Yang Jwing Ming's Retreat Center

**shmuel** · Posted On: 7/03/2008 5:05am

Has anyone heard of this?

http://www.ymaa-retreatcenter.org/en/retreatcenter

I believe that people have to pay $90,000 to sign up for a 10 year program where they live in a mountain retreat and train kung fu. Apparently the money is refunded IF you stay the entire 10 years!!

Is this a scam?

Is it even advisable to spend 10 years out of society like that? Is it a bit of a cult?

Also noticed a website where anyone can make Paypal donations (Gee thanks for the honor) and in return get a "Level"!

http://www.ymaa-retreatcenter.org/donations

If you donate $100 you become an "Earth level donor"! If you donate $1 million you can become a "Fire level donor"!

**oldman34** · Posted On: 7/03/2008 5:21am

I am a Fire Level donor. My brother in law is there. He was born with a mental handicap, and they actually have a good program that helps him tremendously.
If you donate the money first then they waive the 90k in sign up fees. Also being a fire level donor you dont have to leave or "re-up" after the 10 years.
He can stay indefinitely.

**shmuel** · Posted On: 7/03/2008 6:49am

Fire level?

Did it really cost you $1 million?

Do you spread it out or do you have to pay in one lump?

**Scott Larson** · Posted On: 7/03/2008 7:48am

It sounds like a lot of money, but that is food, lodging, and instruction all day. Yang Jwing Ming is very knowledgeable, but I would find out more info if interested.

I'm interested to hear oldman's reply. (If he's serious)

**oldman34** · Posted On: 7/04/2008 6:45am

Originally Posted by shmuel

Fire level?

Did it really cost you $1 million?

Do you spread it out or do you have to pay in one lump?

Dude, Im pulling your leg.

**shmuel** · Posted On: 7/04/2008 7:55am

Whew!

**ty5** · Posted On: 7/05/2008 6:39pm

It's like a mini-cult. 10 years stuck with Mr Yang, Jwing-Ming seems like an awfull long time to me.. and after all that they probably still will not be able to fight at any decent level.

To raise awareness of martial morality. Due to widely-spread commercialized martial arts, such as Hollywood Kung Fu movies and culture, martial morality has been ignored in modern times. In this Retreat Center, a student must aim to achieve a high level of martial morality, including: Morality of Deed: humility, respect, righteousness, trust, and loyalty.
Morality of Mind: will, endurance, perseverance, patience, and courage.

Isn't this what every McDojo advert more or less says as well?

**Scott Larson** · Posted On: 7/05/2008 6:55pm

Its easy to say it, hard to actually teach it correctly.

He's trying to replicate the training of the old days, but who knows if he'll be successful or not. I don't have any personal experience with the man, so I don't have an opinion on him.