Shaolin Kung Fu emphasizes Ch'an Buddhism. Ch'an derives its name from the Indian word Dhyana, which simply means 'Meditation'. Dhyanna was an Indian form of Buddhist meditation, stressing sitting meditation and other forms of meditation to help bring about enlightenment in its practitioners. Dhyanna is essentially meditation practice, as part of Buddhist practice.
Indian martial techniques and exercises predate their counterparts in China, just as Indian Buddhism and Dhyanna meditation practice does. However, the martial arts were known for the most part formed, shaped and cradled by the Shaolin Temple throughout history, just as Ch'an and Zen today are a result of Chinese influence. So Shaolin Kung Fu is the Granddaddy of all Asian martial arts, with an Indian uncle. Given the fact that most Asian martial arts derive from their Chinese predecessors at Shaolin Temple, it is true that 'all martial styles were born under the sun of Shaolin' to a great extent. Indeed, it might be more accurate to say that most popular martial arts that emerged from Asia had a pre-history and formation period at the Shaolin Temple, or that martial arts are a direct result of the Shaolin Temple influence. Shaolin Kung Fu is known for their many animal styles such as Tiger, Crane, Dragon, Monkey, Praying Mantis and Snake. The famous Shaolin 18 Movements derive from Bodhidharma's visit to China. He taught the Buddhist monks Indian martial exercises in order to make them more fit for mediation and to keep them active. These later evolved into the 18 Movements of Shaolin Kung Fu, evolved into a full fighting system of its own.
Shaolin Kung Fu
Shaolin Temple, Shaolin Warriors and Shaolin History
Shaolin Chuan originated in the Shaolin Temple on Mount Songshan at Dengfeng in Henan Province. It was named after the temple. The founder of the Shaolin Chuan was said to be an Indian monk, Bodhi-dharma. The proposition, though very influential, was proved to be false, for there was a monk named BodhHiharma but he knew nothing at all about Chinese Chuan. In fact, Shaolin Chuan was the manifestation of the wisdom of the monks of the temple, secular Wushu masters and army generals and soldiers.
According to historical records, the Shaolin Temple was built during the Northern Wei Dynasty in the 19th calendar year of the reign of Emperor Taihe (495) and is one of China's most famous an-cient temples. The Shaolin Temple once had many monks on its premises. Those monks of the lower level mostly came from the secular society and some of them knew some martial arts before entering the temple. Those who knew martial arts taught and helped each other to improve their skills. They also absorbed the experience of their predecessors and gradually developed their mar-tial arts into the unique Shaolin school.
During the Northern Qi Dynasty (550-577), Shaolin monks could lift hundreds of kilograms in weight and were good at Chuan and horse riding. By the end of the Sui Dynasty (581-618), Li Shimin, king of the Qin state, fought with the self-appointed emperor of the Zheng state, Wang Shichong. Shaolin monks Zhi Cao, Hui Yang, and Tan Zong took the side of Li and helped him catch the latter's nephew Wang Renze to force the self-appointed emperor to surrender. After Li Shimin was enthroned as the first emperor of the Tang Dynasty, he awarded his followers ac-cording to their military merits and contributions. Monk Tan Zong had the title of chief general con-ferred on him, while the Shaolin Temple was given large grants of land and money to expand the temple complex. The Shaolin Temple was allowed to organize an army of monk soldiers, who acted as military people in warring times and as monks in peace time. The Shaolin school of Chuan im-proved and developed through the trials of battles and wars.
The Shaolin monks in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) were all taught to practise Wushu. In the 32nd calendar year of the Jiajing reign (1553), the Shaolin military monks took part in the battles against Japanese invaders in southern China and accomplished many military exploits. Wang Shixing of the Ming Dynasty wrote in his Tour of Mount Song. 'All of the 400 Shaolin Temple monks have good Wushu skills'.'Fists and cudgels were wielded as if they were flying during practice'. Cheng Chongdou also of the Ming Dynasty wrote in his book The Dossier of Shaolin Cudgel Fight: 'Shaolin monks are best known for their cudgel fights'. Ming general Yu Dayou, who was reputed for his anti-Japanese military service, went to teach cudgel fighting skills in the Shaolin Temple. It was in the latter half of the Ming Dynasty that Shaolin monks switched from cudgel fighting to fist fighting, so that fist fights could be promoted to match cudgel fights.
