Showing posts with label Kung Fu. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kung Fu. Show all posts

Friday, 8 August 2014

A Brief History of Shaolin Temple, Home of Zen Buddhism and Kung Fu

Monk Buddhabhadra (Ba Tuo) Builds Shaolin Temple on Mt. Song:

It is said that a Buddhist monk from India named Buddhabhadra, or Ba Tuo in Chinese, came to China during Emperor Xiaowen’s reign during the Northern Wei Dynasty period in 495AD. The emperor liked Buddhabhadra and offered to support him in teaching Buddhism at court. Buddhabhadra declined and was given land to build a temple on Mt. Song. There he built Shaolin, which translates into small forest.




Zen Buddhism Comes to Shaolin Temple:

Thirty years after Shaolin was founded, another Buddhist monk called Bodhidharma from India came to China to teach Yogic concentration, known commonly today by the Japanese term “Zen” Buddhism. He traveled throughout China and finally came to Mt. Song where he found Shaolin Temple where he asked to be admitted.

A Monk Meditates for Nine Years:


The abbot, Fang Chang, refused and it is said Bodhidharma climbed high into the mountains to a cave where he meditated for nine years. It is believed that he sat, facing the cave wall for much of these nine years so that his shadow became permanently outlined on the cave wall. (Incidentally, the cave is now a sacred place and the shadow imprint has been removed from the cave and moved to the temple compound where you can view it during your visit. It is quite remarkable.)After nine years, Fang Chang finally granted Bodhidharma entrance to Shaolin where he became the First Patriarch of Zen Buddhism.



The Origins of Shaolin Martial Arts or Kung Fu:

Supposedly Bodhidharma exercised in the cave to keep fit and when he entered Shaolin Temple, found that the monks there were not very fit. He developed a set of exercises that later became the foundation for the specialized interpretation of martial arts at Shaolin. Martial arts were already widespread in China and many of the monks were retired soldiers. Thus existing martial arts exercises were combined with Bodhidharma’s teachings to create the Shaolin version of Kung Fu.

Warrior Monks:

Originally used as exercise to keep fit, the Kung Fu eventually had to be used against attacking assailants after the monastery’s assets. Shaolin eventually became famous for its warrior monks who were masterful in their practice of Kung Fu. Being Buddhist monks, however, they were bound by a set of principles called martial ethics, wude, that includes prohibitions such as “do not betray your teacher” and “do not fight for frivolous reasons” as well as eight “hit” and “do not hit” zones to ensure the opponent will not be too seriously injured.

Buddhism Banned:

Not long after Boddhidharma entered Shaolin, Emperor Wudi banned Buddhism in 574AD and Shaolin was destroyed. Later, under Emperor Jingwen in the Northern Zhou Dynasty Buddhism was revived and Shaolin rebuilt and restored.

Shaolin’s Golden Era: Warrior Monks Save Tang Dynasty Emperor:

During turmoil early in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), thirteen warrior monks helped the Tang emperor rescue his son, Li Shimin, from an army aiming to overthrow the Tang. In recognition of their help, Li Shimin, once emperor, named Shaolin the “Supreme Temple” in all of China and fostered learning, teaching and exchange between the imperial court and armies and the Shaolin monks. Over the next few centuries until Ming loyalists used Shaolin as a refuge, Shaolin Temple and its style of martial arts enjoyed a flourishing of development and advancement.

The Decline of Shaolin:

As a haven for Ming loyalists, Qing rulers finally destroyed Shaolin Temple, burning it to the ground and destroying many of its treasures and sacred texts in the process. Shaolin Kung Fu was outlawed and the monks and followers, those who lived, were dispersed through China and to other, lesser, temples following Shaolin teachings. Shaolin was allowed to reopen again about one hundred years later but rulers were still distrustful of Shaolin Kung Fu and the power it gave its followers. It was burned and rebuilt several times over the following centuries.

