Kung Fu Styles in China?

The term 'Shaolin' refers to the Shaolin Temple in China. The Indian Buddhist monk Da Mo (Boddhidharma) came to the temple in 527 A.D. for religious preaching, but upon seeing the poor physical condition and illness of the monks he locked himself away for many years of meditation to determine how to strengthen them. When he emerged he wrote his results down in two books, which became the foundation of cultivation of the Buddhist spirit and of the physical body at the Temple. The monks expanded Da Mo's exercises for internal power and external strength, developing from them self-defence techniques for protection from bandits in their travels.

Due to misuse of these skills by rogue monks the Emperor ordered the Shaolin Temple closed, but it reopened again around 600 A.D. For the next thousand years the Martial Arts flourished behind the walls of ten Shaolin Temples, combined with a strict moral and behavioral code based on Buddhist precepts. Martial and moral instruction went hand-in-hand, and the monks gained the reputation of being upholders of virtue and justice.

Shaolin Kung Fu became famous as the finest system of martial arts and was revered all over China. So great was its reputation that martial artists from other countries also wanted to study this system. Shaolin monks realized that there was great power inherent in these teachings and they were very reluctant to permit the teaching outside of the temple walls.

After Manchurian warriors conquered China in the 1600's they razed many of the Shaolin temples to the ground and the Shaolin monks dispersed around China, teaching their martial arts to help the people defend against the invaders. As each monk ultimately specialised in a different aspect of Kung Fu, and as the Shaolin Temple monks had also collected knowledge from styles arising outside the temple, the systems taught by the different monks around China took on differing characteristics leading to the diversity of styles that exist today.

Later in history, portions of this highly evolved art spread to Okinawa where it was called Shaolin Ryu, meaning Shaolin fighting style. When it reached Korea it was called Tae Kwon Dao. In Japan it was called Karate, meaning Chinese empty hand fighting. Even Jujitsu was based upon a style of Chinese boxing called Chin Na, which emphasized locks and flips. Chinese Temple Boxing was the mother system which gave birth to the other martial arts in Asia.

The Manchus were finally routed from power in 1911 but there followed seventeen years of civil war as the government tried to rid the country of the numerous warlords who stood in the way of a united China. It was during this time that the final burning of the Shaolin Temple took place.

During the early part of the 20th century when the Shaolin Temple was still active, two great martial organisations arose encompassing many of the great styles which developed from the Shaolin and other systems. One was the Chin Woo Association, and the other was the Central Kou Su Institute (the term 'Kuo Su' means 'national martial technique'). The Kuo Su Institute drew from the knowledge of a large number of respected Masters, including Chin Woo members, overcoming Martial Arts politics and age-old prejudices to discuss and explore the best techniques from among the many divisions. From this synthesis arose the style commonly known as Long Fist.

Kung Fu styles are divided into Northern and Southern divisions. By dividing Kung Fu into Northern and Southern divisions, a functional as well as a geographical distinction is made. Northern styles usually emphasize leg or kicking techniques with the middle and long range attack. Examples of some Northern styles are Long Fist, Ta Shan Pi Kwa, Cha Chuan, Lo Han, Eagle Claw, and Northern Praying Mantis.

Because the Southern Chinese were shorter than the Northern people, they developed hand techniques for the middle and short range. The Southern divisions do have kicks, but are less in number and variety than the northern styles. The Southern division includes White Crane, Mou Cha, Chai Li Fou, Dragon, Hung Gar, White Brow, Monkey, Tiger, Southern Praying Mantis, Snake, And Wing Chun.

Kung Fu styles may also be classified on the basis of whether a style is internal or external in its emphasis. If a style is internal, then the cultivation of Chi and internal power is given priority over external technique. When internal power is adequately developed, then external technique will be given emphasis. The mastery of an internal division takes many years because the first prerequisite is the smooth circulation of Chi through the entire body. This process by itself usually takes ten years. An added barrier to the mastery of an internal division is the scarcity of competent masters. The time and patience needed to reach adequate levels is so great that few people have been able to achieve competency. The internal divisions were developed in Central China and include Tai Chi Chuan, Hsing Yi, Baguazhang, and Liu He Ba Fa.

Through years of research, Chinese martial artists have found that by practicing methods which help the circulation of Chi they also gain improved health and regulated functioning of the internal organs. The external divisions, in contrast to the internal, emphasize external technique and muscle before internal Chi power. The external divisions will develop kicking, blocking, punching, etc. before moving on to the development of internal power.

(Compiled from Shaolin Long Fist Kung Fu by Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming (Unique Publications, 1981), and How To Defend Yourself (YMAA Publications, 1992), available from YMAA SA.)