The American Center for Chinese Studies

The American Center for Chinese Studies (ACCS) is a traditional organization dedicated to the cultivation of the mind, body, and spirit. Its mission is to promote the traditions of China's Henan Shao-lin Monastery, of which it is the first officially appointed direct affiliate in North America.

Grandmaster Frank DeMaria T he American Center for Chinese Studies is unlike any martial arts training center you may encounter. As its founder, I am motivated by a desire to pass on the benefits I have experienced during more than forty years of study of the Chinese martial arts. All but one of my teachers have been Chinese. They each stressed the true values of the martial arts in their teaching, including development of the three great pillars of training -- Mind, Body, and Spirit. With this in mind, I have gone a step further than even my own teachers. That step strips away all barriers to learning. Each of my teachers was either a Buddhist, Taoist, or Tao Te Ching teacher. Each in his own right was a traditionalist, meaning he only taught within his own beliefs and traditions. This approach is good, however it prevents a student from seeing all sides of the martial arts philosophy, especially if a student stays with only one teacher. My approach to training is to offer under one roof all the philosophies I have learned . No one style of training is emphasized, but rather all the styles I have learned in my forty-three years of training are offered to my students. ___________________________________________________________ No option is left out of a student's training. I openly offer classes in each style, and it is the student who decides what is best for himself or herself. Chi Kung training, Meditation, Chinese philosophy, Shao-Lin, the internal arts of Pa Kua , Hsing -I, and Tai Chi are all taught the same way that I learned them. There are no additions or deletions to any style of training. The styles and philosophies are as I learned them. The American Center for Chinese Studies stresses the Old Ways of teaching and running a traditional Kwoon (school). It is treated as a second home by its students, who, in fact, help with the everyday affairs and maintenance of the Kwoon. There is never a contract to hold a student who does not wish to continue training, as that would be counter-productive for all of us. Prices for training are set at the lowest cost possible to maintain the Center. In fact, many of the classes are free -- only donations are requested to help with providing lunch during the many day-long lectures that are offered in the Way of Shao-lin. ___________________________________________________________ This Center is associated with some of the best Masters in the United States, as well as the original Shaolin Temple in China. Those Masters who are still living are invited to the American Center to lecture on their particular style or philosophy. In fact the door to this Center is open to anyone who has something of value to teach. The ultimate goal of The American Center for Chinese Studies is to spread as closely as possible the original ideals of Shaolin Kung Fu to the American people. We train those who have the desire to learn the very best that Shao-lin has to offer. ___________________________________________________________ The kind of training we provide has the potential to create top level Shaolin practitioners who are strong of body, clear of mind, and spiritually motivated.

The five major art forms studied at American Center for Chinese Studies are:
	Art Forms Taught at ACCS Shao-lin Kung Fu Tai Chi Ch'uan Meditation (Buddhist & Taoist Philosophies) Shuai-Chiao Hsing-I and Pa-Kua

Alliance Formed Between The Society of Shao-lin Temple and ACCS In an initiation ceremony on July, 1995, The Society of Shao-lin Temple officially opened its its first center in North America to the public. Located in Flushing, New York, The Society of Shao-lin Temple is directed by Rev. Guolin Shi, 34th generation Kung-Fu monk of the Shao-lin Monastery at Song Mountain, Henan Province, China. At this time an official alliance was made between The Society of Shao-lin Temple and American Center for Chinese Studies (ACCS) in Buchanan, New York. This alliance means that, as brother schools, ACCS and The Society of Shao-lin Temple will be able to share programs and special events. Both schools are non-profit organizations dedicated to the mission of promoting the traditions of Chinašs Shao-lin Monastery in North America. As brother schools, we share an important guiding principle: to focus on the mind cultivation that Zen Meditation emphasizes and to strengthen the physical body with the practice of Martial Arts. The Society of Shao-lin Temple also makes the propagation of Buddhism its responsibility with plans of conducting lectures and seminars on various topics on this subject. Rev. Hon-Yi Shi, a graduate student from Chinese Buddhist University in Beijing will be chief lecturer on Buddhism. This is very exciting news for all of us. We look forward to the bond strengthening between the two schools through frequent joint events

SCHOOLS NEW YORK Croton on Hudson: __________________________________ Grandmaster Frank DeMaria American Center for Chinese Studies 122 Grand Street Croton on Hudson, NY 10526 (914) 827-9068 staff@kungfu.org grandmaster@kungfu.org ______________________________________ Brewster: Master Phil Sant 571 North Main Street Brewster, NY10509 (845) 278-6449 pls278@bestweb.net _____________________________________ Peekskill: Master Chris Peck masterpeck@kungfu.org ______________________________________ Town of Southeast: Master Dan Crawford dcrawford@prodigy.net _______________________________________ Cortlandt Manor: Sifu Gary Renza Hall of the Flying Dragon 2011 Crompond Road Cortlandt Manor, NY 10567 (914) 739-4766 grenza@advinc.com ____________________________________ INDIANA Auburn: Sifu Bob Sbarge 1600 South Wayne Street, Suite 3 PO Box 271 Auburn, IN 46706 (219) 925-9749 __________________________________ NORTH CAROLINA Charlotte: Master Eric Sbarge The Peaceful Dragon 8324-509 Pineville-Matthews Road Charlotte, NC 28226 (704) 544-1012 staff@thepeacefuldragon.com _____________________________ OREGON Portland: Master Paul Greenbaum "Complete Center of Natural Healing" (ACCS) 1505 Northwest 23rd Avenue Portland, Oregon 97210 (503) 226-6931 staff@kungfu.org ___________________________________________

ACCS Instructors

Sifu Gary Renza

Master Eric Sbarge

Master Phil Sant

ACCS STUDENTS Here is Grandmaster Frank DeMaria with four of his best Students. From the left is Michael who is 10 years old, Matthew who is 13 years old, Sue who is 14 years old and Helen who is 17 years old. Grandmaster DeMaria understands the needs of young people and makes it a point to not only teach them Martial Arts but to show them a better way of life through Martial Arts and he's doing just that.