Supplement had a tight relation with my training. I had been trying out few brands and will update you of the comparison. There are different type of protein products in the market which differ in absorption and body building needs.
Protein is made of amino acids. Amino acids are the basic building blocks of muscle. Therefore, protein is an essential ingredient for muscle building. You can't build muscle without it! You will want to take in about 1-2 grams of protein per pound of bodyweight throughout the day. So an average person who weighs 150 lbs would want to consume between 150 and 300 grams of protein in a day. Protein shakes and bars are convenient and provide high quality protein.
There are several forms of protein including: Whey, Soy, Egg, and Casein. So which kind is best? Well that depends on how and when you want to use them.
Whey - Basically, whey protein is awesome for post-workout supplementation because that's the time when your body needs protein the most, and whey is digested very quickly (about 30 minutes).
Casein - Casein, on the other hand, is digested very slowly (over 2 - 7 hours). This means it's great to use a protein supplement with casein before bed because the longest time your body goes without protein is during the night while you are sleeping.
Egg - Egg protein (albumen) digests at a medium pace (1.5-3 hours) so it's a good anytime protein to provide a good sustained release of aminos to the body.
Soy - Soy protein is the vegetarian's friend because it's one of the only complete protein sources derived from plants. Soy is a good overall protein, although it's not as effective in terms of absorbtion as whey or egg albumen. Additionally, soy has many recognized health benefits for women.
Blends - Either protein supplements are straight whey, soy, egg, or casein; or they are a combination of any or all of these kinds of proteins. What can a blend of proteins offer that a straight protein cannot? Basically, different rates of digestion. This means you can take a blended protein any time to get quick, medium, and prolonged absorption of protein.
Low Carb - Of the many protein supplements, the two other main categories are weight gainers and low carb protein shakes and bars. These two are on opposite spectrums of each other. Yep, you guessed it low carb protein shakes are good for those dieting or trying to lose or maintain weight.
Weight Gainer - Weight gainers are high calorie protein products that are great for people who are looking to bulk up. If you are having trouble gaining weight, taking in extra high quality calories will usually do the trick.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
100 Kung Fu Weapons
100 Kung Fu Weapons
This list is extracted from The 100 Weapons of Kungfu: From Shaolin Staffs to Bruce Lee's
Nunchaku by Martha Burr and Gene Ching, which appeared in our December 2000 issue. For complete descriptions and pictures of each weapon, please refer to that issue.
The words in parentheses are the Mandarin terms using the pinyin romanization. To learn more about these weapons, refer to this article (or use our search engine.) This is not a comprehensive list.
The Four Basic Weapons
There are four basic kungfu weapons, two short ones and two long ones. All of
the other weapons derive from these four. These basic four bear a slight
northern accent. Some southern styles emphasize only two basic weapons: the long
pole and the butterfly swords. We will, however, honor these basic four, since
they are more universal.
- Staff (Gun)
- Broadsword (Dao)
- Spear (Qiang)
- Straight Sword (Jian)
Long Weapons
Long weapons are generally taller than the user and require both hands. Most of
these are pole arms, and kungfu has hundreds of variations of pole arms alone.
Every weird pole arm head has a different Chinese name, some of which are
redundant and overlapping.
- Dagger Axe (Ge)
- Lance (Mao)
- Long Stick Axe (Yue)
- Halberd (Ji)
- Single Halberd (Dan
Ji) - Double Headed
Spear (Shuang Tou Qiang) - Snake Spear (She
Qiang) - Hooked Single
Spear (Lian Dao Qiang) - Talon, Claw (Zhua)
- Pen (Bi)
- Buddha Hand (Fo
Shou) - Monk Cudgel (Chan
Zhang, Zen Stick) - Monk Spade (Chan)
- Gold Coin Spade (Jin
Qian Chan) - Rake (Pa)
- Hoe (Chu Tou)
- Tiger Fork (Hu
Cha) - Two Teeth Fork (Liang
Jian Cha, Two Point Fork or Niu Jiao Cha, Ox Horn Fork) - Flying Fork (Fei
Cha) - Dragon Whisker
Fork (Long Xu Cha) - Three-Point
Double-Blade Sword (San Jian Liang Ren Dao) - Long Handled
Sword (Da Dao) - Kwan Dao
- Eagle Head Sword (Ying
Tao Dao) - Pu Dao
- Horse Chopping
Sword (Zhan Ma Dao) - Heaven and Earth,
Sun and Moon Sword (Qian Kun Ri Yue Dao) - Cicada Wing Sword
(Chan Zi Dao) - Heaven Lotus
Phoenix Tail (Tian He Feng Wei Tang) - Wolf Spear (Lan
Qiang) - Wolf Teeth Club (Lan
Ya Ban) - Wolf Teeth
Spiked-Trident (Lan Ya Dang) - Lashing Staff (Shao
Zi Gun)
Short Weapons
Short weapons can be used one handed, like a sword. Generally speaking, these
are personal side arms. Many of these when used in pairs are twin weapons,
although our twin weapon list is limited to those weapons that are only used as
twins. Furthermore, some short weapons have soft versions.
