Shaolin kung fu is a generic term that refers to a number of different types of kung fu that all trace their origins back to the famed Shaolin temple. The style is generally considered to have external characteristics, which emphasize physical power, speed, agility, and athleticism.
Bodhidharma-the Indian Buddhist monk sometimes known as Da Mo-is thought to have been responsible lor the introduction of yogic exercises at the Shaolin temple. Although disputed, it is claimed that these exercises eventually became what is now known as kung fu. Experts can be certain, however, that a monk named Da Mo did reside at the temple and became the Temple Master between 512 and 527 CE, and that he introduced an exercise regime known as "18 lohan hands."
It was during the first millennium CE that the Shaolin monks began to earn themselves a fearsome reputation due to their prowess in fighting. Records show that in 621 CE, for example, they played a decisive role in the defeat of Wang Shi Chong at the battle of Hulao but, although records at the temple do show that the monks engaged in actual combat during that period, there is no recorded evidence to show that their daily training regime included martial-arts practice.
Bodhidharma arrived in China from India to spread Zen Buddhism throughout the country. After visiting Emperor Wu-ti, who had supported Buddhism and was anxious to discuss its guiding principles, Bodhidharma traveled to, and settled in, the Shaolin temple of Song Shan in Henan province. He felt that the monks there lacked sufficient stamina to meditate properly or defend themselves from the roving bandits in the area, so he taught them the "18 lohan hands", a system of dynamic tension exercises that was eventually published in 550 CE as the Yijinjing.
Two main variations of Shaolin kung fu exist, known as "northern-style boxing" and "southern-style boxing." The former uses a combination of hand and foot techniques, while the latter focuses on hand-based techniques. Both utilize strengths and weaknesses of bone, muscle, sinew, and the mind, to create the best-known of all the Chinese martial-arts systems.
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Chinese Martial Art
Since the 1970s, when the brilliant Chinese movie star Bruce Lee made five wonderful films, the Chinese style martial art films have broke into the worldwide market and some of them became very famous. Consequently, the foreign people who have never actually been to China might get the superhuman concept of Chinese people from the Chinese swordsmen films or from their misunderstandings of Chinese martial art, kungfu.
Kungfu is the traditional Chinese style martial art which has appeared over a thousand years. It requires long-term training follows some specific guidelines. Originally, kungfu is designed for practice and self-defense.
By the time of the period of disunion, China was divided and the living condition was terrible because of the frequent wars. Therefore, some monks who lived on a mountain to avoid wars had to learn kungfu to protect themselves. That is the origin of Shaolin monks and Shaolin temple.
In some people's opinion, kungfu are the fighting skills intend to defeat the antagonist, and there are no differences between individual kungfu styles. Actually, it is no true. Kungfu can be grouped to two major styles: external martial arts and internal martial arts.
External martial arts kungfu concentrates on the strength and power. Shaolin kungfu is their representative. Shaolin kungfu has seventy two kungfu forms, called seventy two Shaolin arts, which include special categories of bare-hand, with weapon, qinggong, and breathing skills. Therefore, the name of external martial arts may come from its purpose: to increase the human body's hardness. For the Shaolin monks, kungfu is not only a fighting technique but also a religious requirement, because they believe that better health can provides them better brain and purer soul for meditation.
Internal martial arts have three characteristics. First, they require in-depth understanding of the leverage in the human body. Differ with external martial arts; it doesn't hurt the antagonist with direct force. That is why internal martial arts are also called soft style arts. Second, they concentrate to the use and the process of qi, which means the specific breathing skills. I think this may be the reason why they are called internal martial art. Third, the way they represent the usage of daoyin and qigong.
From the above contents, we can tell that Chinese martial art is misunderstood in some level. First, kungfu's major purpose is not for fighting and it can benefit on emotional improvement. Second, no matter which style of kungfu, they both require long-term training. If you want to defeat an annoying guy immediately, please make a scary face.
Click to find more about Self Martial Arts Training.
