Today we’d like to introduce you to Grandmaster Shifu Brett Russell.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Grandmaster Shifu Brett Xing Wu Russell is a world-renowned 32nd-generation Shaolin Temple disciple and the Owner/Founder/Director/CEO of Shaolin Monk Martial Arts Pty Ltd, shaolinmonkmartialarts.com.
I have been learning martial arts for 40 years and teaching since 1995. My first training was with Rhee International Tae Kwon Do, reaching a second-degree blackbelt. Then I began Shaolin Temple Kung Fu with the Great Master Shi De Fon, disciple of Grandmaster Shi Su Xi, ex-President of the Shaolin Temple.
After years of training in Shaolin Temple Martial Arts, I was given the disciple name Shi Xing Wu, translating to ‘Martial Warrior’, reflecting my natural ability as a warrior in the ancient arts. I was ranked a 4th Duan Wei by the Chinese Wushu Association for Traditional Shaolin Temple Martial Arts. Also known as Tiger Level, this is the highest ranking that can be held by a non-Chinese national.
I had initially trained as a pilot, but I decided early on that, while I love aviation, I wanted to teach martial arts as a career. I saw that there was a gap in the market for personal training in martial arts – and I was keen to share the knowledge and skills I’d gained from years of training with expert teachers.
Soon after, I was training stunt actors on movie sets, including Moulin Rouge and The Matrix 2 and 3, and providing VIP bodyguarding services in Sydney, Australia.
I’ve since trained a range of people – from those interested in self-defense and fitness generally, to become known as a ‘trainer of trainers’ in the fitness industry, to professional skills development for military and law enforcement personnel.
One of my proudest achievements has been mentoring my students to become teachers themselves. With them, I have established 13 centres teaching traditional martial arts across Australia (Sydney, Adelaide, and the Gold Coast) and in Munich, Germany and 4 SDF franchises in Australia (Adelaide and Sydney) and Atlanta, Georgia, in the USA.
I have also featured in documentaries, television shows, and articles and continue to provide corporate stress management and motivational speaking for groups.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I’ve faced challenges, like everyone has. But as I tell my students, ‘Train the way you fight. Fight the way you train.’
Training in martial arts gives you the resilience and perspective to meet the biggest challenges and overcome them.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Shaolin Monk Martial Arts SDF?
SDF brings the ancient teachings of martial arts to general fitness for a workout that includes the benefits of self-defense, spiritual development, and mental well-being.
SDF training modules have been informed by generations of martial arts wisdom and precise technique, presented in an accessible format for all abilities in general group classes and for personal groups.
The format of SDF general fitness and self-defense modules has been honed through teaching many people of different skill levels and all ages for the past 27 years.
SDF was launched in 2021 with centres in Australia and is now in the USA. Grandmaster Shifu Brett Russell is now recruiting for new SDF centre principals to join a holistic fitness movement on a global scale.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
There is a Zen saying: ‘The difference between the successful person and others is not the lack of strength and knowledge, but rather the lack of will’.
Hard work, perseverance, and trying the best that you can is true success in any measure.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.shaolinmonkmartialarts.com
- Instagram: grandmastershifubrettrussell