- Nine Ring
Broadsword (Jiu Huan Dao) - Nine Hook
Broadsword (Jiu Gou Dao) - Southern
Broadsword (Nan Dao) - Ghost Head
Broadsword (Gui Tao Dao) - Swallow Tail
Broadsword (Yan Zi Dao) - Long Broadsword (Zha
Dao) - Straight Sword
Piercer (Jian Ci) - Snake Straight
Sword (She Jian) - Whip (Bian)
- Mace (Jian)
- Hammer (Chui)
- Eight Corner
Hammer (Ba Ling Chui) - Steel Fan (Tie
Shan) - Iron Smoking Pipe
(Tie Yan Dou) - Iron Flute (Tie
Di) - Cymbals (Ba)
- Iron Ruler (Tie
Chi) - Crutch or Cane (Guai)
- Fly Whisk (Fei
Mao Dan) - Shield (Dun)
- Water Parting
Shield (Fen Shui Dun) - Bench (Ban
Deng) - Two-Handed
Broadsword (Shuang Shou Dao, also Bagua Dao) - Two-handed
Straight Sword (Shuang Shou Jian) - Push Dagger (Chi
Shou)
Soft Weapons
Soft weapons, or flexible weapons, have a joint or are attached to a rope. These
weapons require great skill, since they are always changing. Many of these can
also be hidden weapons, since they are very compact when collapsed.
- Meteor Hammer (Liu
Xing Chui) - Rope Javelin (Sen
Biao) - Flying Weight (Shuang
Tao Fei Chui) - Mother and Son
Hammer (Zi Mu Chui) - Three Section
Staff (San Jie Gun) - Two Section Staff
(Er Jie Gun) - Whip Chain (Qi
Jie Bian, Seven Section Whip or Jiu Jie Bian, Nine Section Whip) - Dragon Head Stick
(Long Tao Gan Ban) - Double Flying
Claw (Shuang Fei Zhua) - Four Section
Sickle (Si Jie Tang)
Twin Weapons
Twin weapons are two mirror-image weapons, one held in each hand. In modern
kungfu, the practice of twin weapons balances out the left hand with the right,
since many styles have a predetermined dominance.
- Twin Broadswords (Shuang
Dao) - Twin Straight
Swords (Shuang Jian) - Butterfly Knives (Hu
Die Shuang Dao, Butterfly Double Sword or Niu Er Jin Dao, Ox Ear Sharp
Sword) - Axe (Fu)
- Sickle (Lian
Dao) - Hook (Gou)
- Nine Teeth Hook (Jiu
Zi Gou) - Twin Halberds (Shuang
Shou Ji) - Twin Daggers (Shuang
Bi Shou) - Ring (Huan)
or Wheel (Lun) - Iron Ring (Shuo
Huan) - Deer Antler
Knives (Lu Jiao Dao) - Iron Comb (Tie
Su Zi) - Iron Chopsticks (Tie
Kuai Zi) - Emei Piercers (Emei
Ci) - Horse Halberd (Ma
Ji) - Unicorn Horn
Sword (Lin Jiao Dao) - Mandarin Duck
Spade (Yuan Yang Chan)
Hidden and Flying Weapons
Hidden weapons are a fascinating sub-topic of Chinese weaponry. Used to expand
the range of offense beyond close combat, a great number of ingenious hidden
weapons were created to surprise the enemy. Small enough to be hidden in a
sleeve or robe, and particularly useful in a surprise attack or when you are
outnumbered, these are generally small weapons, with the exception of the bows.
