Welcome to STQI Toronto!

"Hi! My name is Shi Chang Dao, or simply Master Dao. I am the Chief Instructor of the downtown Toronto school and also run an online school at LearnShaolin.com. I opened the school in the fall of 2011 under the guidance of my Shi Fu, Master Shi Guo Song. He is an authentic Shaolin monk that still practices traditional Shaolin kung fu martial arts, qi gong, and chan."

"Many cultures have a structured lifestyle yet it does not teach us how to be strong physically or mentally from within as we experience life. I am very grateful to be able to pass on his teachings to help others through martial arts kung fu, qi gong, meditation, and philosophy."

"My school aspires to help people of any age, any ethnicity, and any religious background. By joining my school you are making the effort to dedicate time and resources for improving yourself."

- Dao Shi, 35th Generation Shaolin Disciple

Latest News and Blogs

Learn How to Become More Disciplined Through Our Free Meditation Workshop Posted by Master Dao on Monday, April 12, 2021 On April 26, 2021 at 7pm EST, Master Dao will be conducting a worldwide virtual meditation workshop. The topic as voted by the participants is "How to Become More Disciplined." Indeed many will feel that they need more discipline in their life. With so many things going it's easy to lose track of what you need to do. Master Dao will offer insights into the Shaolin Chan-Dao approach of tackling this subject and offer a... [more]

Great Start to the 2021 Winter Term Posted by Master Dao on Monday, February 22, 2021 It's been an incredible start to the 2021 Winter Term. With over 50 students in our Virtual Classes, we can say that our school has managed to adapt to a virtual learning environment for martial arts kung fu, tai chi, and qigong. It's a lot of work and effort for everyone including teachers and students. We all have to learn new skills and setup our own training environment. BUT it's worth it! And in some ways, Virtual Classes are even better than in pers... [more]

How to Manage and Deal with Stress Posted by Master Dao on Monday, February 15, 2021 What is Stress? Stress is an uncomfortable emotion that can accumulate and significantly drain your energy. Stress comes from pressure to meet an expectation and has an impending time limit. Too much stress can make you feel worn out, develop anxiety, and lose sleep. In this article, we attempt to apply the teachings of Chan-Dao to the idea of stress, in the hopes to help us clearly understand it and manage it better. Where Does Stress Come From? Your ... [more]

Learn How to Celebrate Chinese New Year with Good Health Posted by Master Dao on Saturday, February 13, 2021 and a Special Shaolin Tai Chi Gentle Fist Demonstration by Master Dao Chinese New Year is an important time for Chinese people. We get together and celebrate with family and friends, and wish each other health and happiness. But what are people actually doing about their health? In this video, Master Dao offers some insights into what health means in the hopes that people will become more aware of their health goals now and in the lon... [more]

Happy Chinese New Year From STQI Year of the Ox Posted by Master Dao on Friday, February 12, 2021 Happy Chinese New Year from STQI! Chinese New Year is as important to Chinese people (if not more!) as the New Year is for Canadians and many parts of the world. It is a time for family to gather, eats lots of food, and wish each other good health, fortune, and prosperity. We will say things like: Wish you happiness and prosperity! Gōng xǐ fā cái! (恭喜发财) Wishing you lots of energy and alertness! Lóngmǎ jīngshén! (龙马精神) Hoping everything goes well! Wànshì r�... [more]

Master Shi Guosong Demonstrates Plum Blossom Fist Meihuaquan Posted by Master Dao on Tuesday, January 12, 2021 Here's an old video of Master Shi Guosong demonstrating the Plum Blossom Fist 梅花拳 (Méihuāquán). It was filmed at the Shaolin Temple in the early 1990s. Plum Blossom Fist is a particularly special form as it is a primary taolu training exercise for the guards at the Shaolin Temple. It requires years of proper traditional training to master, and features strong stances combined with athletic movements to deliver practical an... [more]

Master Dao Shi Performs Plum Blossom Broadsword Meihuadao Posted by Master Dao on Tuesday, January 12, 2021 The Plum Blossom Broadsword, or 梅花刀 Méihuādāo, is an exciting taolu form that demonstrates a certain mastery of Shaolin kung fu as it requires many elements of strict foundation jibengong training. It's a fast moving form with fast defense-based strikes. It requires great wrist strength and flexibility as well as athleticism. The broadsword weapon itself is the second key weapon of Shaolin (the staff or cudgel being the prim... [more]

Master Shi Guogong and Master Dao Talk About Canadian Shaolin History on Fairchild TV Posted by Master Dao on Tuesday, January 12, 2021 Watch this special Fairchild Television documentary on traditional Shaolin in Canada! It was filmed in 2015. Since it's in Mandarin Chinese, here's a quick summary of the content: Master Guosong talks about how he first established Shaolin in Canada. In the beginning he only had 3 students. It was important to teach student's properly through the traditional methods and first build their foundation. Studen... [more]

Master Shi Guosong Demontrates Small Flooding Fist Xiaohongquan Posted by Master Dao on Tuesday, January 12, 2021 Small Flooding Fist, or Xiǎohóngquán 小洪拳, is one of the top 10 Shaolin forms of all time. These form focuses on speed and short strikes to effectively defend oneself from all kinds of attacks. Master Shi Guosong demonstrates a gentle fist version of the form. Slow and relaxed movements generated from soft energetic qi coupled with powerful bursts of energy - it's mesmerizing to watch!... [more]