History of Wing Chun - The Martialarm

Wing Chun Kung Fu History

 

Background information of martial arts -
Wing Chun White Crane Choy Lay Fut Jow Gar Hung Gar Taijiquan Wu Shu Praying Mantis 

The history of Wing Chun

Of all the Chinese martial arts, it is Wing Chun that has perhaps the most interesting (and fictional) story, because the style was developed by a woman.  Wing Chun is a southern style of kung fu, self defense emphasizes, without wasted motion.  Almost every technique serves both defense and attack, a simultaneous attack and defense multiple straight-line strikes at close range, rapid hand techniques and low kicks.  Wing Chun students concentrate on controlling or 'trapping' one or more members of the opponent as if the most effective use of its powerful technology to guarantee.  trapping skills by Chi Sao (sticking hands) developed training.  Formal Wing Chun training also utilizes three shadow-boxing sets, a wooden dummy set and two weapon sets.  The first set is shadow boxing and Sil Lum Tao is primarily focused on breathing , balance, coordination, and the right arm and hand position.  The core of the art technology in this set, which included translated "Way of the idea."  The second series is called Chum kil (searching for the bridge).  Chum Kil teaches defensive measures skills and closing techniques.The third shadown Box Set bil Gee (thrusting fingers), which suggest how the name can be developed finger strikes. 

(Become an instrument known by the Hong Kong cinema), the wooden dummy is a unique training in Wing Chun.  it from a wooden box with three arms and one leg there.  All wooden dummy (Muk Yan Chong) Lessons trapping applications, control and base -. fighting techniques  used in the two arms by the physician of the Wing Chun long pole (luk boun Kwan Sun) and double butterfly knives (pak Charn DAO) are.  To the origins of Wing to pursue Chun, one must go back to the reign of the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644). while the Kung Fu of Shaolin has been practicedwith the usurpation by the Manchus and the establishment of the Ching Dynasty, many Ming patriots sought refuge in the Shaolin Temple, and were preparing for the day when they are trying to overthrow the government in power.  It was then that was Kung Fu a golden time.  There was a problem, however.  The Manchu employs professional soldiers, the very military capabilities were in combat and very familiar with Shaolin Kung Fu.  as such, to put an end to the Manchu soldiers, many of the Shaolin rebel activities, where they went.This a dilemma for the Shaolin monks, they do not form a young rebel with relevant skills to defeat a Shaolin Manchu soldier to learn the Shaolin system implements caused lasted about eighteen full years.  The ancient temple was a meeting, an agreement to develop a martial art that is learned in a shorter time.  in discussions about the nature of the revealed any old his or her combat abilities are locked secret.  The elders were so from their meetings, they encouraged renamed their meeting room or Wing Chun Hall "Forever Spring Hall expressing their hopes for a renaissance in Shaolin martial arts lessons.  But could before the new martial art to be fully developed, The Ming were betrayed by an insider, soldiers, and badly burned in the monastery.  Few people have escaped the horrors of which was a nun named Ng Mui Siu Lum, who took refuge in the White Crane Temple on Mount Tai Leung was.  as the few surviving members of the different martial arts styles began, Ng Mui his martial knowledge taught to lay persons.  These practices were kept secret that the Qing government had martial arts experts dispatched to profane all practitioners to eradicate.  In an effort to his teachings to preserve, Ng Mui modified her teachings in a new system based on efficient movement and direct online attacks that could be mastered in a short time.  Ng Mui decided his art of Wing Chun, in honor of the Wing Chun Hall in she and other elders were called their talks.  Ng Mui spending his Wing Chun system of many people, no moreso Yim, the teenage daughter of a tofu salesman, who was betrothed to a salt merchant named Leung Bok Chau.  But as the beauty Yim, she drew the unwanted attention of a local warlord who made ​​known is his intention to marry her, by force if necessary.  Ng Mui took pity on Yim and taught him the combat system of Yim Wing Chun, open to allow the warlords melee challenged and defeated him to win his freedom to marry Leung Bok Chau.  in maintaining the traditions of Kung Fu, taught Yim Wing Chun to her husband, who taught in turn Wing Chun to Leung Lan Kwai, the Wong Wah Bo, a member of an opera troupe taught on board a junk.  was on board YeeTei Leung, the techniques learned from six and a half-point Long Pole by Abbot Chi Shin. Leung Yee Tei and Wong Wah Bo combined their knowledge and techniques of integrated six and a half-point cane Wing Chun.  Leung Yee Tei passed his knowledge to Leung Jan, a well-known doctor Herbal Fat Shan in the province of Kwang Tung.  Leung in January reached the highest level of Wing Chun and passed the art on his two sons, Leung Bik and Leung Cheun, and another student, Chan Wah Shun.  Chan Wah Shan taught only sixteen students over 36 years, the last of which was Yip Man began training in Wing Chun in 1901 at the age of seven years.  Yip Man continued his training, until he was 15 when he moved to Hong Kong to study at St. Stephen's College.  There he met and trained with Leung Bik, the eldest son of Grandmaster Leung January In May 1950, Yip began Man Wing Chun classes full time.  About 23 years he has taught thousands of students (the most famous of them was Bruce Lee) and Wing Chun spread rapidly around the world

