ShaoLin - History


Shao Lin temple

Shaolin martial arts originated at the Shaolin Temple located in the Dengfeng County, of China's Henan province, Built in 495 AD during the Northern Wei Dynasty. The temple is situated in the Song Yue Shi Mountain range. Because the temple was erected in the forests at the foot of Shao Shi Mountain it was named Shaolin, which means "Young Forest"

The Shaolin Temple is the birthplace of Chan (Zen) Buddhism and Shaolin Kung Fu. Chan Buddhism was founded by Bodhidharma (Puti Damo), the 28th generation disciple of Buddha

Shi Jia Mo Ni. Bodhidharma arrived at Shaolin Temple in 527 AD and is said to have sat facing the wall of a cave on Wu Ru Peak for nine years behind Shaolin temple, before founding the Chan (Zen) sect of Buddhism. Bodhidharma is accredited with passing on the treasures of Yi Jin Jing - Muscle/Tendon Changing Classic and Xi Sui Jing - Marrow/Brain Washing Classic to the monks of Shaolin Temple.

Martial arts were all ready being practised at Shaolin prior to Bodhidharma’s arrival. It is from Bodhidharma’s presence at Shaolin Temple however that Shaolin Kung Fu began to further develop and refine itself into one of the worlds most sought after arts. During the Song Dynasty, The Abbot Fu Yu, invited experts from 18 schools to exchange and teach each other skills at Shaolin. They remained for 3 years and edited the Shaolin Boxing manual, which described 280 routines.

ShaoLin - Training

Shao Lin temple yard

Shaolin is a complex art that has evolved over the last 1500 years. It utilises all aspects of martial practice: punching, kicking, striking, throwing, grappling, weaponry, point striking and qi cultivation. It contains both Wai Gong (External skill) and Nei Gong (Internal skill) in its methodology. It is another common misunderstanding that labels Shaolin as only an external style of Kung Fu. Shaolin Kung Fu cultivates Qi, Jing and Shen and promotes the development of the muscle, bones and skin. Shaolin practice is also a pathway to Chan (Zen). Shaolin Kung Fu consists of Ji Ben Gong (Basics), routines, application analysis, selected combinations, sparring, conditioning, Qi Gong, and meditation (Chan (Zen) practice as well). Shaolin can be described as fast, agile, unpredictable and effective.

The Shaolin practitioner is never an attacker, nor does he or she dispatch the most devastating defenses in any situation. Rather, the study of kung fu leads to better understanding of violence, and consequently how to avoid conflict. Failing that, a Buddhist who refuses to accept an offering of violence (i.e., an attack) merely returns it to the sender. Initially, the kung fu expert may choose to parry an attack, but if an assailant is both skilled and determined to cause harm, a more definitive and concluding solution may be required. The more sophisticated and violent an assault, the more devastating the return of the attack to the attacker.

Shaolin Kung Fu is most famous for its animal imitation styles. The most famous of the Shaolin techniques is the five animals. Snake, Dragon, Crane, Tiger and Leopard make up this system. Each animal displays a certain characteristic throughout the forms. The Dragon develops spirit, the Tiger develops the bones and tendons, the Snake develops internal energy, the Crane develops the essence and the Leopard develops strength. Although these are well known, Shaolin has other animal styles as Praying Mantis, Eagle Claw, Duck fist, Toad, Monkey, Dog and also Scorpion to name a few.

Iron Palm, Tong Zi Gong (Youth Skill), Yi Zi Chan (One Finger Zen) and Iron Shirt are a sample of the famous skills Shaolin holds true today. The Shaolin Temple is known for its rigorous body training, both externally and internally. Originally Shaolin temple had 32 hard arts and 32 soft arts. The practice of the 72 arts is under strict supervision and usually a student will only practice a select few techniques, as desired by their teacher. The understanding of breath and Qi is a must for the correct application and practice of the 72 arts. Shaolin Kung Fu is a form or manifestation of Chan. Shaolin Martial arts are then, an integral part of spiritual practice from China's Shaolin Temple. The idea is that by following a strict martial arts discipline, the gap between the body and the mind is bridged.

Tai Ji - History


Sun Lu Tang

Tai Ji Quan is considered to be one of the internal or soft styles of Chinese martial art, and is the most widely practiced martial art in the world today. The term "Tai Ji" refers to the ancient Chinese Daoist concept of the interplay between two opposite yet complementary forces (Yin and Yang), being the foundation of creation. "Quan" literally means, "fist" and denotes an unarmed method of combat. Tai Ji Quan as a martial art is based on the principle of the soft overcoming the hard.