Present-day Shaolin Temple:

Today, Shaolin Temple is a practicing Buddhist temple where adaptations on the original Shaolin Kung Fu are taught. According to some sources, the original Shaolin Kung Fu was too powerful so was replaced by Wu Shu, a less aggressive form of martial arts. Whatever is practiced today, it is still a place of dedication and learning, as can be seen by the hundreds of youngsters practicing outside on a given morning. There are now over eighty Kung Fu schools around Mt. Song in Dengfeng where thousands of Chinese children are sent to study, as young as age five. Shaolin Temple and its teachings remain impressive.



Sources:

  • Origins of Shaolin Kung Fu, published by Aisapac Books PTE Ltd.

  • Shaolin SStu (Temple) History from http://ift.tt/1eR1DDY.






The post A Brief History of Shaolin Temple, Home of Zen Buddhism and Kung Fu appeared first on Robert JR Graham.


Wednesday, 30 July 2014

The Freedom of a Spider

Lessons In Freedom



In the first episode of the second season of Kung Fu, there exists a dialog between a young Kwai Chang Caine and one of his instructors, Master Po which I think teaches an important lesson in freedom and what it means. I think there are a number of people in the Free Software community who are in desperate need of learning this particular lesson.



Master Po: What have you found?


Young Kwai Chang Caine: A spider, master. It has trapped the fly. Should I destroy his web?


Master Po: Why?


Young Kwai Chang Caine: So that it will not make a prison for other living things that were free.


Master Po: Look more closely, grasshopper. Were you to destroy this web, would not the spider, knowing no other way, build another?


Young Kwai Chang Caine: Yes, but I cannot kill the spider.


Master Po: Look more closely still. Is not the spider also trapped by its own web?


Young Kwai Chang Caine: Yes, but if I do nothing, it will capture more living things, make them prisoner, and kill them.


Master Po: You are concerned, then, with the fly to which nature has given wings so that it might move around freely?


Young Kwai Chang Caine: It is cruel to see it made a prisoner.


Master Po: Ha ha ha. Still you do not see. Which is truly the prisoner? The fly, which, moving freely enters unknown danger? Or the spider, which, having spun its web, remains, never knowing the pleasure or the danger of the fly?


Source





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David Carradine as Kwai Chang Caine

David Carradine as Kwai Chang Caine (Photo credit: Wikipedia)




Thursday, 15 May 2014

The Freedom of a Spider

Lessons In Freedom



AKungFu 300x184 The Freedom of a Spider In the first episode of the second season of Kung Fu, there exists a dialog between a young Kwai Chang Caine and one of his instructors, Master Po which I think teaches an important lesson in freedom and what it means. I think there are a number of people in the Free Software community who are in desperate need of learning this particular lesson.



Master Po: What have you found?


Young Kwai Chang Caine: A spider, master. It has trapped the fly. Should I destroy his web?


Master Po: Why?


Young Kwai Chang Caine: So that it will not make a prison for other living things that were free.


Master Po: Look more closely, grasshopper. Were you to destroy this web, would not the spider, knowing no other way, build another?


Young Kwai Chang Caine: Yes, but I cannot kill the spider.


Master Po: Look more closely still. Is not the spider also trapped by its own web?


Young Kwai Chang Caine: Yes, but if I do nothing, it will capture more living things, make them prisoner, and kill them.


Master Po: You are concerned, then, with the fly to which nature has given wings so that it might move around freely?


Young Kwai Chang Caine: It is cruel to see it made a prisoner.


Master Po: Ha ha ha. Still you do not see. Which is truly the prisoner? The fly, which, moving freely enters unknown danger? Or the spider, which, having spun its web, remains, never knowing the pleasure or the danger of the fly?


Source





 The Freedom of a Spider
David Carradine as Caine in Kung Fu The Freedom of a Spider

David Carradine as Kwai Chang Caine (Photo credit: Wikipedia)







Monday, 12 May 2014

Military Martial Arts System

Advanced Military Technology In The Martial Arts

by: Peter Sundbye


Martialarm Martial Arts System


Martial Arts 300x199 Military Martial Arts System Martialarm Martial Arts Kung Fu is a total control system incorporating scientific body weapons with unconditional workability in both attacks and defense. Formula Fighting allows a pre-emptive attack and defense – a much faster system of fighting than the conventional ‘reaction response’ defenses. Formula fighting correctly applied transcends current martial arts technology to evolve into a martial science so to set new standards.


