Shaolin Kung Fu

Shaolin Kung Fu is a system of Chinese martial arts, discipline, and philosophy practiced by the Warrior Monks of the Shaolin Monastery at the foot of Mount Song in Henan Province, China. Shaolin martial arts is a compilation of other Chinese martial arts systems with a wide variety of techniques, brought to the monastery for research and preservation. With over 1,500 years of history, the Shaolin Buddhist sect is filled with a rich culture and tradition following Chan Buddhism; famously known by its other name, Zen Buddhism. The Warrior Monks took up the practice of martial arts for self defense on their travels and to defend their sacred monastery along with important Buddhist scriptures and martial arts manuals. In ancient China, 13 Shaolin Warrior Monks used their martial prowess to assist Li Shimin to defeat the tyrant Wang Shichong; Li Shimin then became the emperor of the Tang Dynasty with the help of the 13 Warrior Monks from Shaolin. Hand and weapon forms are a series of choreographed routines, designed to develop strength, speed, stamina, and coordination. Students will typically start learning weapon forms after they have developed a strong foundation of fundamentals for their hand forms. Acrobatics is a modern adaptation to the traditional arts since the late 1950s and early 1960s. This adds a new dynamic change and challenge for students to mobilize their bodies in new and exciting ways. You can't call a martial art "a martial art" without practicing for self defense. Students will learn traditional and modern combat sport techniques and combine the two for the use of self defense, should the situation call for it. Sparring and partner interaction will be executed with safety equipment and on the mats. Curriculum at a Glance: Ji Ben Gong (Basic Fundamentals) Traditional Hand & Weapon Forms Modern Hand & Weapon Forms Animal Imitation Forms Fighting Applications Hand & Weapon Sparring Acrobatics