 

Wing Chun Kung Fu History

Background information of martial arts - Wing Chun White Crane
Choy Lay Fut Jow Gar Hung Gar Taijiquan Wu Shu Praying Mantis

History of Wing Chun

Of all the Chinese martial arts, it is Wing Chun that has perhaps the most interesting (and romanticised) history, given that the style was developed by a woman. Wing Chun is a southern style of Kung Fu that emphasises self-defence without wasted movements. Most every technique serves as both a defence and an attack, with simultaneous attack and defence multiple straight-line strikes at close range, rapid hand techniques and low kicks.

Wing Chun students concentrate on controlling or 'trapping' one or more of an opponent's limbs so as to ensure the most effective deployment of their striking technique. Trapping skills are developed through chi sao (sticking hands) training. Formal Wing Chun training also utilises three shadow-boxing sets, a wooden dummy set and two weapon sets.

The first shadow-boxing set is sil lum tao and focuses primarily on breathing, balance, coordination and correct arm and hand positions. The core of the art's technique is contained within this set, which translates as 'way of the small idea'. The second set is called chum kil (searching for the bridge). Chum kil teaches defensive maneuvering skills and closing techniques. The third shadown-boxing set is bil gee (thrusting fingers) which as the name suggests develops finger strikes.

The wooden dummy (an instrument made famous by Hong Kong cinema) is a training device unique to Wing Chun. It is made of a wooden trunk with three arms and one leg. The wooden dummy set (muk yan chong) teachings the applications of trapping, controlling and the basic combative techniques.

The two weapons used by the Wing Chun practitioner are the long pole (luk dim boun kwan) and the twin butterfly knives (pak charn dao). To trace the origins of Wing Chun we must go back to the reign of the Ming dynasty (1368 - 1644) during which Kung Fu was practised by the Shaolin. With the usurpation by the Manchurians and the establishment of the Ching dynasty, many Ming patriots sought refuge in the Shaolin Temple and readied themselves for the day when they would attempt to overthrow the ruling government. It was during this time that Kung Fu enjoyed a golden period. There was one problem, however. The Manchurians employed professional soldiers who were highly skills in martial combat and highly familiar with Shaolin Kung Fu. As such, the Manchurian soldiers put an end to many of the Shaolin's rebellious activities wherever they went.This caused a dilemma for the Shaolin monks who realised they could not train a young rebel with the relevant Shaolin skills to defeat a Manchurian soldier as to learn the full Shaolin system took approximately eighteen years.

The elders of the Temple convened a meeting a agreed to develop a new fighting art which could be learned in a much shorter period of time. They engaged in length discussions during which each elder revealed his or her most secret fighting techniques. The elders became so encouraged by their meetings that they renamed their meeting hall Wing Chun Hall or 'Forever Springtime Hall' expressing their hopes for a renaissance in Shaolin martial arts instruction.

