Shaolin Temple teaches about a dozen or so different varieties of kung fu related wushu, among them a discipline that is akin to what is called kickboxing today (the term "kickboxing" was invented by a Japanese martial arts promoter of recent times). However, sanshou – or sanda as the discipline is called in China today – can best be described as "free fighting", which, although it may seem to imply "anything goes", has a number of restrictions as well as being composed of a number of fixed elements. In fact, sanda is taught together with taolu ("forms"), the latter of which refers to a series of specific movements, depending on the attacker's approach, designed to repulse the attack and then to overpower the attacker.
Category: Chinese customs
Modern Development of Shaolin Kung Fu
During the reign (1722-1735) of Emperor Yongzheng of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the practice of all forms of martial arts was forbidden. Shaolin Temple, however, is said to have continued the practice of wushu in secret, and even helped to organize the continued teaching and practice of wushu throughout the country. In any case, after the fall of China's last Imperial dynasty, wushu blossomed, and Shaolin Temple could again openly teach it (banning an activity, paradoxically, seems to be one of the best ways to spark interest in it, as the prohibition of alcoholic beverages in the US from 1919-1933 proved!). Martial arts was again banned during China's Cultural Revolution (1966-76), but quickly bounced back afterward.
How Shaolin Kung Fu Became Famous in the West?
Kung Fu martial arts became famous worldwide (shown everywhere that syndicated US TV shows were broadcast), after the US television series of the same name, starring the US actor, David Carradine, was launched. The TV series was set in the US' Old West, a place characterized by the most un-subtle displays of power (think of a free-for-all bar fight in a typical western movie), while David Carradine, in the role of the Shaolin monk, Kwai Chang Caine, was the epitome of a polite, unassuming (read: subtle) figure who, as a master of kung fu, was also capable of amazing, mind over matter power displays, but resorted to this only when there was no alternative (there is perhaps a large measure of truth in portraying the Old West in the US as the "Wild West").
Shaolin Kung Fu
Shaolin Kung Fu is only one of several types of Chinese Kung Fu, or "hard-won achievement", "martial arts". It is only one among many such martial arts that claim association with Shaolin Temple, the now famous Chan ("Zen", in Japanese) Buddhist temple located near the city of Zhengzhou, in China's Henan Province.
Qigong Methods
You can find dozens of different techniques and routines of qigong. Some are as simple as controlling breathing and meditation or doing small repetitive motions with the body.
Longevity in qing
It may surprise you, but qigong routines are thought to not only improve health and cure diseases, but to extend the life span. In a way, this logically follows from the idea of qigong, since if people can continuously cure their diseases or bodily injuries by qigong, they’ll not die.
A Type of Common Medicinal Practice
Qigong is actually a type of Chinese medicinal practice. Qigong exercise is an internal exercise routine to move the qi around in the body and learn to control the qi.
Basic Ideas of Qigong
It is thought that the qi circulates and enlivens the body and that one can train to move the qi in the body and move the qi outside too.
Many Kinds of Qigong
There are hundreds of varieties of qigong exercise. Hundreds of techniques have been developed in East Asian countries, and many new modern forms are developing.
Qigong
It is said that a healthy body has ample and free flowing “qi” with the appropriate amount and quality of qi at each part of the body and each organ. It is thought that qi is the energy flowing throughout the Universe.
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