Shaolinquan
Shaolin Quan (少林拳) (in Cantonese Siu Lum Kuen) is the term typically used to describe the Chinese martial arts that originate from the famous Buddhist Shaolin Temple and monastery at Songshan in Henan, founded in 495 by Ba Tuo.
Ba Tuo had a keen interest in Wushu and as such Shaolin Temple became a tolerant haven for the practise of martial arts. It was some 60 years after its founding that the Temple received a visitor largely regarded as the father of Shaolin Martial Arts, an Indian Monk named Tamo.
Tamo, or as he is also known, Bodhidharma, is said to have come to China to introduce the sect of Buddhism known as Chan (Zen in Japan). Upon his arrival at the temple he found the monks in poor health and unable to endure the long sessions of meditation he introduced. Tamo retreated to a nearby cave and meditated for 9 years. (There are multiple versions of the Tamo story, this is merely one). During this time Tamo created two exercise regimens: The "Muscle Tendon Change" and "Marrow Purification" forms. One for strengthening the physical self the other for strengthening the spiritual self.
The monks of Shaolin combined the movements of Tamo's forms with those of the existing martial arts of the area. This was the birth of what is today known as Shaolin Quan. Over the following centuries it evolved, spreading throughout China and East Asia, and has been perhaps the most influential school of Asian martial arts in the world, said to have directly led to many other widely practised styles, such as Karate and Taijiquan.
Shaolin Wushu began to take the shape we see today during the Ming Dynasty (14th-17th centuries). Typically within the Shaolin system, there are ten empty hand "sets" and many different weapons. Weapons training will vary from school to school. Shaolin practitioners are historically well known for their ability to endure hardship as well as their training with the distinctive steel monk's spade, iron staff and spear. Shaolin also became famous in legend for its Five Animals; styles adapted from imitating the motions of the animals in question for martial applications.
The Five Animals of Shaolin:
The two main schools of Shaolin Quan are the Temple style and the Northern style (Bak Siu Lum style). Both of these consist of ten hand sets and although similar in technique the sets are completely different.
Chan, Kalaripayattu, Pure Land, Qigong, Zhang Sanfeng, .