- Arhat Coin (Luohan
Qian) - Flying Knife (Fei
Dao) - Flying Dart (Fei
Biao) - Sleeve Sword (Shu
Jian) - Iron Toad (Tie
Chan Chu) - Flying Locust
Stone (Fei Huang Shi) - Scholar's Brush (Pan
Guan Bi or Zhaung Yuan Bi - Judge's Brush or Champion Place Brush) - Wolf Teeth Hammer
(Lan Ya Chui) - Bow (Dan Gong)
- Crossbow (Lu)
Forms
Gong Fu Basics
Gong Fu Basics
SHAOLIN Gong fu
SHAOLIN Gong fu
Stances: Ma bu: horse stance.
Gong bu: bow stance, forward leg bent, rear leg straight.
Pu bu: low stance, body rests on rear bent leg, forward leg out straight.
Xu bu: Cat stance, with forward leg bent, toes and knee in, heel out.
Xie bu: Very low stance, both bent knees, one leg behind other.
“Eighteen” Lohan exercises…
1. Ma bu shuang bien: Horse stance with two punches. Sideways feet together horse, step out, turn 180 degrees with high sweeping kick, and open arms out, bring together as vertical blocks or grabs, end in low horse stance, arms then come down and separate as horizontal with fists together, elbows out to sides, then bilaterally extend outward straight.
2. Gong bu xian shing: Bow stance with two punches. Sideways feet together horse, step out, turn 180 degrees with high sweeping kick, and open arms out, bring together as vertical blocks or grabs, end in low horse stance, arms then come down and separate as horizontal with fists together, elbows out to sides, then twist upper body towards direction of travel with one fist as a backfist swinging to the rear with fist curved in towards radius, the other fist functions as a front two knuckle punch to opponent who is at the direction of travel, and ends also curved a little toward the radius.
3. Pu bu xie da: Low stance kick strike. Sideways feet together horse, step out, turn 180 degrees with sliding of foot on ground ending as a high raised knee, same side hand in shuto at opposite neck, or block, other hand in horse position, lower into a low squat as the raised knee becomes straight out, shuto comes down towards foot of straightened out leg. End by raising into a gongbu position with shuto becoming an upward strike
4. Xu bu gedang: Cat stance block. Forward feet together horse, step forward and sideways into a soft cat stance with bent leg twisted slightly so heel of foot is lateral, knife hand of one sweeps outside of other and ends across body pointing at other’s elbow, the heel of the other knife hand comes close to center of chest, and twists out and over the other hand as a forward strike. Tip of third finger should be at height of nose.
5. Gong bu chong quan: Bow stance punch. Side horse, left hand to left, grabs, pulls back to side position as you move into gong bu position facing left, with right punch towards left. Right foot moves next to left, staying crouched, right hand stays out as punch as you step into ma bu. Right hand grabs, pulls back, as you lean into gong bu with left punch. Continue and alternate.
6. Xie bu chong quan: Turning bow stance punch. Sideways feet together horse, step out, left arm across body in block, swing left arm out to left and behind as you twist counterclockwise on legs, as you crouch and twist, left arm pulls in and right punches to 6 o’clock.
7. Qui xing bu: Seven star stance (chicken stance). Start in feet together horse, advance left foot (to step on opponents foot) while you downward swing right chicken wrist (to catch the kick of opponent), bring right hand far behind you in upward chicken wrist as you perform forward sweeping right kick (to kick opponent in back of leg he is standing upon) with right knife hand strike to opponent’s chest. Right elbow should be above right knee, end with right foot pointing downward at left knee, lean forward with chest, right elbow over right knee, right knife hand strike out, left chicken wrist far behind you.
8. Xiezi bai wei: Scorpion sweep with the tail. Sideways feet together horse facing left, right palm block to left, twist clockwise 360 degrees as you circle right hand clockwise to grab opponent’s strike, concurrently circle right foot clockwise to block or grab opponents kick, end in flamingo stance facing left with right foot up at left knee toes down, right palm at right knee facing left, with left upwards shuto block above head. End by stepping down into sideways horse opposite from original, facing left.
9. Dan fei jiao: Snap kick with strike. Step forward with right, right high instep kick, touch with outward right palm down spear hand; alternate
10. Li he tui: Inside kick. Side horse, left arm across body with palm block to right, reach out to left with left to grab strike, turn counterclockwise with high right crescent kick, end in flamingo stance with right knee up, right fist straight down, left fist up at left side of head.