# The system includes:

# Smart error concepts and selective targeting

# Pressure points and internal shock strikes

# Multi-functional and military applications

# Broken Rhythm or plyometric applications

# Chi-Sau and automatic reflex systems

# Stealth weapons and clasifications

# One arm combat strategies

# Fire and forget formulas

# Inertia breaking

# Delivery zones

# and more


Martial Arts Modern Warfare


Chinese combat methods especially are renowned for the wide variety of their hand techniques. Most Kung-Fu styles use a wider range of hand/arm weapons (such as claws, gouges, palms, backhands, punches, backfists, hammerfists, forearm, elbows and shoulder strikes) than their Japanese, Okinawan and Korean counter­parts.


In addition to the actual number of natural body weapons used there is also a tremendous range of different applic­ations due to the regionalised develop­ment of Kung Fu styles and the different approaches taken by hard or internal/external styles.


In this analogy, the legs are used as the body’s heavy artillery, while the hands are the body’s infantry. In a military en­counter, it is common to use first satelite technology to view the opponents attack and defense cababilities and then use long distance stealth artillery to soften up the enemy and to provide a moving cover behind which the infantry can advance to seize and hold disputed territory. Without the benefit of the artill­ery, the infantry would take heavy casual­ties.


However, artillery on its own cannot seize and hold territory – a major bom­bardment may drive the enemy out. So it is with arm and leg techniques – we often use our legs to soften up the opponent and to enable us to bridge the gap until we can close in and finish the fight with hand/arm techniques and the proper use and co-ordination of hand/arm and leg techniques is often crucial to success/ survival.


We espouse a combina­tion approach which uses hand/leg attacks from different angles of attack and at various target levels. The concept is to keep a flow of offensive techniques moving into an opponent’s target zones from different angles and at different levels, in order to disorientate him/her completely. We believe that this approach is superior tac­tically to reliance upon one or two heavily committed techniques.


Martialarm Scientific Training For Speed


#1. Beginning of action


a. You must start in a positive delivery zone otherwise a negative zone can either injure your body parts or work against the intended action and become counter productive. (Newtons 1st law of motion)


b. Create an inertia breaker, a movement that will help you overcome the inertia (resistence to motion due to gravity and friction).


#2. Middle of action (Newtons 2nd Law)


a. After the inertia breaker you must continue the acceleration with a Booster. (Like a booster rocket, an extra aid, a second stager)


b. All body parts eg arms and legs, in any move be it a punch, block or kick, must always end up in a bent elbow or knee movement to enable a very quick change in any direction at any time.


#3. End of action


NOTE: ‘End’ of action should not be taken literally as one should never really stop action until the job is done. Our ‘end action’ should be programmed to an interuppted continuity as if this stage is still the middle stage.


Martialarm Martial Developement of Power


Most Chinese styles use a relaxed approach to power development. We try to keep unnecessary muscles from being involved in the technique, in order to avoid inhibiting the prime movers behind a certain technique from doing their job. Essentially, a straight punch is a triceps-driven technique and the Chinese style of punching allows the triceps to do its job without the inhibition of significant biceps involvement in this punch.


Most other techniques can be viewed in a similar fashion – you have muscles which are vital to the effective execution of a technique and muscles which are not, or which are even counter-productive when involved in that technique. No matter which martial arts style you do, try to avoid unnecessary muscle involvement.


Many Chinese styles use more “follow-through” in their techniques and achieve their power by driving the entire body weight through a target zone at speed. The arm is totally relaxed until contact is made and the body is still driv­ing deeper into the target when focus is brought to the technique using a trigger.


The body has more inertia to overcome before it can move with the descending line of force and, as a result, the power is more completely absorbed by the body­rather than being partially dissipated by the body moving more freely with the punch, as with a horizontal line of force.


