Shaolin Kung Fu (also known as Shaolin Quan, or Chinese Wushu) is one of the largest and oldest styles of martial arts. Its origins can be traced back to the Shaolin temple in Henan Province, where it evolved over a period of 1500 years.
Shaolin Kung Fu is a unique form of martial art that incorporates the Ch’an philosophy with the practical application of the martial arts.
History Of Shaolin Kung Fu
Throughout the history of the arts, Shaolin Kung Fu has had a tumultuous past. The Shaolin temple was a popular tourist destination for decades, but it was not until the 1982 kung fu movie starring Jet Li did the temple become famous throughout the nation.
Today, Shaolin is an important cultural icon in China. Despite its turbulent past, the history of the Shaolin Temple is an interesting one.
The Shaolin monastery was a center for secret discipline and salvation, and its martial arts were known to combine spiritual purity and physical toughness.
In later centuries, the art has been a popular oral tradition. The history of Shaolin Kung Fu begins with the appearance of Tamo, an enigmatic monk who is revered by martial artists and Buddhists alike as the founder of Zen. The Shaolin Temple’s history also includes its many revolutions.
The first Shaolin temple was constructed in 377 AD in the county of Deng Feng, Henan province. Bodhidharma, a Buddhist monk from India, taught Buddhist teachings at the Shaolin Temple.
He brought with him techniques for strengthening the body and developing internal energy. This improved body power led to the monks studying martial arts, which became a mandatory part of their training. However, these ancient monks were not the first to practice martial arts.
Boxer Rebellion
After the failure of the Qing dynasty to control its economy, Japan and the Western powers forced it to allow foreign influence in economic affairs.
The Opium Wars (1839-42) and popular rebellions in 1856-60, as well as the Sino-Japanese War (1894-95) were examples of China’s undeveloped military.
In addition, millions of Chinese died during the conflict. After the Boxer Rebellion, America returned the money and other nations began to remit indemnity payments to the rebels.
In order to end the conflict, the Qing imperial court signed the “Boxer Protocol”, also known as the Peace Agreement between the Eight-Nation Alliance and China.
The Protocol ordered the execution of 10 high-ranking officials allegedly linked to the outbreak and the massacre of foreigners.
Germany’s Alfons Mumm and Britain’s Ernest Satow were among the signatories of the document. Japan’s Komura Jutaro was also signed.
The British government’s Minister in Peking requested additional troops to protect the legation. British Admiral Sir Edward Seymour dispatched an international force from Tientsin.
But the forces were stopped in their tracks by hostile Boxers. Upon hearing that the troops were moving toward Peking, riots broke out in the city.
A major battle followed, with the Boxers capturing the Dagu Forts and killing six people.
The Boxer Rebellion was a revolt of peasants against foreign influence. The rebels’ members were part of the secret society known as the Yihequan (the Righteous and Harmonious Fists).
They practiced boxing rituals and claimed that boxing would render them invulnerable. The Boxer Rebellion is thought to be an offshoot of the Eight Trigrams Society, which had fomented rebellions against the Qing dynasty in the late 18th century and targeted Westerners in the early 19th century.
Destruction of Shaolin Temple
The Destruction of the ancient Shaolin Temple is one of the most well-known events in Shaolin Kung Fu history.
The temple was destroyed by the Chinese army in 1928, as part of a military campaign led by Chan Khai Chek. The army burned down the Shaolin Temple and five adjacent monasteries for forty days.
The temple’s destruction destroyed about ninety percent of its structure. After the destruction, the monks continued to practice kung fu in nearby monasteries, and some practised kwo-su at the Shaolin temple.
However, in the period from 1946 to 1975, the Chinese government imposed strict controls on the monks. The Cultural Revolution destroyed a lot of documents, and the monks were intimidated and punished for practicing kung fu.
Shaolin Warrior Monks
The Shaolin temple in China is the home of the Shaolin Kung Fu warrior monks, who have a special place in Chinese culture.
The martial arts, which are based on Zen Buddhism, are practised by these monks to enhance their concentration and focus.