11. Wai bai tui: Outside kick. Face forward, right reverse crescent kick, kick hands above head
12. Tan tui: Snap kick. Face forward, semi-squat with knees bent, and small instep kicks as you move forward.
13. Zheng deng tui zhang: Heel kick with palm strike. Face forward, ball kick with opposite and simultaneous knife hand strike.
14. Ce chuai tui: Side kick. Side horse stance, keep feet planted, twist counterclockwise into monkey block (right arm straight down in fist, left fist up at head, look left), get up slightly and side kick to forward; alternate.
15. Hou deng tui: Back kick. Side horse stance, turn 180 counterclockwise down into crouch, right hand blocking face, left hand to ground by left heel (to throw dirt), side kick with left, alternate. Turn towards direction of back.
16. Zheng ti: Front kick. Face forward, left foot forward, right elbow strike forward, left arm at horse position; bring right elbow down to rear as you front ball kick with right, return to previous position, step forward with right bringing left elbow strike up and returning right arm to horse position. Alternate.
17. Er qi jiao: Jump snap kick. Face forward, turn left forty five degrees with right arm swinging in a circle down to right fist down, left fist up at face, (monkey position), with right foot slightly forward; rise up to low horse squat with both arms at sides, in deep squat; jump up with right high instep kick and right palm down spear hand strike, striking instep of foot; land, twist to right ninety degrees circling left arm down into monkey position and continue.
18. Qian sao tui: Front sweep. Side horse, block and strike to right (right hand circles out to strike, left hand circles to palm block by body as you bring left foot to right with right toes down); twist left ninety degrees facing forward both arms swung back behind you; jump forward as you slap palm of one hand against back of other in front of you; land in pubu with right knee bent, left leg straight out in direction of opponent; switch weight over to left leg with left leg bent and right leg straight out, circle right leg counterclockwise, under left leg as you rest on hands, all the way around to left pubu again; get up into original strike and block position with right toes down.
19. Xuan fung jiao: Tornado kick. Face forward in horse feet together, step forward with right, then left, with concurrent circular blocks with hands, step forward with right into side horse, bilateral spear hands up to right with right body twist; swing both arms as you twist and jump counterclockwise bringing left knee up as high as possible, kicking with right foot as you twirl around; end in side horse with both arms up to right in preparation for next kick.
20. Hou sao tui: Back sweep. Face forward horse with feet together; raise both arms up and cross over head with tigers claws, raise right knee high; step forward with right, then left into side horse stance, then as you strike forward move into left gongbu with left knee bent, right leg straight, bilateral palm strikes to forward; crouch down using hands for support as you perform (iron broom) a clockwise right heel sweep 360 degrees, end in side horse (mabu) with right high but downward chicken strike to right, move to left gongbu with high palm strike to left; continue by bringing feet together to horse.
21. Teng kong wai bai lien: Lotus kick. Opposite facing direction side horse, bilateral spear hands on top of one another to left, twist body to right bringing both arms to position behind you palms up; putting weight on planted right leg jump forward bringing left knee up as high as possible; twist clockwise in air with right kick towards left position; land in side horse with bilateral spear hands towards left.
Praying mantis style boxing
ShaoLin Tang Lang Chuan
Considered an advanced form, the hands are held with the index finger straight out, the third finger straight but bent at 90 degrees, and the other fingers held in a fist. The hand is flexed 90 degrees at the wrist for striking. The striking part of the hand is the wrist, top of hands, and both straightened fingers. The stance is very low (painfully low), with the rearward lower leg almost parallel to the ground. There is a gentle sway back and forth, or side to side, when in the praying mantis position. The arms also convey this gentle sway.
- Stand straight facing 12, hands at sides
- Lean forward from waist up, right hand palm towards belly, slides to the left, as left hand
slides behind back to right, twist upper body to left - Once turned completely to left, left open hand slides back out to left, right fingertips
at elbow; twist slowly to right. Left hand slides up right arm to shoulder. - Once twisted to right, right hand sweeps down in front of body, left hand on right shoulder,
right hand sweeps palm up towards left as you twist upper body to left;
then, once right arm is horizontal, twist arm and body together to right,
until looking to 12. - Right hand slowly comes back to behind shoulder.
