China has had a long tradition of developing fighting styles; many believe that most of the fighting systems today stem from the teachings of Bodhidharma (Ta Mo). The historical details cannot be precise on when he made his pilgrimage to the Shaolin Temple, but it was probably around the 6th century, where he taught a series of exercises to the monks there, that would today be the basis of modern day Kung Fu.
The Orginal Chinese Martial Arts
Through the examination of records that have survived, it is evident that Emperor Hunag Ti was proficient and in a basic fighting system called Chiou Ti, that finds it’s roots around 2,674 BCE. This system eventually evolved into Shuai Chiao, which resembles modern Judo with its quick throws, joint locks and manipulation, which also incorporates elbow and knees strikes like Muay Tai.
These early systems were implemented to improve the fighting skills of soldiers who spent most of their lives in the Chinese army. Those surviving their service retired and usually found their way to a monastery where they continued training their techniques to remain healthy. Confucius stated, around 600 BC, that the martial arts should be incorporated in everyday life and his peer Lao Tzu, concieved a philosophical system call Taoism. Through out the ages these teachings of both men were handed down and have become interlaced within the martial arts of China and spread later onto neighboring countries. While this can be looked upon as the predecessor of Chinese martial arts, for the most part, modern day kung fu’s seed was planted by a Buddhist monk from India known as Bodhidharma (or Ta Mo), who arrived at the Shaolin Monastery around 527 BCE. (to be continued)
The year is thought to be 495a.d. The exercises were Muscle/Tendon Changing Classic, Bone/Brain Changing Classic and 18 Louhan Hands. Chiao Ti/Shuai Jiao is the oldest Kung fu system known in China. Soldiers in ancient times did one of five main northern Kung fu/Wu shu, systems 1.Hua quan, 2. Cha quan, 3. Fah quan, 4. Hong quan (not Hung gar), 5. Pao quan, these profound Kung fu systems were combined together to create The Northern Shao-lin Gate System. Where only the best and most effective techniques were selected from the five main warrior systems. This, then is the the system that made Shao-lin Temple famous. Unfortunately the “complete system” in modern times is almost a lost one…., Many Kung fu people do not know, ‘ALL” Long Fist styles in modern times comes from one of these classical systems. After the second burning of the Temple many different styles sprang up, at this point many using the name Shao-lin Kung fu. But there is only one true system, that comes to us from ancient times (Louhan quan and Northern Shao-lin Gate System), as all other warrior systems have died out and/or have evolved into a sport styles. Only the Cha/Zha fist system and “The Great Northern Shao-lin System” have passed the test of time and have made it into modern times. (as you may know, I teach the Northern Shao-Lin Gate System, 10 forms + the masters set, 18-deadly hands & Classical Louhan Quan.)
On 21 July 1553, 120 warrior monks led by the Shaolin monk Tianyuan defeated a group of pirates and chased the survivors over ten days and twenty miles.
During the short period of the Sui dynasty (581–618), the building blocks of Shaolin kung fu took an official form, and Shaolin monks began to create fighting systems of their own. The 18 methods of Luohan with a strong Buddhist flavour were practiced by Shaolin monks since this time, which was later used to create more advanced Shaolin martial arts. Shaolin monks had developed very powerful martial skills, and this showed itself until the end of the Sui dynasty.