However before the new martial art could be completely developed, the Mings were betrayed by an insider, the soldiers and the monastery badly burned. Only a few people escaped the terror, one of which was a Siu Lum nun named Ng Mui, who took refuge in the White Crane temple on Mt Tai Leung. Like the few surviving practitioners of the various martial arts styles, Ng Mui began to teach her martial knowledge to laymen. These practices were kept secret as the Ching government had dispatched martial arts experts to exterminate any layman practitioners. In an effort to preserve her teachings, Ng Mui modified her teachings into a new system, which relied on efficiency of motion and direct line attacks which could be mastered in a short time. Ng Mui decided to call her art Wing Chun, in honour of the Wing Chun Hall in which she and the other elders had held their discussions.

Ng Mui passed her Wing Chun system onto many people, none moreso than Yim, the teenage daughter of a bean-curd vendor who was betrothed to a salt merchant named Leung Bok Chau. However such was Yim's beauty that she attracted the unwanted attention of a local warlord who made known his intentions to marry her, forcibly if necessary. Ng Mui took pity on Yim and taught her the Wing Chun fighting system with which Yim challenged the warlord to open hand combat and defeated him, thus earning her freedom to marry Leung Bok Chau.

In upholding the Kung Fu traditions, Yim taught Wing Chun to her husband, who in turn taught Wing Chun to Leung Lan Kwai, who taught it to Wong Wah Bo, a member of an opera troupe on board a junk. Also on board was Leung YeeTei, who had learned the six-and-a-half point long pole techniques from Abbot Chi Shin. Leung Yee Tei and Wong Wah Bo combined their knowledge and incorporated the six-and-a-half point pole techniques into Wing Chun.

Leung Yee Tei passed his knowledge onto Leung Jan, a well-known herbal doctor in Fat Shan in the Kwangtung province. Leung Jan achieved the highest level of Wing Chun and passed the art onto his two sons, Leung Bik and Leung Cheun, and another student, Chan Wah Shan. Chan Wah Shan taught only sixteen disciples over 36 years, the last of which was Yip Man who began training in Wing Chun in 1901 at the age of seven.

Yip Man continued his training until he was 15 when he moved to Hong Kong to study at St Stephen's College. It was there that he met and trained with Leung Bik, the eldest son of Grandmaster Leung Jan. In May 1950 Yip Man began teaching Wing Chun full time. Over twenty-three years he taught thousands of students (the most famous of which was Bruce Lee), and Wing Chun soon spread worldwide.

History of Kung Fu - The Martialarm

Kung Fu History

 

Background information of martial arts

Wing Chun - White Crane - Choy Lay Fut - Jow Gar - Hung Gar - Tai Chi - Wu Shu - Praying Mantis

History of Kung Fu

"Kung Fu", the term refers not to a specific form of martial arts related, but translates to "skill" or "capacity".Scholars believe that the use of kung fu, the Chinese martial art in Hong Kong and Kwangtung native province to describe.  There are records of a Jesuit priest, Father Amiot, writing special exercises of Cong Fou "by the Taoist priests of his region he calls practice ".  Wu Shu is traditionally used the term frequently used to describe the traditional Chinese martial arts, though other descriptions such as Kuo-shu, Kuo-chi, Chien-shu and Tao-fa have also from time to time. used  (Wu Shu is the usual term for Chinese martial arts of the People's Republic of China is used).  Exactly when Kung Fu is germinated first unknown to historians, according to Chinese martial art forms, probably early history recorded.  Since the beginning of time there was fighting between humans and animals, the warring tribes, etc., where conflicts and fighting techniques put to death were collected and transmitted from generation to generation.