Shaolin Kung Fu
In the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the people living around the Shaolin Temple were very active in practising Wushu, which boosted the development of the Shaolin school of martial arts. In the Shaolin Temple, the rear hall was used for Wushu exercises, where various kinds of weapons were dis-played on the weapon stands ready for use at any time. Some monks practised fist fighting to safe-guard the temple. After years of exercises and practising, foot prints were stamped on the brick floor of the rear hall and these prints can be seen clearly even today. On the north and south walls of the White-Clothes Hall, there are Qing Dynasty murals vividly depicting the exercises practised by monks in the temple.
In the fifth calendar year of the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty (1727), people were not allowed to practise Wushu. However, they could not be stopped either in the secular society or in the Shaolin Temple, where Wushu was practised underground.
Apart from the Shaolin Temple on Mount Songshan, the Shaolin Temple was said to have set up more than a dozen Shaolin affiliates in other temples in the country. The Shaolin Temple on Mount Nine Lotus in Fujian Province during the Ming Dynasty was famous for developing the Shaolin Quan.
Around the 1911 Revolution against the Qing Dynasty, the Shaolin martial arts underwent further developments. Wushu clubs were established all over the country and most of them took the Shaolin Quan. Lots of patriots organized sabre and flying sword groups in order to overthrow the dynasty. They constantly practised their skills and contributed greatly to the cause.
The Shaolin school is very popular in secular society with a myriad of followers. Over the years it was enriched theoretically and its techniques perfected to form a colossal system of fist fight.
Compactness is a feature of the Shaolin school. The moves and tricks of this school are short, simple and succinct as well as versatile. While fighting, Shaolin boxers would advance and retreat straight forwardly. They need only a small space to execute their style of fist fight which is des-cribed as 'fighting along a single straight line'. Shaolin Quart is powerful and speedy with rhythmic rising and falling of body movements. It stresses hardness of actions and blows but it also advocates softness in support of the hardness. The motto of the Shaolin fist fight says 'hardness first and softness second'. When jabbing or palming, the arm is required to be neither bent nor straight, in an attempt to blend external and internal forces.
Shaolin Kung Fu
Requirements to a Shaolin Fighter
To be as graceful as a cat
The fighter should make light, easy and graceful movements as the cat dose
•To be as aggressive as the tiger
In the face of your enemy you should overrun his courage. Advance harshly, retreat without any confusion, estimate the real situation and than heavily punch with a sharp rush to the enemy.
•To step like a dragon
Dragon in China is a symbol of strength and power, so steps should be strong, powerful and resolute. If steps are not resolute, something wrong will be with fists. A non-confident step means a slipshod fist. Thus, steps must be strong and confident. The step follows the movement of the body. When one step is over, the movement of the body is over too.
•To act like a lightning stroke
One must be quick as a lightning stroke and instantly response to any changes. Punches should look like flash of lightning.
•To shout like thunder
In the fight the most powerful strike is delivered with a shout to help more powerful ‘effort-jin' emission.
•To move like a gust of wind
The practicer must move vehemently like a gust of strong wind. If you started fighting with a frontal attack, use your force on the left and right following the principle of ‘The fist is visible, the strike is invisible' and ‘If you do not see your hand striking the enemy, you will never see this enemy'.
•To stay like a nail
One must stay on a foot like a driven nail.
•To be as heavy as a mountain
A fighter should maintain the stances like a mountain that can not be moved. He should be trained with Mabu, the Rider Stance and Pole Standing Stance. These two exercises are the most important methods to train the strong feet and how to regulate the breathing.
•To be as light as goose
One must move around quickly, lightly and instantly to response to enemy's actions like goose moving according to the lightest whiff of the wind.
•To be soft as cotton
Before full exposure to rigidity, one must avoid vividly.
•As hard as iron
With the help of some methods of physical parts, arms or legs, fighter must become as hard as iron and in case of attacking by things like metal objects.
Shaolin Kung Fu
Ten Precepts of a Shaolin Fighter
It is necessary that the body would be agile, quick and energetic. For instance, if you take a step, your hands should make a correspondent swift movement; movements of all parts of the body must be coordinated. When you have to strike, try not to look even at the shadow of your hand. Do not pay attention to the fists. You must improve your skill all the time, only in this case you can succeed. . Motion of the heart controls the distribution of ‘Chi' energy which born in the region ‘Dantian' field, approximately 3 to 5 cm below the navel. The activity of the ‘Chi' energy enforces the body to carry heroic struggle and to be valiant like a tiger or a dragon. If force and energy are melted into a single whole in the body, it is demonstrated by the ability to exert astonishing sounds. During the fighting, all the five elements should represent a unique fusion. In order to understand the interaction of the five elements of nature, one should observe Nature and the arrangement of the Universe around us. If you perceive laws of the birth and the surmounting of the five elements, you will understand the nicety of combat arts. Each of the five elements originates with the single ‘Chi' energy. This energy is the base of the force that makes the body act. If you understand their mutual transformation, you could move things weighing thousand of Jins (one Jin equals to about 600 g ) with one motion of your hand or foot. This precept also demands that blood and ‘Chi' should be in great harmony.