- Right hand then slowly pushes forward, palm to the front, to 12, left hand on right
shoulder. - Once fully extended, snap right hand to palm rearward.
- Right arm then sweeps upward to vertical; then continues sweep down to feet as you lower
body, bending knees, and twisting body and knees to the left. Right arm
continues sweep to the left of knees, as you twist body, right arm then
continues sweep to horizontal, palm up, pointed towards 12, with body and
knees low and twisted towards 1030. - With a sudden movement, twist right arm and hand counterclockwise, turning right shoulder
to 9. - Jump up suddenly with praying mantis hands, right to rear, left to 12, into low xu bu stance
facing 12. - Jump up into high xu bu stance facing 12, right knife hand swings around to 12, left open palm
catches right forearm, palm down. - Lean into gong bu facing 12 as you circle right knife hand downward and back towards belly,
snapping forward to 12 with a right praying mantis hand; left hand slides
palm down to top of right wrist. - Right hand circles around to grab, left and right hand staying together, swing arms
horizontally clockwise back to 6 as you shift to gong bu leaning towards 6. - Hands leave each other as you swing back to gong bu leaning towards 12, with left
outstretched arm, palm down circles around to 12 and further on to 6, right
outstretched arm palm up circles around to 12. - Lean back towards 6 in a high xu bu stance leaving right arm palm up outstretched to 12, both
shoulders and hips now facing 12, but bringing left hand palm up back
towards face, fingers pointing to 12. - Drop down into
low praying mantis position, snapping left knife hand out to 12, bringing
right hand back to palm down block position in front of groin. - Stand up in
flamingo position with right knee up facing 12, head back, as you circle
both arms clockwise around once, on second circle, slap them together and
snap out open hand, palm up, to 3. left hand returns to side. Upper body is
leaning back to 6. - Doing praying
mantis roll with forearms, upper body leaning forward, then lunge forward to
3 into low praying mantis position striking towards 3, fingers are downward,
left hand by chest or right shoulder. - Drop lower into
an alternating left and right praying mantis stance as you sweep the right
and left arms, palm down, right from right to left, left from left to right,
two circles, as you rise up. As you rise up, the left leg rises rearward. - Jump into low
praying mantis position facing 12 with right arm striking to 12, left hand
at head, fingers are now outward. - Stand up on right
as you bring left hand under right arm, and striking out to 12 with back
fist, right arm bends with fist coming by face, elbow to 6; feet are
together facing towards 3. - Right fist sweeps
around towards 12 striking as back fist; left returns horizontally as fist
to face, left elbow to 9, move into high xu bu stance, left foot forward to
12. - Right fist
circles down to feet, towards 6, then up over head as right foot kicks
straight legged forward to 12, bring right fist down to right kicking leg,
with left fist stopping right arm under right elbow. - Step forward with
right into gong bu facing 12, right fist circles up by body and then strikes
out to 12 as back fist, left hand supports right elbow. - Run forward left,
right, left, then jump off of right, bringing left knee up high, and kicking
straight legged with right to 12, toes first. Land on right, step to left
towards 12 bringing right leg bent with right foot behind left knee, while
doing praying mantis roll with forearms. - Strike out into
low praying mantis stance facing 12, with right arm, fingers are downward,
left praying mantis hand by chest or right shoulder. - Open hands, move
into ma bu, swinging both arms straight and clockwise, one complete circle
as you step up on left straight leg, kicking to 6 with right (behind left)
and striking with both open hands to 6. - Stand up on left
with right leg bent behind left knee, bring right fist up to right side of
face, left fist in high horse position in front of chest. - Step down into
gong bu towards 9, striking with same position to 9 with both arms. - Circle left fist
down and right fist (close to body) up, both circle clockwise, and after one
revolution, both hands slap, with right open hand striking palm up out to 9;
left hand goes to left side of body, upper body and head are leaning
backward to 12, all the while standing on right leg, with left foot behind
right knee. - Standing on right
leg, straighten body upright, facing 6, circle both open hands with
outstretched arms towards 6, right moves clockwise, left circles
counterclockwise; twice, on third rotation of right lunge forward to 6 into
low praying mantis stance and strike with right praying mantis hand, fingers
are outside, left hand is by head. - Circle right open
hand counterclockwise back to 3, then over head, leaning upper body and head
back to 12, right hand continues its sweep around to 12 and 9 and then
sweeps at 3, as left hand sweeps counterclockwise to 6 and then to 3. - Jump to a feet
together crouch, with both arms clasping body, right arm on top of left. - Jump up, feet
together, facing 3, right fist swings outright to 6, left fist rises to face