Click to find more about Kung Fu Training Guide.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lee_Baby
Kungfu is the traditional Chinese style martial art which has appeared over a thousand years. It requires long-term training follows some specific guidelines. Originally, kungfu is designed for practice and self-defense.
By the time of the period of disunion, China was divided and the living condition was terrible because of the frequent wars. Therefore, some monks who lived on a mountain to avoid wars had to learn kungfu to protect themselves. That is the origin of Shaolin monks and Shaolin temple.
In some people's opinion, kungfu are the fighting skills intend to defeat the antagonist, and there are no differences between individual kungfu styles. Actually, it is no true. Kungfu can be grouped to two major styles: external martial arts and internal martial arts.
External martial arts kungfu concentrates on the strength and power. Shaolin kungfu is their representative. Shaolin kungfu has seventy two kungfu forms, called seventy two Shaolin arts, which include special categories of bare-hand, with weapon, qinggong, and breathing skills. Therefore, the name of external martial arts may come from its purpose: to increase the human body's hardness. For the Shaolin monks, kungfu is not only a fighting technique but also a religious requirement, because they believe that better health can provides them better brain and purer soul for meditation.
Internal martial arts have three characteristics. First, they require in-depth understanding of the leverage in the human body. Differ with external martial arts; it doesn't hurt the antagonist with direct force. That is why internal martial arts are also called soft style arts. Second, they concentrate to the use and the process of qi, which means the specific breathing skills. I think this may be the reason why they are called internal martial art. Third, the way they represent the usage of daoyin and qigong.
From the above contents, we can tell that Chinese martial art is misunderstood in some level. First, kungfu's major purpose is not for fighting and it can benefit on emotional improvement. Second, no matter which style of kungfu, they both require long-term training. If you want to defeat an annoying guy immediately, please make a scary face.
Click to find more about Self Martial Arts Training.
Click to find more about Kung Fu Training Guide.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lee_Baby
Martial Arts For Health
True natural martial arts movement may be different than most people think or even know about. For hundreds of years martial arts were used not only as a means of self-defense but also to rejuvenate the body with forms and movements.
Martial arts for health is about the various health benefits you may encounter from doing one of the many fighting arts or taking up activities normally associated with the arts. Training in the martial arts and fighting sports does give you potential benefits - physical as well as mental.
Some aspects of martial arts for health are easier to verify than others. Anything that happens on a physical level is easier to test and document. On the other hand, psychological and mental phenomenon is much harder to evaluate and back up with "hard science and facts".
Does this mean that we should say it isn't "real" or "true" simply because we cannot test and document the mental and psychological benefits of the fighting arts like we can with physiology and anatomy, blood-levels, heart-rate, lung capacity, mobility, strength and so on. I for one think we should be aware that these "non-physical" benefits are real for those who experience them! But at the same time, let us not forget that they also are more subjective by nature.
Practicing martial arts will do you good. Martial arts for health are about the whole person, not "just" the physical body! You can have a try and you will see the good result after a period of practice.
Click to find more about Mixed Martial Arts Training Guide
Click to find more about Self Martial Arts Training
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lee_Baby
Martial arts for health is about the various health benefits you may encounter from doing one of the many fighting arts or taking up activities normally associated with the arts. Training in the martial arts and fighting sports does give you potential benefits - physical as well as mental.
Some aspects of martial arts for health are easier to verify than others. Anything that happens on a physical level is easier to test and document. On the other hand, psychological and mental phenomenon is much harder to evaluate and back up with "hard science and facts".
Does this mean that we should say it isn't "real" or "true" simply because we cannot test and document the mental and psychological benefits of the fighting arts like we can with physiology and anatomy, blood-levels, heart-rate, lung capacity, mobility, strength and so on. I for one think we should be aware that these "non-physical" benefits are real for those who experience them! But at the same time, let us not forget that they also are more subjective by nature.
Practicing martial arts will do you good. Martial arts for health are about the whole person, not "just" the physical body! You can have a try and you will see the good result after a period of practice.
Click to find more about Mixed Martial Arts Training Guide
Click to find more about Self Martial Arts Training
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lee_Baby
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