What is special about the Chinese martial forms is that many schools or styles imitating the fighting techniques of animals such as monkeys, lions, tigers, snakes, bears, etc. The animal adaptation techniques have been created, it follows from the belief that, to survive in their harsh natural environment, endowed all animals (including birds and insects) course with skills for combat.  Sun techniques were stereotypes of the tiger, the eagle's claws and the elusiveness and unpredictability of the monkey was born.  But it is difficult , set a date for the actual birth of Kung Fu.  Some traditional historians date it as far back as the Shang Dynasty (16th century BC).  Others place it in the states v asserts period (475-221 . BC) and the Yellow Emperor Huang Ti  fact, it's seems that modern Kung Fu adapted and developed from past experience of war from China, with clear traces of Mongolian, Tibetan, Indian and other cultural ideologies in many ways out.  If there is a common reference point in the history of kung fu, the Shaolin Temple and it is the journey of Buddhism from India to China.  Buddhism arrived in China during the period of Eastern Han Emperor Ming (58-76 AD .) and soon flourished.  estimated 500 AD, there were more than 10,000 Buddhist temples in China and many emperors were devout Buddhists.  In 495 AD the Shaolin temple was commissioned by Emperor Xiao Wen Wei (471-500 Built in AD).  The temple was built around the teachings of a Buddhist monk named Batuo who came to China in 464 AD Buddhist teachings are home.  Batuo can be used as the first Shaolin Temple monk, as such, but there are no records how or what (471-500 AD).  The temple was built around the teachings of a Buddhist monk named Batuo, house, came to China for Buddhist teaching in 464 AD. Viewed as such, the first Shaolin Batuo are the temple monks, but there is no record of how or what Batuo transferred to the religious practice of Qigong, just as there is no record of when or how he died.  The most influential person in the study of the history of Kung Fu by the Shaolin Temple is an Indian monk named Da Mo (or Ta Mo).  Da Mo, also known as known as Bodhidharma was a little prince of a tribe of South. India  , he followed the Mahayana school of Buddhism, and was worshiped as a bodhisattva -. and enlightened being who had renounced nirvana to save others  . The legends of Da Mo in Chinese mythology developed, to say the least  says a legend, Da Mo sitting in a cave, where he looked at the wall for nine years in meditation.  After accidentally falling asleep, he was so enraged against him He was even pulled the eyelids and threw them on the floor.  Tea shrubs grew out of the earth have used tea for determining sleep. disposal under the eyelids and monks  , Mo Dao invited to China by the Emperor Liang Wu.  He arrived in Canton in 527 AD, but if the Emperor did not like his preaching.  Da Mo came to the Shaolin Temple.  Upon arriving at the Temple, Da Mo many monks who were sick and weak.  He pondered this problem for nine years (9 years in retirement ) and when he emerged wrote two classics. Yi Jin Jing (Muscle / tendon Changing Classic) and Xi Sui Jin (Marrow / Brain Washing Classics)  The classic, the priests, as they build their Qi to an abundant level and use to improve their health and physical change to one of the great strength taught. If this training was combined with martial forms, found the priest a significant improvement in strength and power of their fighting techniques.  It is believed that Da Mo, the author the series of 18 exercises contained in a manuscript that I-Ching Chin, describes the method of Shaolin Chinese boxing.  The method, which originated from the Shaolin Temple, the representative of styles northern China is generally called wai-JYA (WAI -chia) or external family of Chinese boxing.  Shaolin strove to improve the speed, strength and elasticity.  He was vigorous and calisthenic and became the basis from which Okinawan karate and Korean martial arts were drawn.  The Xi Sui Jin was hard to learn and as such was sent secretly to only a few disciples of all generations.  Unfortunately, Da Mo passed away at the Shaolin Temple in 536 AD, but what he had begun, for centuries. live  Very quickly the Shaolin monks, revered for their fighting force.  In the period between the Sui Dynasty and Tang Dynasty fourth Gao Wu Tang Year to De (621 AD), Qin Shi-Ming Li King had a memorable war against Zheng King Wang Chi-Chong.  With Qin King was in trouble, 13 Shaolin monks for help against Zheng.  When Li Shi-Ming later became the first emperor of the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), he rewarded the Shaolin temple, about 600 acres.  He also has the temple of the right to form his own soldiers.

