Shaolin Temples Preying Mantis Bruce Lee Martial Arts
• Style and techniques
came about animal movements • How animals fights and protect themselves • Their reactions during battle with other animals Kung Fu . . .
• Which means “WORK” • May also mean task, work performed, special skills, strength, ability or time spent • Westerners began to call Martial Arts Kung Fu ?????? How did this really come about? • The origins are obscure • The first person consciously picked up a stick or rock to defend him/herself • Before books and writing Kung Fu split in two . . . • Form from two simple term : internal and external • Internal: Will, Vital energy and Strength • External: Speedy eyes, Fist and Foot Martial Arts
Overview about Martial Arts
Shaolin Temples Preying Mantis Bruce Lee Shaolin Temples 5 Main Temples 2. Henan 3. Fukien 4. Kwangtung 5. Wutang 6. O Mei Shan 1. Henan
• Located in a small mountain town southwest of Beijing • Seen in Chinese kung fu movies • Restored by Chinese government in the mid 1970s • Became tourist/martial arts Mecca 2. Fukien
• Originally a Buddhist temple until early 1600s • Larger than the Henan temple and served as headquarters • Southern styles of praying mantis, snake, dragon, and Wing Chun developed in this 3. Kwangtung
• Known as Snake temple
• Built in late 1700s as a Shaolin temple • Located in a mountain area overlooking the ocean near Shanghai • Was a Cantonese temple close to Fukien • Temple was bombed during the civil wars 4. Wutang
• Known as Tiger temple
• Located near the town of Wutang (near Manchuria and the Korean peninsula) • Origin of Mercenary monks • Integrated into Shaolin order about AD 800 5. O Mei Shan • Means “Great White Mountain” • Known as Crane Temple • Located in an inaccessible area of the Szechuan province • Library and medical temple (4 centuries) • Integrated into Shaolin order about AD 1500 History of the Shaolin Temple
Let’s find out some more things while reviewing
what we have already learned…. The word Shaolin is derived from Shaoshi Mountain and “lin”, the Chinese word for forest. This describes the geographic area of the first temple built in the Henan Province around 495 A.D. 32 years later, an Indian Buddhist priest named Bodhidharma came to the temple, but was turned away by the head abbot, Fang Chang Bodhidharma was determined and went to a nearby cave and meditated Nobody knows exactly why, but Bodhidharma was then allowed into the temple and he soon noticed that the monks were in poor physical health He began teaching them moving exercises designed to enhance Chi flow and build strength. They consisted of 18 actions known as the 18 Lohan movements or forms. These 18 forms later evolved into 54 forms and then into 108 forms. These movements were the start of Shaolin Ch’uan or Shaolin Fist, later know as Kung Fu. Over the years, due to repeated attacks and periods of inactivity due to reigning Imperial and regional leaders who feared the monks, other temples were incorporated into Shaolin.
The 5 main temples were:
The Henan Temple, the original temple and the one seen in Chinese Kung Fu movies. The Fukien Temple, know as the “headquarters” during times when Henan was either destroyed or under threat. The Kwangtung Temple, known as the snake temple. The Wutang Temple, known as the Tiger temple. The O Mei Shan Temple, known as the Crane Temple. Breathing and Meditation
Meditation is the essence of Chan Buddhism and Shaolin Kung Fu and it is the soul of Bodhidharma’s teachings Meditation simply means to be fully aware of the moment. It is done in a number of different postures such as sitting, standing, head stand, and Iron Bar, which is stretching out between two benches with your head on one and your heels on the other. These postures were usually held for several hours at a time and some monks achieved such high levels of sitting practice that they would meditate for a week straight with no break for sleep. Some monks have skills so high that they abstain from lying down ever again and at the highest level, some even die in state, which means to pass on in seated meditation with out falling over. Breathing is an important part of meditation and there are two basic types of breathing. The first is Hou T’ien Chi, the “breath after your birth”.
It is used to relax the mind and body, and heighten sensitivity. It
involves positive breathing in which the abdomen expands when inhaling and contracts when exhaling. The other is Hsien T’ien Chi, the “Breath before birth”.
It is referred to as negative breathing and involves contracting the
abdomen when inhaling and expanding while exhaling. More Info. About Shaolin Temples Can Be Found At:
www.shaolin.com Martial Arts
Overview about Martial Arts
Shaolin Temples Preying Mantis Bruce Lee Wong Long…. • Founder of the northern praying mantis style of kung fu • Opposed to the Manchurian takeover of China • Joined the Shaolin Temple to learn kung fu • Became a skilled fighter Mantis style . . . • A praying mantis attacking a cicada • Praying mantis had killed the cicada • Holding it and began eating • Wong was impressed by the way the pray mantis moved • Took a stick and played with the mantis Mantis’s method of combat . .