Shaolin Kong Fu You must know the eight-point theory of ‘Ba Tiao'. For instance, you move up and down, retreat, but your retreat appears to be an advance. If you follow this law, your eight successes will become more impressive. Owing to it your movements up will be energetic and movements down will be pliable and soft, and all the movements will be coordinated. You must be prepared to meet an enemy who appears, disappears and appears again. Your enemy can be as dangerous as a tiger released from the cage. However, if you are able in an instant to turn about to defend yourself from the front and the rear, you would look like a divine protector of combat arms who is always protected from all the sides. You should be able to turn very quickly to face an enemy's attack from the left and the right. If you retreat, you should decoy your enemy into a trap. During an attack, fury will be helpful for you. In that case, you will look like infuriated tigers and snow leopards. A small birdie that takes its chance can fly over a high mountain. Your gait must be as stout as that one of gods. It is better to make five more steps than to make a mistake by one Qun (one Qun equals to 3.2 cm ). There are different types of movements during the fighting. Measured steps, the Qun Bu, should be separated from each other by not more than three Chis (one chi equals to 0.32 m ). In a struggle, your life is at stake all the time, that's why you should step carefully and measurably. Steady steps should be separated from each other by five Chis, and a too big step equals to two Gongs (in the ancient times one Gong equaled to five Chis). A quick step, the Kuai Bu, equals to one Zhan (one Zhan equals to 10 Chis). In fact, it is a horizontal leap that is made with energetic force of thighs and feet (i.e. by the whole leg). A spilling step, the Zhan Bu, is a great upward leap to be made, if you are rounded up and you have to break out of encirclement. One also should understand the coordination of arm and leg during the fighting. The special point with Shaolin combat arts is its fist work. The pugilistic methods are such that each punch must pierce the enemy and cut him into pieces. The arm should bend without bending and unbend without unbending so that the enemy could not follow your movements and could never get sight of your punch. Your arms should separate your thorax with a speed of a lightning. Activity and training of sinews determine the force of arms. The punch must be a surprise, so the enemy could not avoid it. The arm must make an accurate cut, obediently flying up and readily, if necessary, going down. Notwithstanding how your body is twisted and your hands are bound by the enemy, there is always a chance to free yourself, like a swallow always has a chance to find ponds. If in a close combat, one of the hands is pinned down or both hands are neutralized, you can punch with elbow. Your punch can be directed into the enemy's pudenda from below. Leg movements are more mysterious. There are seven leg works including Qi, the uprising, Fan, the overturning, Lo, the tumbling, Zhin, the advance, Ti, the kicking, Qai , other kicking, and Zhuan, other kicking. All the five natural elements unite into one ‘Chi', feet act in unison striking from the front and from the rear, so it is impossible to approach you. Step by step and no sound is heard except sounds of punches of infuriated soles touching the ground after strikes. The legs are like ferocious tigers or dragons in the sky. This rule demands simultaneous advance of arms and legs, because during the fighting they act together and depend on each other. If you only use your arms, the result may be only satisfactory; the reason is when you advancing, your feet, arms and torso should act in a complete coordination. One should aim at achieving the following qualities including mind, body obedience, manhood, speed and fury. During a real fighting those five qualities will bring you miraculous results. Mental work, ‘Gong', means that during the fighting one must more depend on one's mind. Body obedience, ‘Shun', means that one must train his body for a long time to make it a natural one. Manliness, ‘Yong' means that one should work out bold plans and boldly realize them. Speed, ‘Ji', implicates that during the execution of methods of hand-to-hand fighting one must act fast like a lightning. Fury, ‘Hen' is required only at the moment of your attacks. You should keep a vigilant watch over enemy's stances and positions and clearly understand them. You must easily find his weak points, and should not rashly start fighting.
