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TRADITIONAL CHINESE KUNG FU
The History of Shaolin Temple Kung Fu
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This is a very brief overview of the development and history of the Shaolin Temple and it is not intended to cover every aspect - There is a wealth of knowledge out there on the internet, so please feel free to check out the finer details, and so learn more about this fascinating Monastery !!
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It is believed by many that the Shaolin Temple and all it's teachings were greatly influenced by an Indian Monk by the name of Bodhidharma (Ta Mo in China) who was, as the legend goes, the originator of the martial development at Shaolin, and the first patriarch of Ch'an Buddhism, though there is virtually no hard evidence to support this view.
Moving forward with this theory in mind, in about 525 A.D. Bodhidharma is said to have left his Monastery in Southern India and travelled to China. After travelling hundreds of miles he crossed the Yangtze river by unorthodox means, and upon reaching Shaolin legend has it that he sat in a cave close to the Shaolin Temple and meditated facing a cave wall, for most of the next nine years.
There are various stories that have arisen due to Bodhidharma's nine year meditative practice - One of them being that after he fell asleep while meditating he cut off he eyelids to prevent this from ever happening again !!!.
The Shaolin Temple is situated in the Lo-Yang, Cheng Chou, K'ai Feng region of Honan province in China. Honan is one of the smallest provinces but also one of the most densely populated. The monastery is to be found on a South Facing aspect and faces the cliffs of the Shaoshi mountain. As the temple is situated deep in the woodland (Lin in Chinese) of the Shaoshi mountain it is therefor called "Shaolin". Songshan has been the home of many Temples but the most important of these is the Shaolin Temple.
Bodhidharma wanted to preach to the Shaolin Monks Buddhism, meditative techniques and show them the principles of breath control, as well as mental exercises - His aim was the union of body, soul and spirit. Whilst teaching the Monks he realized that they got very tired during his lessons and were not able to sustain meditation for long periods of time, so he taught them a series of physical exercises which later developed into a form of Shaolin Temple Boxing.
These exercises were called :-
The Muscle Change Classic or the Change of the Sinews
The Marrow Washing
Te Eighteen Hand Movements of the Enlightened One
His emphasis on " Chi" ( Intrinsic energy which can be cultivated with breathing exercises and meditation) is still an essential foundation of Shaolin Kung Fu.
From generation to generation these exercises were refined and extended.The Shaolin Boxing exercises were mostly based on the character of five different animals namely the Snake, Dragon, Tiger, Crane and Leopard ... However now, centuries later, you will find many different types of Shaolin fighting styles. The ability of the Shaolin Monks to fend off attacking bandits and protect the Temple when the need arose enabled them to become renown for there fighting skills and abilities.
In the colder Northern regions of China the ground was hard, allowing more stability when kicking and stepping. Therefore, Northern Shaolin styles emphasize kicking, long-range, acrobatic and ground fighting techniques ... In the warmer Southern regions of China, the ground was much softer and often muddy, making kicking and stepping more difficult. As a result Southern Shaolin emphasizes lower stances (for balance and sturdiness) and more hand techniques due to the closer fighting range.
STANCES
Most Instructor agree that horse riding practice serves a twofold purpose:-
1) To develop strength, balance and durability in the legs and lower body, and
2) Test the students patience and discipline before moving on to the initial self defence techniques.
The term "ma" meaning horse. It is immediately obvious to anyone viewing a practitioner poised the basic "ma pu" or horse stance, that the posture is modeled after a person is riding a horse.
In ancient times anywhere from the first six months to a year was devoted exclusively to horse training. The students were required to assume the basic posture for progressively longer duration, beginning with the instructor lighting an incense stick leaving the room, and not returning to relieve them until the incense had extinguished itself approximately one hour later. By entering into a meditative state, the monks themselves were able to remain in their "horse" for days on end without moving from spot for food or water, in a rugged display of mind over matter.
Each style stressed a certain type of horse. In the Hung Gar system for example, the emphasis is on a low, very stable posture from which sheer power can be delivered. This owes to the fact that the style was developed on houseboats (junks) in Southern China where a solid foundation was of paramount importance. The Mantis style with its many hopping and skipping movements relies on the highly mobile Seven Star stance with the toe pointed up. Monkey boxing, noted for its fast and agile footwork, employs very low stances which drop the practitioner's center of gravity.
Geography, too played a key role in determining which particular type of horse was used. In the wide open rural North, maneuverability was the primary consideration; so their horse were designed accordingly. The congested urban districts of southern China, full of narrow streets and alleyways were ill-suited to the vast sweeping motions of the North. Accordingly they stressed a more stationary deeply-rooted stance.
The horse stances are the foundations of all Kung fu movements, a good Kung fu man can utilize his horse to maneuver in and out of an opponent's range of attack by merely shifting to a different position.
