What is Shaolin Kung Fu?
Among the most highly regarded and influential of all Kung Fu styles are those developed at the Shaolin Temple, the birthplace of Zen (Chán). Around 1500 years ago Bodhidharma (Damo), a Buddhist monk from southern India, came to the temple, where he introduced methods of internal development to help improve the health of the monks. It is said that these methods combined with martial exercises already in practice at the temple and came to produce what is now known as Shaolin Kung Fu. Legend also states that in time another Shaolin Temple was built in the south of China, and there other Shaolin styles were later developed.
Styles We Teach
We teach two styles of Shaolin Kung Fu: Northern Shaolin Chang Chuan (Longfist) and Southern Shaolin Hong Chuan (Hong Fist, or Hong Clan Fist). Students of our standard program learn both styles, along with chin na (joint locking techniques) and weapons such as staff, broadsword, straight sword and spear. |
| Chang Chuan |
Northern Shaolin Chang Chuan (長拳, Longfist) is a northern style of Kung Fu known for its emphasis on fully extending the body and its balanced use of hand and foot techniques. Its long, flowing movements have been likened to "waves on a great river that follow one another endlessly, allowing for no weak points." These large, extended, circular movements improve overall body mobility in the muscles, tendons, and joints.
Because it has been in existence for so long, it is considered by many to have been the "original" system of Kung Fu, and no doubt has influenced the development of many other styles over the centuries. Some scholars believe it may even have been the original system from which Tai Chi was later developed. It is a broadly practiced style that includes several other northern styles, such as Cha Chuan (查拳), Hua Chuan (華拳), Pao Chuan (炮拳) and Hong (Red) Chuan (紅拳, not to be confused with the southern Hong Chuan, 洪拳).
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| Hong Chuan, Tiger Style |
Southern Shaolin Hong Chuan, (洪拳 - Hong Fist, known also as Hung Gar), is one of the most prominent and highly regarded of the southern styles. It is known for its low, wide and stable stances, its well-developed hand techniques, and the strong internal power its training develops. It includes a variety of animal styles such as Tiger, Crane, Snake, Leopard and Dragon, as well as exotic weapons such as the folding fan, the bamboo flute, and the twin iron forks (known as the sai in Japanese).
There is a Chinese saying that emphasizes what southern and northern styles are best known for: Nan Chuan, Bei Tui - which means "Southern Fists, Northern Kicks". In learning both our Shaolin styles, students are able to benefit from the unique characteristics of each and gain a well-rounded and comprehensive understanding of Kung Fu.
