Before we delve into the history of Shaolin Kung Fu, we must first understand the meaning of "Kung Fu" in China. Contrary to popular belief, this is an actual term that refers to any personal achievement or refined skill that comes after hard work.
So if you're trying to take down a fellow player with a lap counter, this is kung fu! really.
Despite how Chinese Kung Fu is defined, the term is widely used throughout the world to describe important parts of Chinese martial arts.
Thus, Shaolin Kungfu refers to a style of Chinese martial arts that began and continues to be associated with Shaolin temples and monks.
shaolin temple
According to legend, during the Northern Wei dynasty in 495 AD. C., a Buddhist monk named Buddhabhadra from India or Bato from China came to China, met Emperor Xiaowen, and won favor with him.
Although Bato refused the emperor's offer to teach Buddhism at court, he was still given land to build a temple. The land is located on Mount Song. It was there that he built the Shaolin, or "The Little Forest."
Ancient history of Shaolin Kung Fu
From 58 to 76 AD C., the relations between India and China began to develop. Therefore, the concept of Buddhism is becoming more and more popular in China as monks travel between India and China.
An Indian monk named Bodhidharma may have played a significant role in the development of Chinese martial arts.
It is believed that he ended up preaching to the monks of the new Shaolin temple in China. There he perhaps taught the monks the martial arts movement, which is the basis of Shaolin Kung Fu.
Although Bodhidharma's role in the history of martial arts is uncertain, the monk became a famous martial artist after his legendary arrival.
Famous Uses of Shaolin Kung Fu in History
During the Tang dynasty (618-907 AD), 13 samurai monks helped the emperor of the Tang dynasty rescue his son Le Shimin from the army that wanted to overthrow the ruling party.
When Li Shimin was finally named emperor, he referred to Shaolin as the "supreme temple" of China and facilitated the exchange of knowledge between the imperial court, the military, and the Shaolin monks.
Destroy the Shaolin Temple
When loyal ministers from the Ming dynasty lived there, the Qing dynasty rulers burned the Shaolin temple.
They also banned the practice of Shaolin Kung Fu. This caused a dispersal of monks, where they were exposed to other styles of martial arts which they used to improve Shaolin Kungfu when it was legalized again.
Shaolin Kung Fu Today
Shaolin Kungfu is still practiced by monks. In fact, they became world famous artists because their art is magnificent.
Interestingly, as the Shaolin style evolved into so many different styles, its basic self-defense lost its flashier styles like martial arts.
Many believe that the early kung fu invented by monks was much more powerful than the Shaolin kung fu practiced today, though perhaps less beautiful.
72 Shaolin Martial Arts Training Methods
In 1934, Jin Jingzhong published the book "Shaolin 72 Art Training Method". Zhong himself only lists genuine Shaolin training methods in this book, that is, training methods designed for self-defense purposes.
These methods can help professionals develop extraordinary skills. Zhong said that he learned the technique from a book given to him by Shaolin Abbot Miao Xing.
Characteristics of Shaolin Kung Fu
Like all styles of Kung Fu, Shaolin Kung Fu is primarily a striking style of martial art that uses kicks, interceptions, and strikes to stop attackers.
Something that is pervasive in kung fu is the beauty of the forms that they practice, and the mixture of open and closed hands and strikes that attackers defend. There is very little emphasis on throwing and joint locks.
The discipline also uses hard techniques (joint force) and soft techniques (use of the aggressor's force). Shaolin styles also tend to emphasize wide kicks and stances.
The Fundamental Purpose of Kung Fu
The fundamental objective of Shaolin Kungfu is to protect an opponent from an attack and quickly disable it. The art also has a very philosophical aspect, since it is closely linked to Buddhist and Taoist principles.
Shaolin Kung Fu styles also have a very dramatic presence. Therefore, some practitioners have acrobatic and recreational goals rather than practical goals.
Shaolin Kung Fu Style
This list includes styles of Shaolin Kungfu taught in the temples:
- Red Fist – Red Fist
- Dahongquan – Fist of Dahongquan
- Tong Beiquan – Fist in the back
- Liuhequan–Liuhequan
- Taizu Changquan – Emperor Taizu's Changquan
- The fist of the seven stars – P key of the Seven Stars
- Cannon Fist – Cannon Fist
- Small Cannon Fist – Small Cannon Fist
- Changhu Xinyimen – Always maintain the soul/gate connection
- Spring Plum Blossom – Plum Blossom Box
- Arhat Boxing – Arhat Boxing
- Bronze Uterus – Shaolin Tongxun
- Dan Dao – Unipolar Technique
- Dragon Technology
Shaolin Kung Fu in Movies and TV Shows
Shaolin Kung Fu is represented in Hollywood. David Carradine plays a Shaolin monk in the American Wild West in "Kung Fu." Groundbreaking television series that aired between 1972 and 1975.
Jet Li debuted at the "Shaolin Temple" in 1982. In the movie "Shaolin Temple War", invaders from Manchuria tried to kill 3,000 Kung Fu masters at the Shaolin Temple.
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