Traditional Shaolin Kung Fu

Of the many styles of martial arts, Shaolin kung fu is one of the most revered. Originally practiced only in a Buddhist monastery in the mountains of Henan province, traditional Shaolin kung fu is now taught in hundreds of schools throughout the world. Thousands of students regularly and diligently study the traditional Shaolin method to learn self defense, gain flexibility and strength and to obtain internal and external health.

  1. History

    • According to Professor Meir Shahar of Tel Aviv University, the monks of the Shaolin Temple participated in martial arts training as early as the Northern Song dynasty, between 960 AD and 1126 AD. But the Shaolin monks didn't begin a martial arts system until a few hundred years later, during the Ming dynasty. During the cultural revolution in mid-20th century China, the Shaolin temple became a target of the government, and many of the monks fled to other areas of the world. In the late 20th century, the Shaolin Temple was restored and, as of 2010, is considered a working temple where Shaolin kung fu is practiced.

    Chan Buddhism and Shaolin

    • Chan Buddhism is important in understanding Shaolin kung fu. Many martial arts styles in China are rooted in Buddhism or Taoism. The monks at the Shaolin Temple are Chan Buddhist, often referred to by its Japanese name--Zen Buddhism. Chan Buddhist philosophy is usually taught in conjunction with Shaolin kung fu training. According to legend, a Buddhist monk from India named Bodhidarma visited the Shaolin Temple and saw that many of the monks were in poor physical shape. Believing that good health is essential to Chan Buddhist studies, he taught the monks a series of internal and external exercises. The exercises are believed to have eventually evolved into traditional Shaolin kung fu. Because of this, true masters of Shaolin kung fu are well-versed in Chan Buddhism and meditation.

    Modern vs. Traditional

    • Many people familiar with Shaolin kung fu have seen practitioners perform impressive acrobatics or other movements that are aesthetically pleasing. Traditionally, however, Shaolin kung fu incorporates very little acrobatics. Traditional kung fu was originally used only for self-defense and health purposes. But modernization has led many kung fu practitioners to depend on performance for income, and some traditional Shaolin kung fu has been modified for entertainment.

    Training Methods

    • The training methods of Shaolin focus on strength, power, flexibility, accuracy and speed. Practitioners of Shaolin kung fu must stretch daily to increase their flexibility--necessary for high kicks, injury prevention and healthy muscles. Daily exercises such as running, push-ups and weightlifting, increase lean muscle mass and body strength and are essential to the practice traditional Shaolin kung fu. Power, accuracy and speed are usually learned together through a variety of methods such as sparring and traditional forms practice, called "taolu" in Chinese.

    Influence

    • Because Shaolin kung fu is one of the oldest martial arts systems in all of Asia, it has had a broad influence on popular culture and other martial arts systems. For example, in the early 1970s, a popular American television show called "Kung Fu," starring David Carradine, was based on the adventures of a Shaolin monk in America. The Shaolin temple and its martial arts system has been the subject of many films since then. Bruce Lee, Jet Li and Jackie Chan have all starred in films based on Shaolin kung fu.