black belt Magazine
August 2003 – re-printed

UNIQUE MULTI-ART ACADEMY OPENS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

SIMI VALLEY, CA. – Earning one black belt is a testament to discipline, commitment, honor and talent. Earning eight in diverse styles is homage to mastery and devotion.

Milan Shelden is one of the few who have accomplished that feat. He has used his vast knowledge and love for the martial arts to create a unique self-defense philosophy that recently took root here when the Golden Dragon martial arts Academy opened its doors. It teaches Shou Yuan Chuan (small circling fist), a system composed of elements of aikido, gung fu, jujitsu and Bok-Fu-Do kenpo.

Shelden certainly possesses the background for such an undertaking. A student of the martial arts for nearly 43 years, he holds an eighth-degree in karate, sixth-degree in jujitsu, fifth-degree in American kempo, a second-degree in bok-fu-do and wing tsun, and a first-degree in aikido and taekwondo. He also has studied judo and hapkido.

“All martial arts-Chinese, Japanese, Korean, ect.-have one thing in common: They use circular motions in their techniques,” said Shelden, who appeared in Circle of Iron with David Carradine. “From a simple twisting punch to a change in stance, they all must perform a circle to accomplish any task. Shou Yuan Chuan breaks down each technique into separate circular patterns, then capitalizes upon and enhances each of these patterns to generate motion-and thus increased power-before the technique is delivered.

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from staff reports
   Combining several forms of Eastern martial arts into a self-defense system is the focus of a new martial arts studio that opened its doors this week in Simi Valley.
   Milan Shelden, who has studied martial arts for more than a four decades, has launched the Golden Dragon martial arts Academy at 4359 Township Ave. An open house at the facility, including demonstrations of the various martial arts forms, is planned for 2 p.m. Saturday.
   The academy offers students a chance to learn shou yuan chuan or "small circling fist," Shelden's self-created discipline that combines aikido, gung fu, ju-jitsu, bok-fu-do and other styles.
   "The basic principle of any system — Japanese, Chinese, Korean — all have the work in a circular pattern," said Shelden, 45, who has earned black belts in karate, jujitsu, kempo, bok-fu-do, aikido and taekwondo. "Students learn the circular pattern and learn how to put their entire motion into a strike."
   Shelden, a California native and Simi Valley resident for more than 10 years, decided to open the Golden Dragon martial arts Academy after East-West USA, a martial arts school in Simi, closed about a month ago. As one of the school's head instructors, Shelden was left with many students seeking a new place to learn, and he began looking for a site for a new school.
   Shelden said the academy meshes a variety of disciplines.
   "This is going to be something that people will latch onto because they can actually see themselves generating more power than a jujitsu or gung fu student might generate by themselves," he said.
   Classes are offered to beginning and advanced students from age 5 to senior citizens. In addition to gaining physical strength and learning self-defense, students can expect to gain a heighten sense of self-esteem, self-control and spirituality, Shelden said. "I want people to experience the same type of satisfaction I've gained through doing martial arts."