with left elbow towards 12. - Step back with
left towards 12 into high xu bu, as right arm (straight) circles clockwise
down to knees, towards 12, up over head, and then down again in front of
body by knees, facing 6, with praying mantis hands. Left arm circles
clockwise to 3, down to feet, back to 12 and up over head, also with praying
mantis hands. - Jump towards 6
into gong bu position, with right thrust punch to 6. - Left thrust punch
to 6. - Right thrust
punch to 6 - Left open hand
strikes out over right as you turn counterclockwise with left foot moving
towards 6; move into gong bu facing 12, right elbow strike to 12, slapping
left palm against forearm. - Circle left fist
counterclockwise back to 6, then up over head; circle right fist back
counterclockwise to 6, bring up over head, and then grab opponent at 12,
holding arms close to body, right over left. - Fall down into
low praying mantis stance, with right praying mantis hand striking to 6 and
left striking to 12. - Circle right hand
clockwise down to floor, back to 12, up over head, and then to the right of
body and behind body; step with left towards 430 into gong bu, strike
towards 6 with right knife hand, left hand palm down on top of right
shoulder. - Stand up on right
leg, left leg slightly raised towards 12, right hand circles in back to body
and then upright to 6 with open hand; left hand falls to right armpit. - Left hand slides
down body to behind body; then right arm sweeps down towards 12, as you fall
into a crouch. - Both hands, palm
down, circle horizontally in front of body, right goes right to left, left
goes left to right, as you gently rise up. Left leg also rises up rearward
towards 6. Both hands end up as praying mantis hands, high above your head,
left leg held up rearwards towards 6. - Bring both hands
straight armed down quickly as left knee rises up towards 12. - Bring both hands
back to chest, step forward towards 12 with left into low praying mantis
stance, striking out with left praying mantis hand, fingers pointing
downward, right praying mantis hand by left armpit. - Stand up, step
forward towards 12 with right into high xu bu, right arm swings under left
as left returns to body, then right praying mantis hand strikes up to block
by left face, left praying mantis hand strikes out towards 12, fingers aimed
towards right. - Step forward with
left into high xu bu, both hands swing to right, with left praying mantis
hand blocking near right face, right praying mantis hand striking towards
12, fingers face left. - Step forward to
12 with right as right hand circles down and back to body, body leaning
forward, left hand palm up heads towards floor, then left leg goes up in air
behind you and strike out to 12 with right praying mantis hand, returning
left praying mantis hand to body. - Step back with
left into high xu bu, as left thrust punch strikes to 12, right returns to
horse. - Keeping right
foot forward towards 12, jump up and land in gong bu towards 12, with right
thrust punch to 12, left returns to horse. - Left open palm to
12, over right fist, as left leg steps behind and towards 12, turning body
to face to 6, end in gong bu facing 6. - Right elbow
strike to 6 with left palm slapping right forearm. - Keeping feet
planted, move to gong bu facing 12, keeping left palm under right elbow,
with right back fist strike to 12. - Left palm strikes
upward, as right foot steps forward to 12, right arm returns to behind body
and strikes to 12 in thrust punch, left palm on top of right arm. - Run towards 12
with left, right, left, then jump off of right to do tornado kick, land in
ma bu facing 3 then either left back kick or circular back kick to 12,
landing in gong bu facing 12, right foot towards 12, left towards 6, with
right thrust punch to 12, left hand on right arm. - Keeping left hand
on right arm, twist upper body to face 3, bringing right fist upward, arm
horizontal and bent, blocking towards 6. - Stand up on
right, left foot at right knee, with both arms going up and then dropping
down with praying mantis hands, right to 6, left to 12, both arms
outstretched and parallel with ground. - Step back with
left towards 12, turning body to face 6, swinging left arm clockwise up to
sky, down to 6, right fist swings clockwise back to body, right foot steps
back towards 12 past left, left fist swings down to ground, right fist goes
down to behind right side of body and then swings up behind body, as left
fist returns up behind body, to swing around in front of chest; right arm
continues its circle coming down as a straight armed strike towards 6,
resting on left fist. End up in high xu bu position facing 6. - Step on left leg,
bringing right leg behind left knee, do one praying mantis roll with arms,
and lunge towards 6 into praying mantis stance, striking with right, left at
chest or armpit, fingers down. - Moving via a ma
bu position, end up in praying mantis stance towards 12, circle right hand
over head and bring it down and in front of chest; left hand circles
downward to rear to a threatening circling position towards 12, fingers are
down. - Stand up circling
both open hands from 6 and 12 up over head, then down in front of body,
together as you breathe out. Hands stop at sides.