• Hook, grasp, strike, upward block,
advance, recede, pull, strike first, contact, cling, tag, and lean Putting it together . . .
• Praying mantis hand
skills • Added strength to the foot work • Observing the monkeys of China • Final component : quickness and agility Martial Arts
Overview about Martial Arts
Shaolin Temples Preying Mantis Bruce Lee Bruce Lee
Greatest martial artist of the 20th
century? Family Life • Born in 1940 • Grew up in Hong Kong, where he made a total of 18 films • Returned to America at age 18, settling in Seattle. • Studied philosophy at the University of Washington • Married Linda Emery in 1964 – Two children: Brandon Bruce Lee, Shannon Emery Lee • Died at age 33 on July 20, 1973 Martial Arts & Philosophy • Founder of Jeet Kune Do – Based on Wing Chun – Emphasizes freedom of expression for the individual Television & Movies • “Kato” in the Green Hornet television series • Successes in Southeast Asia: – The Big Boss – Fist of Fury • Directed, produced, starred in The Way of the Dragon • Last film: Enter the Dragon – First co-production between American and Hong Kong film studios – First martial arts movie backed by a large Hollywood studio There is a saying: The best self defense is to become invisible…if this is not possible , then learn Wing Chun… Wing Chun is the most famous single style within the Shaolin system. It was made known to the west by Bruce Lee and James Lee in the late 1960’s in what was the single most influential introduction of Chinese kung fu outside China Despite Lee’s rapid evolution of a personal style away from traditional Wing Chun (still not so different from Wing Chun), his association with that style was a major factor in its continued success over the years. Wing Chun was developed by a Shaolin “nun” and there are three different forms. The first requires use of his or her imagination in the practice and application of techniques.
Most moves are repeated 3 times, the
primary attack is a sun fist (thumb facing upward on impact), and a variety of arm parries and blocks employed. There is no footwork employed. The second adds a few new moves to the techniques from the first form, but adds more sticky-hands and bridge techniques. Bridge techniques are extended arm moves that intercept and redirect incoming attacks without using the brute power required in blocking. These techniques take advantage of the physics of swinging objects. The third form is primarily an offensive form, using finger thrusts or spearhands in a variety of ways. There is more footwork, including a sweep, low kicks, and stance shifts. History • created by Abbess Ng Mui from Shao-lin temple during Manchu dynasty in China. She created the system and trained a girl called Yim Wing Chun (literally means Forever Spring or “Wing Chun”) to protect herself against a local bully. • Yim Wing Chun, later lived in a temple called WingTsun (Praise the Spring). And thus some also call it “WingTsun”. • Wing Chun is a martial arts that is based on “internal power” with three main principles: 1. “Softness” is the main way to perform “kuyen” 2. “Ki” (or internal energy) is the main source of power 3. Close range is the main tactic in combating Forms Basic forms: • Bare-hand forms (Siu Lim Tao, Chum Kiu and Biu Gee) • 108 bare-hand fighting techniques (both static and dynamic forms practiced w/ wooden dummy & coach) • Five separate 5-animal forms (dragon, snake, tiger, panther, and crane) • Integrated 5-animal form
Weapons forms include double knives and six-and- half-
point pole. Introduction of 108 Combat Techniques in this Martial Arts Expo • 108 Combat Form is one of the highest level forms in Wingchun • The student has to ensure an average speed of 2 to 3 strikes per second during the performance with full force and great accuracy as well as the ability to withstand counterstrikes. So Wing Chun is deeply rooted into the ancient art of shaolin as a style invented by a shaolin member. One of the oldest Shaolin philosophies is that “one who engages in combat has already lost the battle” and the Shaolin practitioner is never an attacker, nor does he or she dispatch the most devastating defenses in any situation. Rather, the study of kung fu leads to better understanding of violence, and consequently how to avoid conflict. Overall, the early phases of Shaolin training involved a lot what we would call grammar school, for most students entered the order under the age of ten. The purpose is to develop both the mind and the body, so the full potential of the human being is achieved. Long days were spent learning to read and write.
Students also learned math, history, manners and customs, Taoist and Buddhist philosophies, painting, music, textile work, agriculture, pottery, and cooking. Older students and disciples would often write books of history, poetry, or natural history, while others would form musical ensembles, paint, or learn medicine as one should not know only how to defend and harm his enemy, but also how to heal wounds. It was one’s development of the cultural side of life that mainly marked one’s standing in the Shaolin community.
