Shaolin Kung Fu

Shaolin Kung Fu, only one of several types of Kung Fu Wushu, or "hard-won achievement" (Kung Fu) "martial arts" (Wushu), is, in turn, 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. The temple, which was founded in the 5th century CE, became famous in fact due to its assocation with the martial arts, in particular, with the strain of martial arts that was referred to as "external" (shaolin) martial arts (as opposed to "internal" (wudang) martial arts), the distinction being a sort of hair-splitting argument within the martial arts community in China at the time regarding whether the focus should be on mastering only the physical techniques (postures, movements, etc.) associated with the martial arts, or mastering these in connection with the simultaneous harnessing of 'mind over matter', life-force aspects of martial arts, or 'getting in touch with one's qi', which can only be achieved through deep concentration – or meditation, if you will. And now learning Chinese Kungfu in Shaolin Temple is regarded as one of Top 10 Things to Do in China for foreign tourists traveling to China.

Kung Fu Wushu became wildly 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" (as in "uncivilized") West!).

In spite of being an accomplished master of Shaolin Kung Fu, Kwai Chang Caine turned out to be more of a practitioner of Wudang Kung Fu, which is also what gave the television series in general – and David Carradine in particular – rave reviews, as Kwai Chang Caine's respectful self-restraint (and self-control, even when the fighting broke out) contrasted sharply with the typical loudmouthed, bar-brawling cowboy's total lack of self-restraint and self-control. Kung Fu Wushu has since become even more famous due to the many video games devoted to its practice.

During the reign (CE 1722-1735) of Emperor Yongzheng of the Qing (CE 1644-1911) Dynasty, the practice of all forms of martial arts was forbidden. Shaolin Temple, however, is said to have continued the practice of Kung Fu Wushu in secret, and even helped to organize the continued teaching and practice of Kung Fu Wushu throughout the country. In any case, after the fall of China's last Imperial dynasty, Kung Fu 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!). Kung Fu Wushu was again banned during China's Cultural Revolution (1966-76), but quickly bounced back afterward.

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 kickboxing 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 (more on Taolu below).

There are four main elements of Sanda: ti ("kicks"), da ("punches"), shuai jiao (mainly "throws" today, but it also includes grappling designed to block attacks or to apply pressure to key arteries or nerves, though shuai jiao was originally a form of head-butting with a horn-like device attached to one's head, imitative of duels between male horned animals during the mating season, and which duels often involved throwing the opponent, or knocking him off balance, with a flick of the head and with the front feet firmly anchored), and chin na (catching and locking an opponent's joints, a technique seen in traditional Western forms of wrestling). Note that the kicks and punches of Sanda are not intended to "draw blood" (i.e., break jaws and noses), but are aimed instead at vital areas of the body which, when properly struck or gripped, can temporarily incapacitate the opponent without necessarily resulting in bodily harm, though, where required, they can – as in other forms of Kung Fu Wushu – even provoke death.

The essence of Taolu is to study and practice a series of specific movements, based on the actions of one's opponent, beginning first with the response to the opponent's initial approach. After this, any number of sequences might follow, and the Sanda-Taolu fighter must adapt to these. This therefore requires careful study of the various possible "moves" (think of a chess game) of one's opponent, so that one is prepared for the appropriate response to any eventuality. This, however, is the easy part, for all of these responses – defensive as well as offensive moves – must be coordinated so as to flow together in a single, fluid movement. This means that the Sanda-Taolu fighter must constantly be aware of precisely where in this duel he finds himself and instantaneously and fluidly execute the appropriate next move, be it a locking movement, a throw, a kick or a punch.

One of the primary reasons for learning Taolu together with Sanda (it is not unreasonable to imagine, in this connection, the inseparability of the yin and the yang) was partly to keep the old techiques, or forms, alive (the Chinese is a very tradition-bound culture), and partly to prevent a strictly Sanda-oriented free style form of fighting from degenerating into formlessness, or "anything goes" (alas, much of the kickboxing one sees today is of the latter variety). Thus Sanda-Taolu, as it is practiced by a genuine Shaolin master, is a very compact sport that makes the most of a minimum of space, or, as a Westerner might be tempted to say of the way Sanda-Taolu is practiced: less is more. Which pretty much sums up the philosophy of Kwai Chang Caine, the Shaolin monk in the Kung Fu TV series.