Da Mo
Shaolin 'Young Forest' Kung Fu was inspired by the arrival in 527 CE of Bodhidharma aka 'Da Mo' at the Shaolin Monastery in Henan, Northern China. Da Mo was 28th Buddhist Patriarch and Founder (and 1st Patriarch) of the School of Chan Buddhism referred to today as 'Shaolin Chan'.
Bodhidharma was also a Great Master of Internal Arts! His 12-year sojourn at Shaolin-Si (The Shaolin Temple) revitalised, invigorated and raised Martial Arts there to unprecedented levels of excellence. The Temple became a repository of Martial expertise, knowledge and skill that continues to evolve and develop today.
Northern China
Northern China, mountainous, with rocky, irregular terrain, is China's classical 'heartland'. Civilisation spread from here to the flat Southern plains and its inhabitants are taller and longer-limbed than their Southern counterparts, with average heights approximating those of the West. 'An inch longer, an inch stronger!' runs the Shaolin 'Longfist' maxim. Many authorities consider Changchuan the ideal Chinese Martial Arts Style for Westerners to learn, considering their tall bodies and long-reach.
Southern Styles, like Wing Chun, specifically designed for smaller individuals, inevitably have a shorter reach. Changchuan (Longfist) Kung Fu evolved on ancient 10th Century CE Chinese battlefields, through the genius of Tai Jo (Supreme Founder) General Zhou Kuang-Yin, later Emperor Taizu, who established the Sung Dynasty (960-1279 CE) becoming China's second Shaolin-trained Emperor. Its battlefield origins and long-range striking capabilities make Changchuan/Longfist the most powerful Kung Fu style.
Northern China's rocky mountainous nature meant Longfist practitioners needed mobility, agility, deft footwork plus jumping and leaping ability, to fight effectively on its sloping obstacle strewn terrain, hence Longfist's emphasis on kicking techniques. Shorter Southern Styles, designed for the flat Plains, involve less motion, deeper stances and focus on hand technique: 'Nan Chuan: Bei Tui' (Southern Fists and Northern Feet) runs the Kung Fu adage.
Hard Work
Kung Fu translates as 'time and effort' and 'hard work', reflecting the dedication, concentration and commitment needed before Kung Fu training's benefits become apparent.
These include: i. the ability to defend one's self;
ii. improved health, strength and fitness;
iii. increased will-power and endurance;
iv. expansion of mind and consciousness;
v. increased self-awareness and abilities to harness internal energies, or Qi.
A programme of External and Internal Longfist Kung Fu empowers such developments. Westerners are usually most deficient in the latter. The stresses and worries of modern life cause Qi-flow through their bodies' meridians and pathways to be weak and irregular. Internal Training stabilises, regulates and strengthens this via Qigong ('strong Qi') exercises. These involve breath-control, meditation and internal organ-training routines known only to certain Schools of Chinese Martial Arts.
The Northern Shaolin School's most potent original 'Classic' examples of these were amongst revolutionary changes to Shaolin Monk Martial Training made by Bodidharma (Da Mo) almost 1500 years ago. The Monks' health, strength, fitness, endurance, Martial Arts performance levels and longevity all increased substantially as a consequence. Still taught in Kung Fu Classes today, such exercises will do the same for you, over time.
Sifu Peter Allsop M.Ed. teaches Shaolin Kung Fu and Qigong in Yorkshire and Derbyshire U.K. With almost 40 years experience he is Shaolin Fists International Area Instructor for this region and Senior Student of Grandmaster Yap Leong.
Trained in the U.K. and China, Peter teaches Changquan ('Longfist') Wu Xing (5 Animals), Wu Tzu (5 Ancestors) Kung Fu and 5 Elements Qigong. Sheffield Chinese Lion Dance Team Member, he also publishes 'Red Dragon Martial Arts Ezine'.
Access fee resources at: http://www.sheffieldkungfu.com/
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