Such were the treasures of Shaolin Temple martial arts training, which has become a necessity in order to protect his wealth from bandits.  responsibility to defend the temple and the monks, it was announced as a soldier Seng Bing.  For three hundred years, the Shaolin temple is a golden period in which legal ownership of his own martial arts training organization.  The temple remained open martial to influences from outside, take them and could integrate these techniques and training methods in his own system.  During this time one of the monks of Shaolin on Most famous was Jueyuan.  He traveled to get to the land of martial arts techniques and working with other famous martial artists.  In the case of Lan Zhou he's famous martial artists, Li Sou, who presented again him Bai Yu-Feng and his son arrived.  Later, the four men returned to the Shaolin Temple and studied together.  After ten years, Li Sou left the Temple but Bai Yu-Feng and his son remained and became monks.  has the name of Bai Yu-Feng Qiu Yue Chan Shi is changing and, according to book Shaolin Temple Record, it was he who developed the 18 existing and Hand of Buddha technology into 173 techniques.  He has also compiled the existing techniques of Shaolin contained and wrote the book Essence of Five Fist of the methods and applications of the investigated five Fist (animal) model.  This is proof that the animal models already existed for some time at the Shaolin Temple. Shaolin Temple is also responsible for the dissemination of Chinese martial arts in Japan.  In the year 1312 AD the monk Da Zhi came to The Shaolin Temple from Japan.  He studied Shaolin martial arts (bare hands and staff) for 13 years and returned to Japan to spread Shaolin Gongfu to Japanese martial arts to society.  In 1335 AD a Buddhist monk named Shao Yuan ventured to Shaolin from Japan.  During his stay he Gongfu mastered and returned to Japan in 1347 AD.  The golden age of the Shaolin Temple ended when Manchuria took over China and became the Qing Dynasty.  to the Han race (pre-Manchurian) from Chinese rebellion against the government, martial arts training to avoid 1644-1911 AD. was forbidden  to keep their teachings, the Shaolin techniques have to the Secular society.Martial arts training was given in the temple carried out in secret and the Shaolin monk soldier decreased the number of several thousand to several hundred.  In 1911 was the Qing Dynasty in a revolution of Dr Sun led Yat-Sen.  The value of Chinese martial arts and was the first time the secrets allowed the Chinese martial arts are taught openly to the public re-evaluated.  During the Chinese civil war, Chiang Kai -shek tried to unify their country. The fight spread to the Shaolin Temple in 1928 and the temple was burned down for the last time by Warlord Shi You-San's soldiers.  The fire lasted 40 days and destroyed all the main buildings and priceless books and records. To obtain the Chinese martial arts, appointed President Chiang Kai-shek, the establishment of the Central Institute for Guoshu Nanjing in Nanjing in 1928.  The traditional name Wushu Zhong Guo Wushu or simple Guoshu renamed. For the first time in Chinese history, government by the rule, all the major martial arts in China met to share their knowledge.Unfortunately, at the beginning of the Second World War, did all the training.  China was captured by the Communists after the Second World War.  all religions and all Shaolin training was banned under the communist regime.  Wushu training was established at the National Institute of Athletics.  It was not pure Wu Shu, but rather on the performance of key parts of martial law training and the application of basic engineering exterminated by the government to avoid possible Association of Martial Arts to discourage anti-government. It was not until the 1980s (unfortunately, after several of the traditional masters had died), that the Chinese government has the value of traditional martial arts implements 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Kung Fu The History

Background information of martial arts

Wing Chun - White Crane - Choy Lay Fut - Jow Gar - Hung Gar - Taijiquan - Wu Shu - Praying Mantis

History of Kung Fu

The term 'Kung Fu' does not relate to any specific form of martial art, but rather translates as 'skill' or 'ability'. Scholars believe that the use of Kung Fu to describe the Chinese martial form originated in Hong Kong and Kwangtung province. There are records of the Jesuit priest, Pere Amiot, writing of the 'peculiar exercises' practised by the Taoist priests of his region which he called 'Cong Fou'.

Wu Shu is traditionally the term widely used to describe the traditional Chinese martial arts, though other descriptions such as Kuo-shu, Kuo-chi, Chien-shu and Tao-fa have also been used from time to time. (Wu Shu is the term currently used for Chinese martial arts by the People's Republic of China).

Exactly when Kung Fu first sprouted is unknown, with historians stating that Chinese martial forms most likely predate recorded history. Since the dawn of time there have been battles between man and animal, warring tribes, etc. during which conflicts combative techniques were executed and accumulated and passed down from generation to generation.

