Sifu Matthias

Picture by Hanns Corvalan

Biography

Sifu Matthias Klenk has over 20 years of martial arts experience and has been dedicated to Shaolin Kung Fu since 2004. He began teaching in 2014 and earned his first black sash in 2015. By that time, he had already been a lead instructor for several years under the guidance of Sifu José Guillén. In addition to Traditional Shaolin Kung Fu, Sifu Matthias has studied Tai Chi, Qi Gong, and traditional acupuncture. He continues to be guided and taught by his Sifu, José Guillén.

Before his Kung Fu journey, Sifu Matthias trained in Shotokan Karate as a teenager and later explored Philippine Esgrima, Boxing, and Modern Shaolin with Shifu Shi Yan Hai, Shaolin Temple. He has competed in and won multi-disciplinary tournaments in Mexico and Canada and is currently studying Baguazhang in Vancouver. His previous training includes Shotokan Karate in Leipzig, Shaolin Zentrum Bielefeld, Dragon de Fuego, and Dragon Dorado. Since 2021, Sifu Matthias has been an ACE-certified Personal Trainer and holds a Blue Belt in BJJ. He now holds a 2nd Degree Black Sash in 5 Animals Shaolin Kung Fu.

Beyond martial arts, Sifu Matthias studied Political Science and Film in Germany and Mexico and holds a Ph.D. in Sociology and Communication Studies. Alongside teaching Shaolin Kung Fu in Vancouver, he pursues his passion for film, the arts, writing, and design.

Sifu’s teaching philosophy

Training at Immortal Dragon is hard and disciplined but also fun. During classes you will hear interesting German jokes, sometimes only Sifu understands. A sifu is not only an instructor but as an instructor, Sifu Matthias tries to find the best way how to teach each student individually. That is important for traditional martial arts and separates us from modern arts where you have a coach. Sifu means skilled person, teacher, mentor, and father. Because of that, the relationship with the students is of the essence. That all said, the main concern at Immortal Dragon are our students and their growth.

Chinese martial arts and specifically kung fu at Immortal Dragon represent a tool for personal development but also a spiritual journey that can endure a whole life. As a kung fu instructor, Sifu Matthias is here to support you on either journey you want to go. If you want straightforward exercise where you sweat, well that will also be a part of our training here. The training combines internal and external aspects.

Excellence matters

Immortal Dragon

Overview

At Immortal Dragon Vancouver, we honour the 1,500-year legacy of Shaolin Kung Fu through our practice of the traditional Southern and Northern styles (Sil Lum). Our approach blends physical mastery with mental and spiritual growth, embodying the Shaolin philosophy of harmonizing hardness and softness.

Through rigorous training, we cultivate:

Physical prowess: Enhance flexibility, strength, coordination, and agility through forms like Salute or Butterfly.
Mental fortitude: Develop discipline, mindfulness, and resilience.
Self-defense skills: Learn practical, time-tested techniques.
Spiritual awareness: Embrace self-reflection and inner peace, drawing from Chan Buddhist and Daoist roots.
Character: Foster respect, compassion, humility, and an "I can" attitude.

Our comprehensive curriculum challenges both body and mind, guiding students from basic exercises to complex forms. At Immortal Dragon, we don't just teach techniques; we offer a path to self-mastery, honouring ancient wisdom while meeting modern needs.

Sifu José Guillén

Sifu José Guillén founded Immortal Dragon over more then 35 years ago in Guadalajara, Mexico. He studied 5 Animals Shaolin Kung Fu, in lineage of Ark Yuey Wong and GM Ralph Shun, with Sifu Amarillas, who is still guiding him. Since Sifu Amarillas has retired as a kung fu teacher, Dashi Steven Baugh from the Lohan School of Kung Fu in Las Vegas took over the guidance. Today there are more than 10 Immortal Dragons in Mexico (Guadalajara, Zapopan, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Puerto Vallarta, Toluca, and more), and Immortal Dragon is part of the Lohan School International.

Grandmaster Ark Yuey Wong

Grandmaster Ark Y. Wong was born in 1900 (some sources claim 1902), in Canton, China, to be exact in Toysun Tien Sum Chien village, Guangdong Province. When he was only seven years old he started training in kung fu and martial arts under the supervision of 14 masters. One of his first teachers was the Choy Li Fut master Lam Ark Fun. He and Ho Yeng (Mok Gar) were the most influential masters for GM Wong. At the age of 12 he also started to learn about herbalism with his master, and later on, Chinese Medicine. For a short period of time, when GM Wong went to college in Guangzhou, he first started to teach martial arts, in the form of private lessons. There he also studied Qi Gong. Back in his home village he started to accept students of his own, and he was recognized as a great lion dancer. Anticipating the start of a civil war in China, he made his family emigrate to San Francisco (USA) in 1921 where he taught kung fu (although not publicly). In 1931 he received a request to come back to his home village to teach martial arts in his own family. He stayed there until 1934, when he left again for Los Angeles, where he opened his own shop, focused on herbalism and martial arts. Until the 1950s/60s his teachings were restricted to the Chinese community. In 1958 GM Wong accepted his first non-Chinese students. This was the start of the open kung fu schools era which still exist today. GM Wong appeared in TV and movies like "Kung Fu". He passed away in 1987 but left a legacy, and thousands of students still training according to his instructions.

Vision

Immortal Dragon creates a community around martial arts where everyone is welcome. At the Temple of the Immortal Dragon, we seek to support people of all ages in their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual growth.

In an ego-free and safe environment, Sifu Matthias and all the members create an atmosphere for fun and enjoyable training and learning without judgment. We pride ourselves to teach traditional arts in a modern way without denying our heritage. The system taught provides the tools and strategies to support individuals to live healthy, inspirational, and meaningful lives.

At Immortal Dragon Vancouver, we seek to train the mind and spirit through physical exercise.
We value Respect, Compassion, Humility, Fortitude, Patience, Loyalty, Discipline and Confidence.
Through the rigorous practice of kung fu, we want to achieve control over body, mind, and spirit.

Immortal Dragon Lineage

As you can see from the image, our lineage goes back to Grandmaster Ark Yuey Wong in Shaolin Kung Fu and Master Hsu Hong Chi/ Master Han yu Lin. Grandmaster Wong’s lineage goes back to Lam Ark Fun, Ho Yeng, Monk Pang and the Southern Shaolin (Sil Lum) Temple. Tai Chi and Chi Kung are in the lineage of Grandmaster Zhao Jin Xiang and Si-Gung Steven Baugh (Lohan School of Shaolin/ Las Vegas). Si-Gung Steven was also a direct student of Grandmaster Ark Yuey Wong and Si-Gung Carl Totton. The spiritual part and acupuncture relate back to Kim Hong Kyung.