Shaolin Kung Fu's Birthplace — Shaolin Temple

Shaolin temple, Tracing back as far as 1500 years ago, traditional Shaolin martial arts originated from the Shaolin Temple. In fact, Shaolin kung fu received its name from the nearby Shaolin Temple. The Shaolin Temple is situated at the foot of the beautiful Song Mountain in Dengfeng City, Henan province. According to records, in the year 495 during ancient China, emperor Xiaowen of the Beiwei Dynasty, built this Shaolin Temple for Indian missionizing monk, Batuo. He had the temple built at the foot of Song Mountain. Because of this, the temple is also referred to as Song Shan (song mountain) Shaolin Monastery. became famous in fact due to its assocation with the martial arts, in particular, with the strain of martial arts that was referred to as "external" (shaolin) martial arts (as opposed to "internal" (wudang) martial arts, the distinction being a sort of hair-splitting argument within the martial arts community in China at the time regarding whether the focus should be on mastering only the physical techniques associated with martial arts or mastering these in connection with mastering one's own particular abilities, or 'getting in touch with one's qi', or life force, as it were, in a "mind over matter" sense).

It’s said that during the Dahe Reign (477 - 499) of the Chinese Northen Wei Dyansty (386 - 534), Bodhi Dharma, the 28th generation follower of Sakyamuni, created this Kung Fu styles after nine years of development in the Shaolin Temple.

Since theSuiandTangDynasties (581 - 907), Shaolin Kung Fu started to be developed and promoted. In the end of the Sui Dynasty, the political situations were in chaos because of the contention of the new throne.Shaolin GenreIn the continuous wars, Li Shimin, the Taizong Emperor of the Tang Dynasty later, got great favor from the thirteen monks of the Shaolin Temple. As he was on the throne, he awarded the monks and ordered to massively develop the temple. Since then, the temple had flourished well together with the martial arts, eventually becoming the leading Kung Fu school in the central plains of China.

During the Song, Yuan and Ming Dynasties, it further developed. In theNorthern Song Dynasty(960 - 1127), some Kung Fu masters gathered in the temple to compare notes, which boosted the diversification of the boxing skills. In the end of the dynasty, the monks there actively took part in the patriotic war to resist the Jin army. In theYuan Dynasty(1271 - 1368), the temple had a close relationship with the imperial court. The Shizu Emperor of the Yuan Dynasty (1271 - 1368) appointed the abbot to direct all the temples around the Mt. Songshan.

In the modern times, Shaolin Kung Fu has become more and more popular, especially some special skills, such as Shaolin Boxing in the central plain, Southern Boxing (Nanquan) in the southeastern China, Northern Leg (Beitui) around Beijing and the Wing Chun Boxing.

Shaolin Kung Fu is only one of several types of Chinese Kung Fu, or "hard-won achievement", "martial arts". It is only one among many such martial arts that claim association with Shaolin Temple, the now famous Chan ("Zen", in Japanese) Buddhist temple located near the city of Zhengzhou, in China's Henan Province.

Shaolin Kung Fu is not a style created by a single person, but rather an accumulation of forms and techniques developed by millions of people throughout the centuries. This style has a long history and strong influence, and it is an integral part of traditional martial arts in China. Shaolin Kung Fu is primarily a striking style of martial arts that utilizes blocks, kicks, and punches to stop attackers.

This style is a beautiful form of practice combining a mixture of open and closed hand strikes to defend against attackers. When you learn Shaolin Kung fu, the technique focuses on throws and joint locks and the discipline of using both hard (meeting force with force) and soft (using an aggressor’s strength against them) techniques. These aspects are part of what makes up Shaolin kung fu:

Shaolin boxing is to highlight the characteristics of a 'hit' word, the body of the retractable step of advance and retreat, and out of the hand of the ups and downs, stretch synthesis technique is simple and clear.

Routine completely from the actual combat, punch line, punch wau, a song without music, straight and not straight, get out roll. Offensive and echoed throughput consistency. Boxing as a meteor eyes like electricity, waist, such as race walking stick hunting.

Shaolin Kungfu encompasses complete technical and theoretical system, with martial arts and techniques as its major form of expression, and Buddhism belief and Chan wisdom as the cultural connotation.

Shaolin Kungfu is a huge and well-developed technical system as opposed to the many "schools" or "Quan styles" of other martial arts. Chinese martial arts are complicated in structure and abundant in school. According to historical records, Shaolin Kungfu is the one school among a myriad of Chinese martial arts schools, which boasts a long history, a complete system and the highest level of skills. Those Quan guidebooks handed down over many generations in Shaolin Temple show that there are as many as several hundred series of Shaolin Kungfu skills of which several dozen are widely known and practiced. There are 72 unique sets of skills and all kinds of special bodies of Kungfu techniques such as Qi Gong, grappling, wrestling, disjointing, attacking a vital point of the body etc. This wide body of skills and knowledge constitutes a huge and orderly technical system organized according to special categories and levels of difficulty.

