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Veronica Samos
Instructor of Qigong & Shaolin Kungfu
My path in martial arts began in late 1990’s New York City with Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu. One day, one of my training partners invited me to the Shaolin Wheel of Life show. It combined Chinese history, Chan (Zen) meditation, music and other elements of Chinese culture with fantastic martial arts. Even though learning Shaolin was still a few years away, I can say that it was this show that inspired me to learn the Shaolin arts of qigong and kungfu. In 2004, I started training with the Venerable Shifu Guolin (“Iron Arhat”) and his brother Shifu Chao Hai Lan in Manhattan. As demanding as my kungfu/qigong education under Shifu Guolin and Shifu Chao Hai was, it was exactly what I wanted. It was training for mind, body and spirit.
Ten years later, while still under Shaolin tutelage, I joined Coban’s Muay Thai Camp in New York City. It was there that I began my Muay Thai training under the legendary Coban Lookchaomaesaitong.
In 2010, when Shifu Guolin suggested that I start teaching my own classes, I humbly accepted. Since then, I have taught in a variety of class settings. These include after school/enrichment programs, workshops and private lessons. I love teaching children and adults of all ages and abilities. In fact, one of the classes dearest to my heart was a qigong class for autistic young adults. Eventually in 2012, I opened and became co-owner (until 2020) of Manhattan Shaolin in Soho, New York. In 2023, I moved back to Rhode Island to be near family and opened Ocean State Shaolin.
Traditional martial arts culture has a foundation of respect, dedication to hard work and self reliance. It is no wonder that I’ve met such a wonderful community of creative, spirited and disciplined people. I am truly blessed to have learned these arts and grateful to be able to share it with others.