Shaolin Kung Fu One should know about combat arts is all-round defense, its distinct manifestations and timely pursuit. If a man keeps in harmony those rule in his actions, he will become invincible. The rule of cover - 'ting' consist in the necessity of permanent protection in the front, from the behind, from the left and from the right. Besides, one must not forget that the enemy can strike from above and from below. The rule of opening, ‘Kai', consist in the necessity of opening your weak or strong points depending on the situation on the left or on the right and in the necessity of delivering and receiving blows with the support of sinew force. Both fist and palm must be formed during a spurt. The rule of distinct manifestation, ‘zhe' is used for the work of arms, body, head and heart. At the moment of action there should be a clear and efficient manifestation. If you act, you must be as fierce as a tiger, and if you manifest a sentiment, it must be a frightening fury. Your shout should frighten your enemy. You should be able to win without a fight, only with your loud laughter. This rule consisting of few hieroglyphs is more precious than gold. The rule of pursuit , ‘Zhui', consists in the following. You should use any opportunity to pursuit your enemy and should not give him a chance to come back himself. As soon as steps become faster, you should use this opportunity to rush to the enemy. If at that moment you act like lightning and thunder, you can take anyone by surprise. One should know about combat arts is as following. Three body parts including eyes, ears and heart intelligence must be in great harmony. You should have attentive and active eyes and follow any enemy's manipulations all the time. You must prick your ears to sense movements and rest. You should have keen ears to hear voices of tigers and snow leopards from the eight sides of the Universe. The eyes look, the ears listen and they transmit the received info rmation to the heart. If the heart is bright and eyes are alert, you will not commit mistakes. This rule for those who practice in combat arts is as following. Use your sinews, because ‘Shen', the ability to use spiritual sources, allows to achieve a great success. Sinews are chiefs of bones. If sinews tremble, ‘Chi' energy is wasted. Furthermore, sinews are transmitters of info rmation of three senses including vision, hearing and mind. If you are in possession of them, it is a great success.
Wonderful Methods of Shaolin Monks
•Striking around in the whirling horse stance
When anybody uses the ‘whirling horse stance', he whirls his body around its axis and hails blows around aiming at the enemy's heart, gives violent backhand strokes at the face, executes captures. One hand is moving after another, both hands are striking to the left and to the right. You can see the results of those blows. The fighter strikes with his foot forward and backward, turns somersault, moves during the fight. The hands move in the front, as if a ferocious tiger jumps after his pray.
•The Iron Buffalo Ploughing the Field
The iron buffalo ploughs the field and fists fly around freely. Long rapid steps, the hand catches the tiger's eye, and body turns like ‘whirling horse', and circular foot movement ‘a blue dragon wags its tail' are immediately executed, and then a new turn around the axis... You are jumping, squatting, laying on the ground, delivering blows, as if with a flail, rushing down to the enemy like an avalanche, delivering heavy punches and striking the tiger's eye.
•Moving at Night, Hitting the Enemy
You turn and punch, your hand strikes the enemy's palm. You make a step, catch the enemy, throw and mutilate him. If, when catching the enemy, your hands interlace with his hands, you have to punch the elbow from below (‘the lightning of the iron door flashes'), in order to punch the head, use your knees and shoulders. Just as a huge bird Peng spreads its wings, you turn around and ‘catch the moon with both hands'. You strike at the heart, then ring the enemy round with both hands and after that you use method ‘the blue dragon wagging its tail' and ‘the carp fish making somersaults'.
•Golden Pheasant Standing in Solitude
'The golden pheasant stands in solitude' and works with a hand in the center. ‘He presses the moon to his breast', lowers the face and makes a kick, then turns the whole body around and makes a step; the fighter steps down the hall, squats and punches the enemy's face. With high jumps to the right and to the left the legs work, vehemently kicking crushing strokes. If the enemy tries to strike back, you catch his feet with both hands. You have to take all-round defense by striking back. If you can, you punch as your great ancestors did. Strike forward, rush backward, and create insurmountable slashing and obstructions to the enemy.
•Make a Turn to Tie a Tiger
You make steps, rock yourself to the left and to the right and sink for some time lower. This method is executed at a low stance, you squat on the left or the right foot like a tiger climbing a mountain. You strike around, make a step and turn to the right. The enemy looses his heart and tries to escape. You will feel absolutely safe.
•Wonderful Metamorphosis of the Rider
You make steps with your legs wide apart, as if you sit on a horseback and resort to metamorphosis. Deliver a heavy blow at the ribs and hasten to defend yourself, with completely natural movements you ‘come to the common spring'. You punch at the enemy's arm catch from the front, make wave backward and ‘burst into Yuzhou'. Move your foot, your hand comes back to its initial position. You whirl your body to evade a blow. You take all-round defense and your ear-rings look like a coiled pythons ready to jump. A punch, as quick as a lightning, is called ‘tie up a packet'.
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