Martialarm Martial Arts Weapons


The Martialarm System uses quite a large array of natural body weapons, some of them fairly specialised. The main ones are:


• Fist Strikes. (Sun Fist, Dragon Head, Phoenix Eye and Leopard Paw)

• Palm Strikes. (Tile Shattering, Yin/Yang, Wil­low Leaf and Hurricane Palm).

• Finger Strikes. (Flying Fingers, Immortal Pointing the Way, Twin Dragons, Tiger Claw, Eagle Claw, Dragon Claw, Rat Claw and Crab Claw).

• Back Fist Strike. (These tend to be follow­through rather than the ‘snap’ versions).

• Bottom Fist Strike. (Iron Hammer equates to the Japanese tettsui technique).

• Forearm Strikes. (This is used for smashing, sweeping blows of great power).

• Elbow Strikes. (This is generally used in a very flexible manner using multiple strikes).

• Shoulder Strikes. (Used for close-in work, of­ten to propel an opponent out into punch­ing range).


As you can see, there is an emphasis on tightly targetted use of a specialised hand formation in many cases. It is not enough merely to lash out in the hopes of an effective strike. In a ring situation, the “when in doubt, lash out” tactic may gain you points, but in the street it will be ineffective, unless you are lucky enough to impact on a vital point. A precise, surgi­cal strike or kick into one of your opponent’s vital or weak targets is needed and your combinations should be struc­tured with this in mind.


Martialarm System Technological Achievements


1. Revolutionised Martial Arts thinking and design of “Formula Fighting” or “Martial Arts by Numbers” that allows pre-emptive attack – a much faster system than the conventional “Reactionary Response” to attack.


2. Development and pioneered Martial Science – a system which enables practitioner of all styles to evaluate and modify current technologies to improve efficiency and allow comparisons with proof of technologies, concepts and technologies.


3. Developed the following technologies -


a. Sightless combat

b. Smart weapons systems

c. Stealth weapons systems

d. Fire-and-forget systems

e. Broken rhythm energy

f. Plyometrics applications

g. U.F.O. motions

h. Counter error programs

i. Convert errors into attack

j. Selective automatic targetting


The Three Cs – Capability – Control – Confidence


Certainty in containing the opponent by a huge technological edge and a super tough body and mind.


1. Capabilities – Current martial arts technologies have been transcended by total control in that it is a martial science based on failproof concepts.


2. Control – Allows total control of the opponents capabilities making him defensively impotent. Multi functional applications in everyday life as well as in self defense.


3. Confidence – The small, the unco-ordinated, the disabled and also the best and brightest will gain in self belief through this training.


Martialarm Martial Science Offers


Attack systems that cant be blocked. A shield that cant be breached. Body toughening, Formula fighting, Stealth and U.F.O weapons including the Nukes. Mind freeze technology that shuts the opponent down. 3Cs Capabilities and Control bring about Confidence.


Martialarm Martial Science Concepts


1. Traditional Martial Arts – Animal styles or based on kata and ritualised.


2. Acclectic Martial Arts – Collection of what works for the individual into a new style.


3. Designer Martial Arts – Only the usable of conscious mind, scientific and repeatable.


The Martialarm Combat Training Partner


In a martial arts career you can occationally find your self with no school to go to or no one to train with and so out of neccessity the martialarm solo training partner was born. The Martialarm is a Martial Arts training machine used to develop the entry and trapping skills of any martial arts system. It is designed to actually test any techniques so to improve the ability to trap and control your opponents hands and arms. This can be done because the Martialarm moves and reacts like a real opponent. The Martialarm moves and twists up, down, left and right just like a real opponent would – so it can spring forward and it does strike back!.


About The Author


This article was written by P. Sundbye who has been training in various martialarts for the last 11 years including Wing Chun Kung Fu, Aikido, Tong Long and the Lee Total Control system.


For more information and martial arts news visit:


http://ift.tt/Pu8vCw








Saturday, 10 May 2014

The History of Kung Fu

AMAZING Kung Fu Martial Arts HISTORY

by: Peter Sundbye


kungFu 1670284c 300x187 The 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.


Source