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Shaolin Quan |
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Shaolin Boxing. An Indian monk named "Bada" or "Ba
Tuo" founded Shaolin Si, (Little Forrest Temple.) in the Song
Mountains of Henan Province in 495. Known as "the leading temple
on earth" it is also the birthplace of Chan Buddhism (or Zen, as
it is known in Japan).
No one knows why the monks began to practice Wushu and Qigong, but
many Wushu Masters took their knowledge into the Temple where it
developed into the various styles of Shaolin Quan. At different
times in it's long history Shaolin Temple has been seen as the friend
of different Emperors, for aiding China against Japanese pirates
along the east coast to warlords fighting for control of various
regions, and has been rewarded with land and titles (including being
given the right to eat meat and drink alcohol by the first Emperor
of the Tang Dynasty, "Taizong".) It has also been seen as a threat
by some Emperors, due to the Temples wealth and army of fighting
monks and has been destroyed several times. The last time in 1927
when it was bombed by rival warlords fighting in the area.
Sometimes Wushu was forbidden to be practiced, which only succeeded
in driving it underground. Prior to the Revolution of 1911, Shaolin
martial arts developed greatly with many Wushu Associations forming
all over China, most training in Shaolin Quan.
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These secret Societies helped develop the style further
and played a great part in the overthrow of the "Manchu's". Shaolin
Quan today has developed into an enormous fighting system. Incorperating
internal, external, soft, hard, animal mimicry, and the orthordox
Luohan styles. It is now one of the most complex and diverse fighting
systems in the world.
Shaolin Quan develops the body, mind and raises the spirit. A typical
Shaolin Quan class will involve a warm-up routine including stretching,
various kicks and punching routines and then move on to form and
two person routines to practice movements learned. |
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