The Chinese have saying that goes something like this " A person must learn how to crawl before he can walk, walk before he can run, run before he can jump and think before attempting anything."
STRETCHING
Rigorous stretching exercises were an integral part of the Shaolin monk's daily training routine. Early in the morning, preferably outdoors, they would warm-up with specially designed set of calisthenics meant to extend all parts of the body; joints, muscles, tendons, spinal cord, bones, vital organs, veins and arteries included. Besides developing the flexibility necessary for performing the strenuous Sil Lum forms, the monks were increasing their life expectancy at the same time.
From the earliest of times, longetivity has been the most cherished virtue in the eyes of the Chinese people. A long life meant that one had successfully integrated himself with the everflowing Tao; a short life meant failure. Therefore the primary goal of Kung fu systems despite their deadly combat effectiveness was to prolong life. Stretching exercises were intended to enhance one's life expectancy, if they were performed regularly and conscientiously. By keeping the body active and supple which in turn promoted circulation and relieved pressure on the vital organs, stretching guaranteed an abundant lifetime marked by perfect health.
The human body resembles a rubberband. If left inactive, it will contract and soon become stiff and brittle; any sudden or violent motion can cause something to snap, resulting in serious injury.
The exercises varied somewhat from temple to temple, depending upon geography and the prevailing system of Kung fu. In the rural North of China for example, where the rugged terrain is wellsuited to a wide open style featuring extended kicks and punches, the calisthenics are more elaborate than in the metropolitan south, where the shorter movements and infighting were emphasized. Some exercises were performed solo; others required a partner or mechanical device. All methods stressed longetivity and gradual step-by-step progression.
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A typical day at the Shaolin Temple
Early in the morning, the ringing of bells awakens everyone at 4:30 for meditation. At 6:00 the buddhist Monks gather for chanting, while the Martial Monks start their morning exercise, which begins with a run in the nearby mountains.
Breakfast follows at 7:30.The Buddhist Monks spend the rest of the morning meditating or doing chores. The Martial Monks train from 9:00 to 11:30. Beginners start with stretching and basic movements, including stances, jumps, kicks and strikes. Most of the Monks practice only these moves for an entire year until they can show perfect control and focus.
Lunch comes next, followed by a short nap.
Afterward the Buddhist Monks meditate, and the Martial Monks practice Kung Fu from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. At night, the Buddhist Monks chant some more, and the more advanced Martial Monks practice secret techniques that their masters have ordered them not to show anyone else. Everyone hits the sack early to prepare for the next day.
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There is a saying at Shaolin - "I do not fear the 10,000 kicks you have practiced once; I fear the one kick that you have practiced 10,000 times !!" ... Now that is good advice for any martial artist.
WEAPONS
Chinese weaponry is one of the most difficult phase to learn in the art of Kung Fu.
The weapons are broken down in many different categories such as long range weapons, short range weapons, soft weapons or linked weapons, double weapons and throwing weapons (darts, coins, etc.). The weapon training is one that unites the mind and body as one unit since everything must be perfectly in harmony. Chinese weaponry has been in existence for many thousands of years, but was systemized when the different founders created different forms to train their students. The weapons are absolute in today's society, but the training is still considered to be helpful physically and mentally. Weaponry teaches you the meaning of control, timing, distance and flexibility. Weapon training improves student's total art. It includes fighting principles, conditioning, breathing and it is also traditional. Conditioning, precision of movement and other factors are exercised and strengthened; it is necessary to develop speed, coordination, strength and endurance to perform with weapons.
The weapon forms are done just like the forms with blocks, parries, attacks, jumps, circling and twisting. The weapons are merely extensions of your hands and arms.
One of the oldest weapon is the Chinese arsenal is the wooden staff. This is the oldest weapon used and is considered the father of long range weapon. The staff is usually the first weapon taught to the beginning student in order to prepare him for the more advanced and deadly weapons. The second, but very effective weapon and the king of long weapons, is the Spear. The spear, with its metal point, is very similar to the staff, but it contains the sharpen edge which involves more complicated moves when in combat.
Another weapon is the Chinese sword of "Gim", the sword is double edged blade which is straight. This weapon is considered the queen of Chinese weapons. Older than the Gim, however is the Chinese broad sword, or Cresent sword which is called the "Do" or long knife.There are also weapons which are connected together in some way to give them more flexibility. These are very difficult to handle. This covers such weapons as the three-sectional-staff, the steel chain whip, two-sectional staff etc.
There are also weapons used in pairs such as the Butterfly Knives which are strictly a Southern Chinese weapon. Another weapon is the Chinese hook sword; this is strictly a Northern Chinese weapon. There were weapons like darts and coins were tipped with poison which , if thrown to lodge into opponent's body, could kill or paralyze him instantly.
Most of todays practitioners only practice weaponry as a very graceful routine to unite their body and mind as one flowing unit.
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