What is particular about the Chinese martial forms is that many schools or styles were created by imitating the fighting techniques of animals such as monkeys, lions, tigers, snakes, bears, etc. The adaptation of animal techniques stems from a belief that in order to survive in their harsh natural environment, all animals (even birds and insects) were naturally endowed with skills for fighting.

Hence techniques were born from the tiger's pounce, the eagle's sharp claws and the elusiveness and unpredictability of the monkey. Still, it is difficult to attach a precise date to the true birth of Kung Fu. Some traditional historians date it as far back as the Shang Dynasty (16th century BC). Others place it in the period of the Contending States (475 - 221 BC) and the Yellow Emperor, Huang Ti. Indeed, it would appear that modern Kung Fu has adapted and evolved from the warring experiences of China's past, with distinct traces of Mongolian, Tibetan, Indian and other cultural ideologies exhibited in many styles. If there is one common reference point in tracing Kung Fu's history, it is the Shaolin Temple and the journey of Buddhism from India to China.

Buddhism reached China during the period of the Eastern Han Ming Emperor (58 - 76 AD) and soon flourished. It is estimated that by 500 AD there were more than 10,000 Buddhist temples in China and many emperors became devout Buddhists. In 495 AD the Shaolin Temple was constructed by the order of Emperor Wei Xiao Wen (471 - 500 AD). The Temple was built to house the teachings of a Buddhist monk named Batuo, who came to China for Buddhist teaching in 464 AD. As such Batuo can be considered the first Shaolin Temple monk, though there is no record of how or what (471 - 500 AD). The Temple was built to house the teachings of a Buddhist monk named Batuo, who came to China for Buddhist teaching in 464 AD. As such Batuo can be considered the first Shaolin Temple monk, though there is no record of how or what Batuo passed down by way of religious Qigong practice, just as there is no record of how or when he died.

The most influential person in the study of Kung Fu's history through the Shaolin Temple is an Indian monk named Da Mo (or Ta Mo). Da Mo, also known as Bodhidarma, had been a small prince of a Southern Indian tribe. He followed the Mahayana school of Buddhism and was revered as a bodhisattva - and enlightened being who had renounced nirvana so as to save others. The legends of Da Mo in Chinese mythology are elaborate, to say the least. One legend has Da Mo sitting in a cave where he stared at the wall for nine years in meditation. After accidentally falling asleep, he became so angered with himself that he tore off his eyelids and threw them on the ground. Tea shrubs grew from the ground beneath the discarded eyelids and monks have used tea ever since to deter sleep.

Dao Mo was invited to China by the Emperor Liang Wu. He arrived in Canton in 527 AD but when the emperor disliked his preaching. Da Mo withdrew to the Shaolin Temple. Upon arriving at the Temple, Da Mo found many of the monks to be sick and weak. He pondered this problem for nine years (his nine year seclusion) and when he emerged wrote two classics: Yi Jin Jing (Muscle/Tendon Changing Classic) and Xi Sui Jin (Marrow/Brain Washing Classic). The classics taught the priests how to build their Qi to an abundant level and use to it improve their health and change their physicality to one of super strength. When this training was combined with martial forms, the priests found a marked improvement in the strength and power of their martial techniques.

It is believed that Da Mo may have authored the series of 18 exercises contained in a manuscript, the I-Chin-Ching, outlining the Shaolin method of Chinese boxing. The method that emerged from the Shaolin Temple, which is representative of the northern Chinese styles in general, was called wai-jya (wai-chia) or external family of Chinese boxing. Shaolin strove the increase speed, strength and elasticity. It was vigorous and calisthenic and became the basis from which Karate in Okinawa and the Korean martial arts were derived. The Xi Sui Jin was hard to learn and as such was passed down secretly only to a few disciples in every generation. Sadly Da Mo passed away in the Shaolin Temple in 536 AD but what he had started would live on for centuries.

Very quickly the Shaolin Monks would become revered for their fighting prowess. During the period between the Sui dynasty and the Tang dynasty, in the 4th year of Tang Gao Zu Wu De (621 AD), Qin King Li Shi-Ming had a momentous war against Zheng King Wang Chi-Chong. With Qin King in trouble, 13 Shaolin monks came to his assistance against Zheng. When Li Shi-Ming later became the first emperor of the Tang dynasty (618 - 907 AD) he rewarded the Shaolin Temple with approximately 600 acres of land. He also granted the Temple the right to train its own soldiers.