Shaolin Kungfu is presented with the movement of the human body such as attack, defense and wrestling as its core and the series as its basic units. Series are made up of a group of movements. The design and arrangements of these movements are based on the medical knowledge of ancient China and conforms to the rule of movement of the human body. Movements and series put special emphasis on the combination of movement and stillness, the balance between Yin and Yang, the complement of toughness and softness, and the inclusion of the spirit and the form. The most well-known principle is "Six Harmonies", composed of the three external harmonies (shoulders and hip, elbows and knees, hands and feet) and the three internal harmonies (mind and intention, intention and Qi, Qi and force). The ancient Chinese belief in "the unity of human and nature" suggests that only those movements that fit the natural structure of the human body can be called proper. Shaolin Kungfu has long been tested by history, during which it has kept its Chan Buddhist essence while weeding out from itself what was undesirable while continually undergoing change and self-reformation. As a result, Shaolin Kungfu gives full play to the potential of the human body and has achieved an optimal form of movement for the human body which allows room for its practitioners to develop and thrive.

The wisdom of Chan Buddhism has imparted profound cultural connotations to Shaolin Kungfu. The practice of Shaolin Kungfu should first be based on the belief of Buddhism including wisdom belief and strength belief. The First Patriarch Bodhidharma is revered as its deity of wisdom and Kinnara as deity of strength. The aspiration for supernatural power and pursuit of supreme wisdom has always been the goals pursued by Buddhists. This is also the main reason for Kungfu’s mystical effects and distinguishes Shaolin Kungfu from other Kungfu.

The soul of Shaolin Kungfu is rooted in the wisdom of Chan Buddhism. The underlying basis of the belief system of Shaolin Kungfu is "Chan ding (Dhyana)". The prestigious Indian monk Bodhidharma introduced Chan tradition to Shaolin Temple in the 6th century and from that time the temple has been regarded as the origin of Chan Buddhism in China. Chan Buddhism is the result and synthesis of a wide range of exchange in philosophical and religious understanding between what was known as Chinese "dark learning" of that time and Indian Buddhist culture after the latter’s introduction into China. Therefore it represents a significant development in cultural exchange, synthesis, and even metamorphosis between the two major civilizations of the ancient Orient. Chan Buddhism is replete with a thorough understanding of life as interpreted by the two great founts of Oriental wisdom, China and India. Previous to the birth of Chan Buddhism, Buddhism was mostly preoccupied with the problem of facing grief and death, but Chan Buddhism introduced a much more optimistic climate with an affirmation of the deep joy to be found in life. Chan Buddhism clearly reflects the depth of experience and penetration into the mysteries of the universe and the true meaning of life as exemplified by members of the Chinese religious and philosophical elite amongst who were many eminent monks and scholar-officials widely known in Chinese history. Throughout the Tang and Song dynasties, Chan Buddhism enjoyed a high degree of acceptance and popularity, and Shaolin Temple is rightfully regarded as its birthplace. Of course, it is also quite natural that during this long historical period the contents of the Shaolin Kungfu belief system and many of its features have also undergone refinement and change. The combination of Chan Buddhism with a unique system of martial arts has become the chief characteristic of Shaolin Kungfu and as such the adoption and practice of this strict belief system is what especially marks the monks of the temple as "Shaolin" monks who regard their personal perfection in this system as their ideal and lifelong goal.

Chan Buddhism pays special attention to achieving the goal of Buddhism via the daily cultivation according to the strict precepts and religious doctrines. Shaolin Kungfu, as a component of Shaolin monks' daily life, has also been included into the forms of Buddhism and Chan Studies. The main body for practicing Shaolin Kungfu is the Chan Buddhists who practice martial arts out of the understanding of the Chan Buddhism. They fully understand life and have no fear in their hearts, demonstrating great wisdom and courage. Chan Buddhism has enriched Shaolin Kungfu and Shaolin Kungfu brings to them the unique state of relaxation, freedom and divinity. The comprehension of Shaolin Kungfu could only be achieved by long time practice and such spirit impressed Kungfu practitioners’ souls through accumulation.

The life of monks is subject to the precepts of Buddhism, which indicate the tenet of Buddhism "harboring compassion and helping sentient beings sail to the world of joy". They are rules of conduct for Buddhists. There are five basic precepts in Buddhism, refraining from killing, refraining from robbery, refraining from sex, refraining from liquor and refraining from lies. The precepts have been developed into precepts in practicing martial arts in the particular environment of Shaolin Temple and when shown in the practitioners, these precepts can also be called their ethics in practicing martial arts. These precepts have also directly affected the technical style of Shaolin Kungfu. Monks in Shaolin temple practice martial arts only for self defense rather than offense. Therefore Shaolin Kungfu shows features of self-restraint and modesty from time to time. Its movements do not require large space and are restrained, stressing on internal strength; the movements are brief but strong and capable of winning by striking only after the opponents have struck.

If you're looking for a Shaolin kung fu schools in China that teaches traditional Chinese martial arts and embraces Chinese culture.Taizu Shaolin Kung Fu school chinais the best choice.  Taizu Shaolin Kungfu School china, located in Handan City (China ancient capital,Birthplace of Taichi,Cultural city ,Martial arts village). The school is an institute for the teaching and promotion of traditional Shaolin Kung Fu and Chinese Martial Arts in China.

• 1. Simply click on the book now button (to the Below) and fill in a quick application form.

•  2. We will contact you to confirm your booking and training your dates.

•  3. Come to the school and start your training

•  4. Get in fantastic shape & have an amazing experience!

Book Your Place Now

Come & Join Us and Learn Shaolin Kung Fu! Free & Easy Application. Fast Response.