ShaoLin Quan
ShaoLin Quan
Shaolin Quan is an alternate name of traditional Chang Quan. It refers to a style which spread throughout China and is now regarded as one of the major components of Chang Quan. Its main skills are striking, kicking, kicking, throwing and manipulating. Its style can be summed as fast, hard, agile and simple.
Fast--The movements should be quick. As the Shaolin sayings go, "The fist has form, but the strike seems formless," and "The movements are like the wind, and as agile as a monkeys's."
Hard---Movement should be strong, but not stiff and inflexible.
Agile---Movements should never be predictable, but full of unexpected, yet smooth changes. Movements should not be obvious to the opponent in order to put him off guard and baffle him by feigning attacks. At the same time, movements should be nimble, not heavy and stiff. As the saying goes: "Elegant as a cat, fierce as a tiger, moving like a dragon, and standing fast as a nail."
Simple---Movements should be simple, without a complicated pattern of postures. A Shaolin Quan saying says,"The fist strikes along a line, straight to the target." Rising, descending, advancing, retreating, turning back and moving sideways should be powerful and simple, excuted along one line and within the distance of two or three paces.
Shaolin Quan has spread widely. There are more than 300 Shaolin Quan routines practiced in China today. Among these are Dahong Quan(Great Red boxing); XiaoHong Quan(Lesser Red boxing); LuoHan Quan; QingLong ChuHai Quan(Dragon-raising from the sea boxing); ChaoYang Quan(Turn to the Sun boxing) and many others.
History
Shaolin Monastery and Shaolin Wushu
Shaolin Quan is one of China's most well known traditional Wushu, its name originating from the Shaolin Monastery.The monastery is situated in Henan Province, 13km northwest of DengFeng country town at the western foot of Mt. Songshan. The name Shaolin comes from the fact that the monastery is nestled in the woods(lin) below the shady northen slope of Shaoshi Peak.
Shaolin Monastery was built in 495 under the patronage of Emperor Xiaowen (reigned 471-500) of the Northen Wei Dynasty, to accommodate a visting Indian monk, Bodhiharma. During the 1,500 years of its history, it has gone through many ups and downs; at times a vast thriving establishment, at others suffering decline and disaster.
In 573, Emperor Wudi (reigned 561-579) of the Northen Zhou Dynasty prohibited the Buddhist and Taoist religions. The Shaolin Monastery was abandoned. After 581, Emperor Wendi (reigned 581-605) of the Sui Dynasty revived Buddhism, granting the monastery 10,000 mu (666 hectares) of land and providing subsistence for the monks. Not long after, however, wide spread uprisings and wars against the Sui resulted in the monastery being razed to the ground, with only a stone pagoda left standing.
By the reign of the Tang Dynasty Emperor TaiZong (reigned 627-650), the monastery flourished once more, again in possession of more than 600 hectares of land, buildings with a total of more than 5,000 rooms, over 1,000 monks, and its own army and statutes.
In 1312, Emperor RenZhong (reigned 1312-1321) of the Yuan Dynasty ennobled the abbot of the Shaolin Monastery as the Great Master of the Void and the Duke of Jin. However, at the end of the Yuan Dynasty, it met again with disaster, once more being consumed by fire. The buildings remaining today date from the Ming and Qing dynasties, and the title plaque, ShaoLin Monastery, above the main entrance was written by Emperor KangXi (reigned 1662-1723) of the Qing dynasty. Unfortunately, its troubles were not over yet. In 1928, during a battle between feuding warlords, Shi YouSan sent troops to burn the monastery. The fire raged for more than 40 days, reducing most of the main halls to ashes and destroying many cultural relics.
After 1949, the People's Goverment put the Shaolin Monastery under protection and began
repairing its buildings. Fully restored, it is now open to tourists.