Such were the riches of the Shaolin Temple that martial arts training became a necessity to protect its wealth from bandits. The responsibility of defending the Temple was given to the soldier monks known as Seng Bing. For three hundred years the Shaolin Temple enjoyed a golden period in which it legally owned its own martial arts training organisation. The Temple also remained open to outside martial influences, absorbing what it could and incorporating these techniques and training methods into its own system. During this period one of the most famous Shaolin monks was Jueyuan. He travelled the country learning martial arts techniques and working with other famous martial artists. When in Lan Zhou he met the famed martial artist, Li Sou, who in turn introduced him to, Bai Yu-Feng and his son. Later all four men returned to the Shaolin Temple and studied together. After ten years, Li Sou left the Temple but Bai Yu-Feng and his son stayed on and became monks. Bai Yu-Feng's name changed to Qiu Yue Chan Shi and, according to the book of Shaolin Temple record, it was he who developed the then 18 existing Buddha Hands techniques into 173 techniques. He also compiled the existing techniques contained with Shaolin and wrote the book The Essence of the Five Fist, which discussed the methods and applications of the Five Fist (Animal) Patterns. This is proof that animal patterns had already existed for some time in the Shaolin Temple.

The Shaolin Temple would also be responsible for spreading the Chinese martial arts to Japan. In the year 1312 AD the monk Da Zhi came to the Shaolin Temple from Japan. He studied the Shaolin martial arts (barehands and staff) for 13 years and returned to Japan to spread Shaolin Gongfu to Japanese martial arts society. In 1335 AD a Buddhist monk named Shao Yuan ventured to Shaolin from Japan. During his stay he mastered Gongfu and returned to Japan in 1347 AD.

The golden era of the Shaolin Temple ended when Manchuria took over China and became the Qing dynasty. In order to prevent the Han race (pre-Manchurian) Chinese from rebelling against the government, martial arts training was outlawed between 1644 and 1911 AD. In order to preserve their teachings, the Shaolin techniques were passed onto layman society. Martial arts training in the Temple was carried out in secrecy and the Shaolin monk soldier decreased in number from thousands to a couple of hundred. In 1911 the Qing dynasty fell in a revolution led by Dr Sun Yat-Sen. The value of Chinese martial arts was re-evaluated and for the first time the secrets of Chinese martial arts were permitted to be openly taught to the public.

During the Chinese civil war, Chiang Kai-Shek tried to unify they country. The battle spilled into the Shaolin Temple in 1928 and the Temple was burned for the last time by Warlord Shi You-San's soldiers. The fire lasted forty days, destroying all major buildings and priceless books and records. In order to preserve the Chinese martial arts, President Chiang Kai-Shek ordered the establishment of the Nanking Central Guoshu Institute at Nanking in 1928. The traditional name Wushu was renamed Zhong Guo Wushu or simple Guoshu. For the first time in Chinese history, by rule of the government, all the major martial arts powers in China came together to share their knowledge. Unfortunately, at the commencement of World War II, all training discontinued. China was taken over by Communists following the Second World War. All religions and all Shaolin training was prohibited under Communist rule. Wushu training was established at the National Athletics Institute. However this was not pure Wu Shu, but rather performance based with major portions of martial training and technique application eradicated by the government to discourage possible unification of martial artists against the government. It was not until the 1980s (unfortunately after several of the traditional masters had died) that the Chinese government realised the value of traditional martial arts training and so encouraged it.

My Backyard

Now, go train.

Awareness in the city

A big reason why I haven't posted much over the past year is that I've moved house. And city. And, in fact, country. No reason not to let my martial arts practice slip, but I need to prioritise get involved in a club I like with a teacher I respect and I think this takes some time.