The origins of Tai Ji Quan are often attributed to one Zhang San Feng (a Daoist of either the Twelfth or Fifteenth century depending on the source) who created the Art after witnessing a fight between a snake and a crane. Other legends have it that the art was conceived in Chen village by the Chen family and yet others still that it was developed on Wudang by other Daoist sects. Chen village and the Chen family was the place most historical records and family tai ji systems have come from that we know today.

The Yang lineage it seems to be generally agreed came from Yang Lu Chan who was accepted as a student by the Chen family in the early part of the Nineteenth century. After mastering the Art, Yang Lu Chan (nicknamed "Yang without enemy" as he was reportedly a peerless fighter) modified the original Chen style and created the Yang style of Tai Ji Quan, the most popular form practiced in the world today. Wu Yu Xiang leaned the Art from Yang Lu Chan and a variation of the original Chen form from Chen Ching Ping (who taught the 'small frame' version of Chen Tai Ji Quan) and created the Wu style. A man named Hao Wei Zhen, learned the Wu style from Wu Yu Xiang's nephew and taught the style to Sun Lu Tang, who in turn created the Sun style (Sun was already an established master of Xing Yi Quan and Ba Gua Zhang when he learned Tai Ji Quan.)

Tai Ji - Training

Complete Tai Ji Quan arts include basic exercises, stance keeping (Zhan Zhuang), repetitive single movement training, linked form training, power training (exercises which train the ability to issue energy in a ballistic pulse), weapons training (which includes straight sword, broadsword, staff and spear), technique training and various two person exercises and drills (including "push hands" sensitivity drills). The ability to ‘sink’ is also trained, that is, to relax to such an extent that the energy and intention of the body is flowing down through whichever foot is ‘substantial’ or carries the weight of the body.

A beginner will need to start training with very basic exercises designed to teach proper structural alignment, relaxation, correct methods of moving the body, shifting the weight, stepping, etc. All of the Tai Ji Quan arts have at their very foundation the necessity of complete physical and mental relaxation and the idea that the intent leads and controls the motion of the body. The student will be taught various stance keeping postures which serve as basic exercises in alignment and relaxation as well as a kind of mind calming standing meditation.

Traditionally, single patterns of movement were learned and repeated over and over until mastered, only then was the next pattern taught. Once the student had mastered an entire sequence of movements individually, the movements were taught in a linked sequence (a 'set'). The goal of training is to cultivate a kind of 'whole body' power. This refers to the ability to generate power with the entire body, making full use of one's whole body mass and energy borrowed from the earth in every movement. Power is always generated from the bottom up, meaning the powerful muscles of the legs and hip serve as the generator of power/energy. Using the strength of the relatively weaker arms and upper body is not emphasized, they are merely used as a means to conduct the energy to the opponent. The entire body is held in a state of dynamic relaxation which allows the force to flow out of the hands and into the opponent without obstruction. This is described in the Tai Ji Quan Classics as “being rooted in the feet, developed by the legs, directed by the waist transferred through the back and expressed in the hands.”

The Tai Ji Quan arts have a variety of two person drills and exercises designed to cultivate a high degree of sensitivity in the practitioner. Using brute force or opposing another's power with power directly is strictly forbidden. The goal of two person training is to develop sensitivity to the point that one may receive the opponent's power, absorb or redirect and apply one's own whole body power where the opponent is most vulnerable. One must cultivate the ability to listen to opponents force or energy, stick to the opponent, absorb their force and destroy their balance before issuing your own energy.

The ability to "listen, adhere, continue and follow” is vital to the application of Tai Ji Quan combat techniques, many of which are grappling oriented. Techniques that include pushing, pulling, wrapping, bumping, sweeping, locking, knocking down and throwing (grappling arts) far outnumber striking and kicking techniques. Solo forms training is designed to develop the ability to control oneself; paired practice trains the practitioner to apply the power developed during solo training to another in the most efficient manner.

Modified forms of Tai Ji Quan for health have become popular worldwide in recent times because the benefits of training have been found to be very condusive to calming the mind, relaxing the body, relieving stress, and improving one's health in general. However, it is important to realize that all traditional systems of Tai Ji Quan were originally created for a single purpose, training the practitioner to fight.

