Fa Chuan Shakya — known to students as Fuu — is a Black American Zen priest living in Japan. Ordained in July 2016 in the Lin Chi (Rinzai) lineage of the Hsu Yun tradition through the Lohan Buddhist Temple order, his life in practice spans martial arts, contemplative study, music, Komusō walking, and Kyudo. None of these are separate departments. They are the same practice, approached from different angles.

He serves as associate priest at Komyoji Jodo-shu temple in Amagasaki and is registered as a Komusō at Myoanji temple in Kyoto. He is the founder of Osaka Lohan Chan Hermitage and Charities and a member of the Cosmos Chan/Zen Community.

Martial Arts

The Shifu holds certification as a 36th Generation Northern Shaolin Temple instructor (Wong Jac Man lineage) and 9th Generation Tai Chi Mantis instructor (Chuk Kai lineage). He is a graduate student of Kam Yuen and Paul Eng, the founders of Tai Mantis Kung Fu in America, and has trained extensively with Wong Lam Ling of the Tai Ji Praying Mantis Federation in Chen Taiji, Yang Tai Ji, and Taiji Mantis Kung Fu.

He serves as Japan Chapter President and sits on the Board of Directors of the Chuk Kai Tai Chi Praying Mantis Federation (USA).

The Shifu has also had extensive study of the stick art of Kali with Guro Dan Inosanto and has continued studies with Core Combat in Thailand. Other styles studied include Hsing Yi, Ba Gua, and Japanese Shotokan.

He also holds Yon Dan (4th Dan) in Kyudo. The deeper unity between Taijiquan, Kyudo, and Chan — the movement from form, to balance, to emptiness, and the breath that connects them all — is a thread he returns to often in his writing and teaching.

Buddhist Formation

His Buddhist formation is broad and cross-traditional. He has studied under Shifu Wu Chueh Miao-Tien of Heart Chan (Taiwan), Guohan William Tsao in the lineage of Sheng Yen and Dharma Drum Mountain, and has practiced within the Theravada tradition in Thailand, particularly resonating with the Forest Monk tradition philosophy. His path integrates Chan/Zen, Pure Land, and touches of Theravada — not as a compromise, but as an honest account of what has been found useful over decades of genuine practice.

Komusō & Shakuhachi

As a registered Komusō at Myoanji, the Shifu engages in shakuhachi suizen and takuhatsu — walking alms with the flute as offering. His current teacher is 上村風穴. He is a member of Koten-Shakuhachi-Kenkyuu-Kai (古典尺八研究会), founded by Sakurai Muteki, focusing on 2.5-shaku Jinashi shakuhachi. His first shakuhachi teacher was 貴志清. He is also a multi-instrumentalist: piano, bass, guitar, shamisen, harmonica.

Additional Certifications

Certified Feng Shui Consultant by Larry Sang (American Feng Shui Institute) and Joseph Yu (Feng Shui Research Center, Canada). Also certified in Reflexology and Jin Shin Do acupressure. Has studied Qigong and energetic healing including the methods of Doc Kam Yuen. Certified ASA sailor.

Writing

Fa Chuan is currently developing several writing projects: Whor'n the Bluz in Osaka, essays on cross-cultural spirituality and non-coercive religious expression; Zen by the Sea: A Sailing Monk's Journal; Kyudo: The Path Less Traveled; and the forthcoming The Komusō Khonicals. He prefers writing that is professional yet relaxed, spiritual yet grounded — more reflection than lesson plan.