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Eighteen Types of Shaolin Martial Arts |
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Eighteen Types of Shaolin Martial Arts |
Shaolin
kung fu didn't come into being until the monks began
boxing. It is said that there were only 18 movements,
known as the "Eighteen Routines of Luohan
Boxing," which were followed by Shaolin kung fu using
weapons, such as cudgels. During the Five Dynasties and
Ten States (907-965), Fu Ju, abbot of Shaolin Temple,
invited experts from 18 martial arts schools to Shaolin
for an exchange of skills. They remained for three years
and ultimately edited the Shaolin Boxing Manual.
During the Jin (1115-1234) and Yuan (1279-1227)
dynasties, experts Bai Yufeng and Li Sou also came to
Shaolin to exchange skills. Subsequently, more than 70
routines of Shaolin were created on the basis of the 18
routines of Luohan Boxing, along with the
imitative boxing of five animals, including the dragon,
leopard, snake, tiger, and crane.
The practice of Shaolin boxing is not subject to the
size of the arena; it can give play to its power within
a few paces. "Room enough for an ox to lie down will
suffice." All movements - up and down, forward and
backward, withdrawing and advancing and sidestepping -
proceed along a straight line. Hand movement should be
neither entirely crooked, nor entirely straight, but
must be flexible. When attacking, the fists must produce
whirling, elastic power. The eyes should be fixed on the
enemy, observing his intentions. The body should be
pliant and well balanced. In footwork, maintain a low
posture in advance and high posture in retreat. When
kicking out, the foot should be as light as a feather or
as heavy as Taishan Mountain.
In fact, Shaolin boxing accentuates soft tactics,
combining both "hard" and "soft." "In defense, like a
virgin; in attack, like a tiger." It makes good use of
the enemy's own strength to fight back. Every movement
contains either an attack, defense, or both. Feinting or
for real, it constantly changes and is highly
unpredictable.
Genuine Shaolin boxing includes both internal and
external exercises. The basic elements of Shaolin boxing
involve the hand, eye, body, and foot. It requires the
collaboration of the shoulder-and-thigh, the
elbow-and-knee, the hand-and-foot, the heart-and-mind,
the mind-and-qi (breath), and the qi-and-strength.
Broadsword, reputed as being "powerful as a tiger," is
one of the most famous of the 18 types of Shaolin
weapons. The strength is maintained in the arms and sent
while attacking. The broadsword varies in shape; and it
can be used singly or doubly.
The Shaolin spear is known as the "king of all weapons."
When feinting with an enemy, the monk is able to send
his strength straight through to the spear tip. |
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