Founder of Shaolin Quan
Historical material suggests that almost immediately after its founding, self-defence or some other form of physical training was part of life in the monastery. The account of Chan Master Zhou is interesting. It is is said that when he entered the monastery as a weak boy he was often bullied, so he decided to learn martial arts, which made him physically tough and skilled in combat.
Whatever the origins of Shaolin WuShu, by the end of the Sui Dynasty(581-618), the outstanding combat skills of the Shaolin monks became well known. At that time, Li ShiMin, Prince of Qin, was leading his troops against his military rival, Wang ShiChong at LuoYang. Li heard of the fighting skills of the Shaolin monks and called upon them to help him. The monks responded by capturing Wang's nephew, thus aiding the defeat of Wang and the founding of the Tang Dynasty by Li ShiMin. Li rewarded the monks with titles, bestowing more land and privileges on their monastery and erecting a stele(an inscribed pillar) recording their archievements. The monastery precincts were expanded and the system of monk-soldiers was established. The fame of Shalin Wushu spread across China. Have you seen the film Shaolin Monastery, which was based on the story of the monk soldiers who helped Li ShiMin with their fighting skills?
From this time on, the monastery became a great centre for the development and practice of WuShu. Practice became more varied: armed and unarmed skills, calvary and infantry combat were developed. Skilled Wushu masters were frequently invited from all parts of China to teach the monks.
Hence many times in its history, the Shaolin Monastery became a focal point for WuShu , assimilating what was best in the different schools of martial arts.
According to records, the wushu practised at the monastery in different periods was varied in style and content. Among the unarmed combat styles were those resembling the fast and agile Chang Quan. Others were powerful, like Nan Quan, or emphasized the use of will and the mind as well as breathing like XingYi Quan(will-mind boxing) and Rou Quan(soft boxing); still others imitated animal movements like LuoHan Quan(Arhat boxing) and Hou Quan(Monkey boxing).
Shaolin staff skills were especially famous, although all the 18 military weapons were practised. In addition, many others forms of exercise evolved, such as Standing Pole Exercise, Hard Skills, Light Skills and Qi Gong(breathing exercise). Years of treading and stamping have worn depressions in the brick floor of the Shaolin Monastery's Hall of Thousand Buddhas where the monks used to pratise WuShu.
As the fame of Shaolin WuShuspread, Shaolin monks received imperial summons to fight several times. They fought against Japanese pirates, who plundered the Chinese coast, wreaking havoc among the local people from the 14th century on, during the Ming Dynasty. After an imperial call, Shaolin monks led by Yue Kong and Da ZaoHua engaged the Japanese pirates in the area around present-day Shanghai. Records say that these monks soldiers fought bravely, wielding iron staffs. In one encounter, they relieved the seige on Shanghai. Later, however, they were all killed by Japanese pirates who lured them into an ambush.
Today, Shaolin Monastery and its WuShu are as famous as ever, its varied, artistic styles providing popular at home and abroad.
ShaoLin Monk Generation Names
1. Fu Yu Hui Ju
2. Hui
3. Zhi
4. Zi
5. Jue
6. Zi
7. Ben
8. Yuan
9. Ke
10. Wu
11. Zhou
12. Hung
13. Pu
14. Guang
15. Zong
16. Dao
17. Qing
18. Tong
19. Xuan
6. Zi
7. Ben
8. Yuan
9. Ke
10. Wu
11. Zhou
12. Hung
13. Pu
14. Guang
15. Zong
16. Dao
17. Qing
18. Tong
19. Xuan
20. Zu
21. Qing
22. Jing
23. Zhen
24. Ru
25. Hai
26. Zan
27. Ji
28. Chun
29. Chen
30. Su
31. De
32. Xing
33. Yong
34. Yan
35. Heng
36. Miao
37. Ti
38. Chang
It should be noted that this lineage does not begin wih ShaoLin's founder, Ta Mo. Multiple schools are emerged from Ta Mo. These were all formalized into one school by the eminent monk Fu Yu Hui Ju. He is considered first in the lineage but not the founder.
Brand New ShaoLin blog
After few years of hosting the website with Lycos Tripod, I think is the time for a big change. We will bring a new design and concept for ShaoLin content posting through Blog. The migration should be complete during this few week with lots of new stuff that you like. Anyway, Hope you still support me!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)