In the meantime I've been thinking a lot about perception in the city: physical awareness and personal space in an urban environment teeming with people. Can you feel another person's energy, or intentions on a packed tram (By energy I mean stance, intent, strength…)? City life requires a different level of awareness; I remember seeing something by anthropologist Desmond Morris (Human Zoo) who says that the amazing thing about human city life is not that occasionally people come into physical conflict with others, but that it is so rare! After all there are a lot of emotions, egos and agendas walking around being surpressed in isolated cocoons amongst crowds of commuters.




So I've noticed something rather cool walking around and commuting in the City and that is I can be amazingly perceptive. I can feel people approaching from behind, I can see who I need to avoid and I can hear aggressive noises even above the normal hub-bub. I find that in itself quite startling in itself as there is so much to distract me such as other people's conversations, the muzak, adverts, the trams, the traffic…The rub is this though: I need to pay attention. If I don't and am not 'aware' (or awake if you like) then this ability diminishes. It doesn't disappear but I may perceive someone behind me when they're much closer than I would if I were calm, centred and aware.

I'm not advocating walking around in a constant state of alert like an urban Bruce Lee or a Buddhist monk, but knowing this can help us turn on our sensitivity when it's needed such as when it's darker, when you're alone on a tram or when you're walking through a ropey part of town. Maybe it's natural and we tend to switch on anyway at these times, in which case: all the better. If you have to work at it, here's a good technique which I read about in Dead or Alive by Geoff Thompson. If you want to stay alert in any environment make a running commentary in your head about what you can see and perceive around you (hear, smell, feel), thus 'switching yourself on'. For example it might go something like this, "pavement on left is broken, man walking dog coming towards me (big build, small dog), noise of jet overhead, I can hear a car approaching from behind and I can see a bus at the stop in front of me. Another pedestrian comes into view down the street; a woman with a buggy…." And so on.

Evidently you can't do this all the time but if you're feeling like an awareness switch-on in the big City, this might well be a good place to start.

Breathing meditation

The easiest way to meditate and the way most of us in the martial arts first practice meditation is by focusing on one's own breathing. Check out this little introduction to breathing meditation. For beginners but also a nice refresher.

http://www.how-to-meditate.org/breathing-meditations.htm/

"Generally, the purpose of breathing meditation is to calm the mind and develop inner peace."

A Little Parable

Once upon a time Mr. Rock wandered into a bad neighborhood, where he was attacked by members of the Paper Gang and beaten badly. As a result, he decided to study martial arts. He visited a nearby school, which offered classes in rock-jitsu. As he began training, he found that rock-jitsu fit him beautifully, and he threw himself into practice. However, when he once again found himself facing members of the Paper Gang, he lost again. This was very difficult to accept, because rock-jitsu seemed so right for his body and personality. But, having experienced defeat again, he could only conclude that there must be a "real" martial art out there somewhere. So...

Mr. Rock went in search of a suitable dojo. First, he visited the school of sensei Scissors, but he was not impressed. Sensei Scissors' techniques seemed completely useless to him. In fact, though he was too polite to say so, he was pretty sure that, with his prior training in rock-jitsu, he could easily defeat sensei Scissors' scissor-jitsu style. So, he left and never returned.

The next school he visited was led by sifu Paper who taught paper-gar-chuan style. Rock was stunned by the ease with which sifu Paper handled him. Every one of sifu's techniques overwhelmed him. Clearly this was the school, for he had discovered the ultimate martial art.  Training was quite difficult for him, not natural, not comfortable, but the techniques were so effective, it seemed the obvious choice.


And, one day he found himself in the wrong part of town – again – facing the paper gang – again.  Gamely, Mr. Rock tried out his entire repertoire of paper-gar-chuan, but all that happened was that he briefly held off the gang, soon, he grew exhausted and began to fall back on the rock-jitsu he learned first, but he was as ineffective ever.  But, just as he was about to succumb to another humiliating beating, Sensei Scissor happened by.  Seeing Mr. Rock's peril, Sensei Scissor sprung into action and shredded the paper gang with ease.


Grateful, but confused, looked at Sensei Scissor, and said, "Thank you.  But, I visited your school, and your techniques didn't work on me at all.  Yet, you have easily defeated the paper gang.  I don't understand."


Sensei Scissor just smiled.  "Roshambo," he said.  "Roshambo."  And with that he walked away.