For some thoughts and insights into the historical evolution of the Shaolin Temple please click here. 

Related below pertains to the Kung Fu Acadmey in Castle Hill, a story that started around 55 years ago in China's South, where a Shaolin Temple descendant passed the Kung Fu style down to a young man by the (English) name of Robert Feng.

Sifu Feng was a highly trained Kung Fu Master, with an amazing knowledge of the Shaolin style. In particular the 18 Hands of Lo Han.  This style was no myth, nor was it just dance-like jumps. This style was witnessed and techniques tested by students and people foolish enough to harass Sifu Feng - this style was real Kung Fu.

After studying in China, Sifu Feng travelled to Australia to take up residence and to teach his art to various students.  One of his best students was to eventually become the new keeper of the style, Sifu Keith I. Blackburn.

Sifu Blackburn already had a strong background in the martial arts, from Blackbelts in Jiujitsu, to Dans in Karate, Judo, and shootfighting.  When he found the style of Kung Fu taught by Sifu Feng, Sifu Blackburn stopped training in all his other martial arts realising that all he had learnt in the past was included in this style of Shaolin Kung Fu, along with much more.  He studied and trained extensively under the guidance of Si Gong Feng (who at that time had moved up from the title of Sifu to Si Gong) before Si Gong Feng passed the style onto Mr. Blackburn to continue, awarding Mr. Blackburn the title of Si Gong, or "Grandmaster".

Whilst still teaching the traditional system of Shaolin Kung Fu, Si Gong Blackburn also implemented one of the first hybrid fighting styles, mixing certain aspects of other styles into the Kung Fu.  In doing so he created a contemporary, practical and extremely effective form of Kung Fu.

Si Gong Keith Blackburn became a very highly respected figure among martial artists of all styles, in fact, if you ask any respected martial arts head instructor in Sydney they will know of him and have only good things to say of him.

Si Gong Keith was known not only for his skill and powerful techniques, but even more so for his kind heart, the care he gave to all of his students and certainly for his ability to break the mould of the 'martial arts instructor' by being not only personable, but also a smiling and funny character.  Showing his students how to reach the top, Si Gong Keith took a team of martial artists from his academy to compete all over Australia and New Zealand (a team who were to became an integral part of the Australian National Team) and won International Gold in various martial arts tournaments.

In 1992, two students happened to start at the academy at the same time and both became addicted to their art practising any time they could.  Teja A. Jaensch was one of these two students.  After several years training under Si Gong Keith, Teja travelled to Europe where he studied Kung Fu whilst living in Switzerland, competing in the European National Martial Arts tournament of 1996.  Upon his return to Australia, Teja headed straight back to the academy to continue his work with Si Gong Keith and where the other student, Monte J. Partridge had continued his training.

It was not long before the two students became training partners, showing each other high levels of respect, while at the same time always trying to out do each other.  This competitive spirit continued outside of regular class times.  Irrespective of their senior years in high school, the pair started their day at 5:30am with a 2 hour training session before school.  Straight after school would be another 2 hour training session, before breaking for dinner, then attending their advanced Kung Fu classes at the academy for a further two hours.  On weekends or holidays Si Gong Keith would work with the pair both on their skills and teaching them to become teachers themselves.

Teja and Monte competed in regular tournaments securing record numbers of wins before winning their way to the State Titles, National Titles, then International Gold. The pair trained together not only in Shaolin and the modernised combat martial arts of Si Gong Keith, but also in Tai Chi and modern competitive Wu Shu, i.e. Chang Quan, Nan Quan, to name a few.  After 10 years of training under Si Gong Keith, they were to be awarded the title Sifu/Shi Fu.

Seeking more the pair decided to part ways after being offered a scholarship in health and fitness.  Both went to Asia, but at separate times and to separate places.

Monte travelled to Asia working for over 2 years, training in Wu Shu in Beijing and South China, as well as furthering his Shaolin style in China's South before heading around the Americas for a further two years working and training with different styles in search of the most effective combat and self-defence techniques in existence.

Teja travelled to China during his combined degree program at the University of Technology, Sydney, where he studied Chinese language and culture, majoring in Traditional Chinese Medicine, specialising in Acupuncture and Chinese herbs.  Teja spent a year living on the border of China and Tibet studying medicine, working and training at the Wu Wei Shaolin Kung Fu temple under Shi Fu Jing Kong.  He also furthered his Yang and Chen style Tai Qi Quan, Qi Gong and Wu Shu at the Yunnan Shifan University.

Teja later came back to Sydney to open his practice and currently treats patients in his  Kellyville clinic, called Point Specifics, in Sydney's North West.  For more information please visit: www.pointspecifics.com

In 2005 Si Gong Keith offered Sifu Monte the academy and the position of keeper of the style, so he could start spending more time with his family.  Due to work commitments with the NSW emergency services, Sifu Monte declined this generous offer, as it would seem impossible to run the full-time academy, as well as retaining his position in the services.  Shifu Teja was also busy at this time building his practice.

Sadly in mid 2006, Si Gong Keith was diagnosed with Motor-Neuron disease, a disease that affects the body's nerves between the brain and the muscles and over time ceases the body's motor functions, disabling normal muscle operation.

In October 2006, Sifu Monte, after seeking a way to continue the tradition and accept the offer from Si Gong, yet not have to give up his other line of work, thought of a solution - to see if Shifu Teja would accept the position also. Shifu Teja accepted the offer to take over the academy with Sifu Monte and become keepers of the style together.  This was an exciting prospect for the two, after their many years training together and also for Si Gong Keith, who saw his beloved academy going to people he trusted and finally being able to be at home with his wife and children. 

The new Head instructors of the Kung Fu Academy were equipped not only with their years of teaching and training under Si Gong Keith Blackburn, but also with their skills and experiences attained from abroad.

The pair are not alone either; alongside them are fine instructors such as Sifu David Zullo, a fitness industry expert who has trained just as long as Monte and Teja, Sifu Sean Harnett who has trained in this style for over 15 years, Sifu Thomas Wildt, Lao Shi Amy Ferguson, Lao Shi Sarah Arratoon who also takes the female cardio-Kickboxing classes, Lao Shi Greg Le Couteur and Lao Shi Daniel Farrugia.  Check out our instructor profiles for more.

This story does not by any means end here, it will continue and the style will be passed down to future students along with the positive mentality of our academy and its spirit.