They are famous for high-jumping, kicking, and ground-boxing techniques. Monks who practice Shaolin kung fu study animal movements and their masters teach them these techniques.
They also practice weapons training. The monks must pass 18 weapons examinations to qualify as Shaolin kung fu warrior monks.
The Shaolin Monks Tour teaches Chinese culture to audiences in North America. The director designed the show to show the movement of the monks, including meditation and includes a total of 23 monks.
The monks range in age from six to thirty-six, although some begin training as early as three or four years old. The monks train every day, starting at 5 am. After a day of kung fu training, they spend the rest of the day in meditation.
northern Shaolin kung fu
When discussing kung fu, Northern Shaolin refers to the external martial arts of Northern China, specifically those styles originating from the Northern Shangtai Monastery in Henan.
The name of the styles varies, but in general, they share many characteristics. Listed below are the differences between these styles and other forms of kung fu.
If you are interested in learning more, consider joining one of our classes.
The Northern Shaolin Kung Fu system emphasizes both weaponry and empty-hand techniques. Students learn the basics by practicing set routines until they become instinctive.
The students also train in multiple man sets, which allow them to apply and respond to other sets. These styles also emphasize fluidity and acrobatic movements.
To learn more about the benefits of Northern Shaolin Martial Arts, check out the following information. You’ll be amazed at how much fun the training can be!
There are several classes to choose from at JK Wong Academy. The Adult class teaches a variety of skills and techniques and features a rigorous physical training regimen.
In addition to improving your physical strength, you’ll develop significant flexibility and power. Adult students are encouraged to attend both classes.
Advanced training classes focus on advanced techniques, such as whirling circular blocks and long-range attacks. The Adult classes also emphasize kicking and agility.
Southern Shaolin Kung Fu
Southern Chinese people are smaller than their Northern counterparts, which makes them more suited for close-combat techniques.
Northerners are taller, so they were able to develop these fighting systems to compensate for this. The southern styles tended to emphasize legwork, stances, and powerful hand techniques.
This combination of northern and southern elements makes Southern Shaolin kung fu extremely versatile. There are many similarities between the two styles, but the differences are primarily due to climate.
The Shaolin Five Animals was a comprehensive fighting system developed by Gwok Yuen, who left the temple to seek other masters.
He found two other Shaolin monks, Bai Yu Feng and Li Sau, and they began working in seclusion to improve the Shaolin system.
Gwok Yuen later incorporated these techniques into a system known as Ng Ying. The form was passed down through several generations of Shaolin monks.
The Southern Shaolin Martial Arts were once only used to fight pirates, but the art has since spread to Taiwan, Southeast Asia, and even the US. Today, pupils as young as six years old practice the art for as many hours as possible.
According to Shi Ligang, head of the Quanzhou temple’s wushu team, the journey never ends for a master of the art. Even Abbott Shi Changding, one of the most influential kung fu teachers in America, still practices at least two hours a day.
Shaolin Kung Fu Movies
If you’re looking for a great kung fu movie, you need to look at The 36th Chamber of Shaolin. This film is a kung fu masterpiece with some of the best martial arts action ever captured on film.
The story revolves around a young man named San Te, who narrowly escapes Manchu soldiers. After joining the Shaolin monks, he undergoes a rigorous training program.
Shaolin means “the last chamber”, and this is the final level.
There are a few films that are set in the world of Shaolin. The Best of Shaolin, released in Hong Kong as Wan fa gui zong yi Shao Lin, follows a young prince who goes in search of a family heritage document and enlists the help of a Kung Fu expert bodyguard to get inside the temple.
Another film, Shaolin Kung Fu Mystagogue, follows a young prince who is captured by an oppressive government and must save himself before his identity is discovered.
Bruce Lee – The Man Behind “Enter the Dragon”
In this article, we’re going to look at the life and career of martial artist, screenwriter, director, and producer Bruce Lee.
You might not realize it, but he was also a philosopher. His career in the film industry has made him a household name.