Saturday October 2, 2004
Simi martial artist receives rare award

Legend-Landmark given only 6 times
By S.L. Salamone
Correspondent
      Milan Shelden was always small for his age. On top of that, he had a speech impediment, consequently, he was a prime target for older boys in school. As he got older, Shelden tried soccer, baseball and football but finally found his niche in the martial arts.
     Today, at 46, Shelden holds an eighth-degree black belt in karate as well as degrees in four other styles of martial arts. He is the founder of the Shou Yuan Chuan style and owns the Golden Dragon Martial Arts Academy in Simi Valley.
     His training and commitment to the sport were recently rewarded with the rare Legend-Landmark Award offered by the 2004 USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame.
     "It's an award that in the history of the Hall of Fame has only been given out six times; one of those was the martial artist and actor Chuck Norris," said Shelden.
     "I received a letter during the summer announcing that I had been nominated, and I nearly threw it away thinking it was junk mail. I had never heard of the award."
     But he didn't throw the letter away, and on Aug. 7, at a hotel in Los Angeles, Shelden was presented amid much fan-fare, a plaque.
     "The plaque now hangs on the wall at my school," he said. "I think my students are pretty proud of me."
     The criteria for the award include a lifetime commitment to the martial arts, an eighth-degree black belt or better, and the final criterion: must be the founder of a system or form of martial arts.
     "When I was growing up, I was OK at sports," said Shelden, "but I was really good at karate. But what I wanted to be when I grew up was a policeman."
      Karate continued to be a part of his life. After he finished school while still looking for a career, Shelden did a short stint as a karate choreographer for television and film.
     But it was after a serious car accident that he decided to make martial arts his life.
     "The accident was so bad I couldn't work for months, but it was my martial arts training that helped me move forward. And from there, I never looked back."
     Shelden started as a teacher and started work on promoting Shou Yuan Chuan or Small Circling Fist method of self defense.
     His popularity grew, and in 2003 he opened his first martial arts studio.
     "I'm still excited and surprised by the award," said Shelden.
     "It's such an honor. I think my life has really benefited from martial arts, and with my school I hope to make a difference in other people's lives, too."

Milan Shelden, a 10th degree karate black belt and holder of six black belts in a variety of other martial arts disciplines, is now teaching karate classes for kids and adults at the Simi Valley Family YMCA.

"It is very rare that we get to work with a world class instructor such as Milan," says Jim Carper Simi Valley Family YMCA healthy lifestyles director. " " Working with someone that has distinguished himself at such a high level is like working with Bruce Lee," he said.

Shelden has studied martial arts for nearly 47 years. He holds a tenth degree black belt in karate, sixth degree in jujitsu, fifth degree in American Kempo, second degree in bok-fu-do and wing tsun and a first degree in aikido and taekwondo and is the founder of Shou Yuan Chuan or "small circling fist."

"I have been involved with martial arts for over 10 years and I have never met a martial artist who has achieved the level that Milan has achieved," says Carper. "You would never guess his level of expertise when you first meet him. He's unassuming and a great teacher, but when he demonstrates a move, he's like liquid fire."

Classes for all age and skill levels take place throughout the week. Participation is flexible and cost depends on the number of classes attended each month.

"If you were in a dojo in a major metropolitan area, you would be paying $100 to $200 a month to study with Milan," says Carper.

Karate expert to teach at Simi YMCA
 

Milan Shelden, a 10thdegree karate black belt and holder of six black belts in a variety of other martial arts disciplines, is now teaching karate classes for children and adults at the Simi Valley Family YMCA, 3200 Cochran St.

Shelden has studied martial arts for nearly 46 years. He holds a sixthdegree black belt in jujitsu, fifthdegree in American kempo, seconddegree in bok-fu-do and wing tsun and a first-degree in aikido and taekwondo. He is the founder of Shou Yuan Chuan, or "small circling fist."

"I've been involved with martial arts for over 10 years and I have never before met a martial artist who has achieved the level that Milan has achieved," said Jim Carper, Y healthy lifestyles director.

Classes for all age and skill levels take place throughout the week. Participation is flexible and cost depends on the number of classes attended each month. Financial assistance is available.

For more information, call Carper at (805) 526-6448, ext. 227, or e-mail jcarper@ simiymca.org.
 

Mystro Clark, who has studied martial arts for 12 years, is among Master Shelden’s protégés.  Clark is the former host of popular TV dance show “Soul Train” and current host of “Awesome Adventures,” seen on KCAL-TV Los Angeles, as well as the host of “Slamball” on national cable network TNN.  He said Master Shelden’s hands-on teaching approach and his extensive knowledge of martial arts and Eastern philosophy make him an especially effective instructor.

“Master Shelden is an excellent motivator,” said Clark, who credits Master Shelden with helping him maintain focus and balance in his life.  “His work ethic makes the students want to train harder and more often.”

Aron Eisenberg
Actor - Star Trek Deep Space Nine

Robin Shou
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