family Saber
- Weapon Form: Green Dragon Coiling in the Water Staff
- Application theory utilizing the Principle-Driven model
To join the "Core" course for Five Ancestor, carefully read the information on the Distance Learning Program page.
Note: Certification is only offered for students that test in person either at the Burinkan, or when inviting the instructor to your location.
Beyond the "Core" course, each practitioner is allowed to choose their Ancestor specialty(s). We have additional courses availabe for those completing the "Core" course:
Ultimately, there will be courses covering two levels for each ancestor, and two levels of weapon training.
Links:
Testimonials:
"Five Ancestors is an anthology of the Hoklo martial arts, which share principles with the more widely practiced Okinawan and Cantonese arts. If you're a practitioner of one of these arts, study of Five Ancestors can be illuminating, like a Spanish speaker learning Latin. If that's your interest, Smith Suhu, who also teaches Okinawan Goju-Ryu and Hakka Pak Mei, can shed light on those connections.
Despite the influence of the Hoklo arts, instruction is difficult to find. Traveling to Asia and training long-term is, to put it mildly, unrealistic for most of us, and Burinkan's Five Ancestor program makes these arts accessible to those of us who can't.
Moreover, Russ puts an extraordinary degree of care into his teaching. A skilled martial artist is not necessarily a skilled teacher, and it is very clear that Russ has put a great deal of effort into mastering both."
-Stanford C
"As an art or as a window into another method, Ngo Cho Kun as taught by Russ Smith Sifu of the Burinkan is levels beyond what you're expecting.
While trying to avoid hyperbole, let me explain.
The Five Ancestors Boxing course is presented in a logical, methodical and illuminating way. The underlying principles - things given a ton of lip service in the M.A. community though often without nuts-n-bolts detailing - are clearly explained and enumerated. Tools for pressure testing and validating techniques are detailed. And the explanations lend themselves to use as exploration mechanics of other arts.
Transmission of the tradition is clearly a priority, but that is not used as an excuse to hide core ideas behind the awe of the style.
And most importantly, the art is fun & interesting to learn. Both for the style itself as well as the manner in which it's transmitted.
Do yourself a favor - get in. You WILL learn and you WILL grow as a martial artist."
-Cody S
"It's rare to find a highly skilled practitioner of the martial arts with a passion for teaching, as well as the ability to decode the core principles of a complex system such as Wu Zu Quan, and then play it back to students in a format that is easily understood and applied.
Sifu Russ Smith is one of these rare individuals.
This is not one of those dumbed-down, learn-everything-in-five-minutes bits of fluff the MA world is known for, but an intelligently crafted, fantastically detailed study of Five Ancestor Fist that will benefit anyone serious about training and excelling in the Southern Chinese Boxing methods. Hugely recommended!!!"
-Ryan N
"Five Ancestor Fist is a fascinating art to study, as a karate practitioner. Parallels between both arts surface in every class, and make it clear that 5A is a parent art to styles like Goju Ryu. This course explores the engines behind power delivery, martial strategy, history and conditioning. In my experience, 5A feels like an expansion upon my karate, which also includes Chinese weapons.
Sifu Russ Smith is a hidden treasure of martial arts instruction in the US. He has practiced and studied multiple Japanese, Chinese and Filipino martial arts in a career spanning over 30 years, which has led to an instruction model that focuses on developing live skills while keeping traditions alive.
Sifu Smith possesses and admirable ability to discern the esoteric aspects of martial arts from the practical theory that applies in a self-defense scenario, and eloquence to transmit his learnings.
The best recommendation I can give is the fact that most of Sifu Smith's students are teachers in their own styles, coming to the Burinkan for enrichment and continuing studies. Whatever level you are at, you're sure to learn good things."
-Jorge R
"I have trained in Goju Ryu Karate for over 30 years and am always looking for a deeper understanding of its techniques, applications and history. I was initially drawn to Sifu Russ Smith's Five Ancestor Fist program because of the shared history between these two styles and what I found is a different way to look at moves that I have been doing for years. Not one class goes by that I don't gain insight into the kata of Goju Ryu. I have also been introduced to a system with a beauty and complexity all of its own showing me many new things that I have not come across before.
Furthermore, I can say that as a teacher, Sifu Russ Smith is one of the most articulate and competent instructors that I have ever worked with. He has lesson plans and clear learning objectives for each class and takes a professional approach to the role of an educator.
I would recommend this program to any Goju Ryu practitioner or other martial artist who is looking for a greater understanding of the principles and concepts that guide their arts."
-Trevor M
"When Sifu Russ Smith started the Ngo Cho Kun course, I knew that this was a rare opportunity. I had read his book 'Principle-Driven Skill Development in Traditional Martial Arts' and found in it an incredible resource for improving my own training, but to be taught a beautiful art directly under his eye and according to his processes? Too good to pass up.
I've practiced a lot of things over the years, but with 17 years of Isshinryu karate experience I'm more than comfortable to say that anybody who practices an art under the Nafadi umbrella will feel right at home in 5 Ancestors Boxing. I promise you'll find nuance in your training and connections to your art that will be illuminating, but to say my Suidi friends should look elsewhere would be an opportunity for growth wasted.
Sifu Russ Smith has decades of experience in multiple arts and you can tell just by how he moves that he has put in the work, but even more impressive than his obvious skill is his mindset: he recognizes that teaching is a profession with its own goals and related skillsets separate from being an expert practitioner. To put it simply, he approaches this program as an educator. He's not trying to get you out the door doing a couple forms and some one-off applications as his "contribution to the art". Every class is focused on skill-development and creating the ability to explore the art as an informed practitioner.
See you in class!"
-Matt P
"I would like to take the time to share my feelings about being a student at the Burinkan Martial Arts Dojo.
Firstly, throughout my martial arts journey, I have never seen a teacher so deeply involved in the advancement of his students. Mr. Smith is not only generous with his time but also provides a plethora of tools for the learning process, such as books, training camps, and online fine-tuning.
I was not a fan of online learning before, but the way Mr. Smith has implemented it is incredibly functional. I just completed his one-year Five Ancestors online program, and I have gained a much deeper understanding of martial arts than ever before. I am now starting my second year in his well-structured curriculum.
I wholeheartedly recommend Burinkan in any of its forms."
-Simon D
