Shaolin Kung Fu
Shaolin Kung-Fu refers to various combined forms of Chinese martial arts. Shaolin Kung-Fu refers to all of the forms of martial arts that are considered to external acts instead of Wudang, which refers to the internal acts associated with kung-fu.
The monks of the Shaolin are given much of the credit for imparting their martial arts techniques on the world. In the 1920s, a group of Shaolin monks fled their hometown, which, at the time, was in the midst of a very bloody and savage civil war. The monks emigrated into the United States and passed on their rich traditions and stories so others could experience the ancient teachings and philosophies of the Shaolin style of Kung-Fu.
Shaolin Kung-Fu is considered to be one of three styles associated with modern day Kung-Fu. The other two are known as temple derived non-temple style, and family style (Pai). Shaolin Kung-Fu is also divided into two subsections, which are northern style and southern style. The northern style of Shaolin puts more emphasis on foot and leg technique as this style is responsible for the well-known Northern Preying Mantis, Black Tiger, and Black Crane. The southern style is more concerned with hand technique and has provided such moves as White Crane, Leopard, Snake, and Southern Preying Mantis.
For the Shaolin monks that lived in the Shaolin Bonzery, life basically consisted of prayer, confinement, and physical exercise. This physical exertion consisted of moving exercises that were based on 18 Indo-Chinese iconography. The moving exercises that were practiced back then were the origins of the Shaolin Kung-Fu style. It is also important to note that Shaolin monks were taught these exercises as simple self-defense mechanisms to protect them from outlaws who would attempt to attack their temple. The monks inside the Shaolin Bonzery believed in only returning harm that an attacker has begotten onto you.