Qi Gong


Qi Gong is an ancient Chinese energy (Chi) practice. Qi means energy, Gong means work. It is based on the concept of Qi energy which flows through the body. It is used for both medical and health purposes and to improve the effectiveness of martial arts practise. Much Qi Gong is now a mixture between Daoist & Buddhist energy cultivation practises. Qigong is a self-healing art that combines movement and meditation. Visualizations can be employed to enhance the mind/body connection and assist healing. The history of Chinese Qigong can be roughly divided into four periods.

Little is known about the first period, which is considered to have started when the Yi Jing - Book of Changes was introduced sometime before 1122 B.C., and to have extended until the Han dynasty (206 B.C.) when Buddhism and its meditation methods were imported from India. This infusion brought Qigong practice and meditation into the second period, the religious Qigong era.

This period lasted until the Liang dynasty (502-557 A.D.), when it was discovered that Qigong could be used for martial purposes. This was the beginning of the third period, that of martial Qigong. Many different martial Qigong styles were created based on the theories and principles of Buddhist and Daoist Qigong. This period lasted until the overthrow of the Qing dynasty in 1911; from that point Chinese Qigong training was mixed with Qigong practices from India, Japan, and many other countries.

The Yi Jing - Book of Changes (1122 B.C.) was probably the first Chinese book related to Qi. It introduced the concept of the three natural energies or powers (San Cai): Tian (Heaven), Di (Earth), and Ren (Man). Studying the relationship of these three natural powers was the first step in the development of Qigong. During the Zhou dynasty (1122-934 B.C.), Lao Zi mentioned certain breathing techniques in his classic "Dao De Jing" (or Tao Te Ching) (Classic on the Virtue of the Dao). He stressed that the way to obtain health was to "concentrate on Qi and achieve softness". About 300 B.C. the Daoist philosopher Zhuang Zi described the relationship between health and the breath in his book Nan Hua Jing. "The men of old breathed clear down to their heels." The Daoist Jun Qian used the movements of animals to create the Wu Qin Xi (Five Animal Sports), which taught people how to increase their Qi circulation through specific movements.

In the Shaolin Temple Bodhidharma developed, after nine years of seclusion, two classics: Yi Jin Jing - Muscle/Tendon Changing Classic and Xi Sui Jing - Marrow/Brain Washing Classic. The Muscle/Tendon Changing Classic taught the priests how to gain health and change their physical bodies from weak to strong. The Marrow/Brain Washing Classic taught the priests how to use Qi to clean the bone marrow and strengthen the blood and immune system, as well as how to energize the brain and attain enlightenment. After the priests practiced the Muscle/Tendon Changing exercises, they found that not only did they improve their health, but they also greatly increased their strength. When this training was integrated into the martial arts forms, it increased the effectiveness of their techniques. It soon became an important part of their training.

Outside of the monastery, the development of Qigong continued during the Sui and Tang dynasties (581-907 A.D.).
Chao Yuan-Fang compiled the Zhu Bing Yuan Hou Lun (Thesis on the Origins and Symptoms of Various Diseases), which is a veritable encyclopedia of Qigong methods listing 260 different ways of increasing the Qi flow.
The Qian Jin Fang (Thousand Gold Prescriptions) by Sun Si-Mao described the method of leading Qi, and also described the use of the Six Sounds. During the Song, Jin, and Yuan dynasties (960-1368 A.D.), Yang Shen Jue (Life Nourishing Secrets) by Zhang An-Dao discussed several Qigong practices. Ru Men Shi Shi (The Confucian Point of View) by Zhang Zi-He describes the use of Qigong to cure external injuries such as cuts and sprains. "Lan Shi Mi Cang" (Secret Library of the Orchid Room) by Li Guo describes using Qigong and herbal remedies for internal disorders. "Ge Zhi Yu Lun" (A Further Thesis of Complete Study) by Zhu Dan-Xi provided a theoretical explanation for the use of Qigong in curing disease.

During the Song dynasty (960-1279 A.D.), Chang San-Feng is reputed to have created Taijiquan (or Tai Chi Chuan). Tai ji followed a different approach in its use of Qigong than did Shaolin. While Shaolin emphasized Wai Dan (External Elixir) Qigong exercises, Taiji emphasized Nei Dan (Internal Elixir) Qigong training. Later, in the Southern Song dynasty (1127-1279 A.D.), Marshal Yue Fei was credited with creating several internal Qigong exercises and martial arts. It is said that he created the Eight Pieces of Brocade to improve the health of his soldiers. He is also known as the creator of the internal martial style Xing Yi. Eagle style martial artists also claim that Yue Fei was the creator of their style.