However, it’s important to know a little about him before we move on to discuss his filmography. Listed below are some interesting facts about the man behind the martial arts movie, “Enter the Dragon”:
Before becoming a famous martial artist, Bruce Lee was studying at a Catholic school, La Salle College. He received poor grades and got into numerous fights.
During this time, he requested his parents enroll him in a martial arts school, where he would learn self-defense. He later renamed the school “The School of Integrated Martial Arts,” which was in the city where he had spent most of his life.
Despite his early years as a child actor, Lee began training in martial arts at a young age. During his high school years, he appeared in over 20 Chinese films.
While he was in college, Lee also began teaching Wing Chun in the United States. In addition to his work in the martial arts world, he also married his wife, Linda Emery, in 1964, and opened a martial arts school in Seattle. In the 1960s, Bruce Lee began acting in movies, and he was married to Linda Emery the year after.
In the mid-sixties, Bruce Lee was signed to Warner Bros Pictures and Hong Kong Golden Harvest Studio. The film, titled “The Big Boss,” broke Asian box-office records in both Hong Kong and America.
He also continued teaching martial arts to private clients, including actor Steve McQueen. The movie became a hit and Lee was given the chance to return to his roots in martial arts.
The actor was then approached by Warner Bros Pictures in the United States.
David Carradine – Main Actor In Kung Fu The Series
The television series “Kung Fu” starred Carradine as Kwai Chang Caine, a half-Chinese and half-white Shaolin monk.
The show was nominated for an Emmy and a Golden Globe. It was popular and helped bring martial arts to the masses. The character was known as the “Grasshopper” because of his unique kung fu moves and lightning reflexes.
The show’s star David Carradine became a TV icon in the early 1970s, starring as a half-American, half-Chinese Shaolin monk.
Later, he played the head of an assassin gang in the “Kill Bill” movies. But it was a tragic ending to his life. He was found hanged in his hotel suite in Bangkok, Thailand, on Wednesday. A maid discovered the body and notified authorities.
Unlike his movies, Carradine was a true martial artist who fought to have stunt doubles in the movie industry.
He had several great instructors over the course of his career, including Master Xiao-Fei, who trained him for nearly four decades.
Black Belt readers voted him the Kung Fu Artist of the Year in 2002. During his training, Carradine won numerous awards, including Best Actor in the Action Movie category, and Best Martial Artist.
Jet Li – Actor and Producer
If you’ve ever wondered about the stage name of an actor or producer, Jet Li is the man you’re looking for.
The former champion in Wushu is now a film actor and producer, and he’s a naturalized Singaporean citizen. What are his greatest achievements?
The following is a look at some of his most notable films. But what’s his real story? Who is Jet Li? What are his greatest achievements outside of acting?
The Chinese martial artist made his international breakthrough with 1982’s Shaolin Temple, which earned him the title of ‘Fred Astaire of kung fu’.
His passion now is philanthropy, as reported by The Guardian. But even though he’s known for his close brushes with death, he’s had some serious life-altering events.
And, he’s still a father, with two children and a sham marriage to boot.
In addition to being an acclaimed martial artist, Jet Li has a deep love for the arts and has become a popular commodity in action and thriller films.
Li began his career in Chinese films, and starred in the 1995 film High Risk. He then shifted to Hollywood, where he starred in Lethal Weapon 4 in 1998. Jet Li is a Tibetan Buddhist, and he’s married to actress Nina Li Chi since 1999.
After his success as a martial artist, Jet Li has appeared in some of the most popular films of recent years.
He has been nominated for several Oscars and has been nominated for a Golden Globe and an Emmy for the role of the ruthless killer.
In addition, he has been in several critically acclaimed films. A recent action thriller, ‘Cradle 2 the Grave’, stars Jason Statham and fellow martial artist Mark Dacascos.
Authentic Shaolin Kung Fu
The good news is you don’t have to learn kung fu in the Shaolin temple. You can train in Shaolin martial arts all over the world.
You simply have to google “Shaolin kung fu near me“. Here at Enter Shaolin we teach Wing Chun and Tai Chi which has their roots in Shaolin.
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