Shaolin Temple Community

Gong Fu, Wushu or Wugong?

2006-04-19T17:01:08+08:00

Although there are numerous schools of traditional Chinese martial arts flourishing across China, the Shaolin martial arts School form a particularly important part of the cultural heritage passed down by the forefathers of the Shaolin temple. These arts sometimes called Shaolin Gongfu (少林功夫) or Shaolin Wugong (少林武功), are unique and brilliant and belong to the body of greater traditional Chinese Martial arts.

The terms ”Shaolin Gongfu” and “Shaolin Wushu” are used so easily today to reference almost any kind of martial art that comes from China, or any school that appears to teach Shaolin Martial arts. But what is the meaning of Wushu? “Wushu (武術)”, means martial arts (originally included the self-cultivation of all the arts of war such as horsemanship, archery, swordsmanship, etc. It is now classified as a sport.) On the other hand, Gongfu (功夫) translated as Meritorious Deeds and it is the Buddhist monk’s daily stint. Because of the martial arts practiced by Shaolin monks in daily base as one of their daily stints the term “Gongfu” has been diluted by its use and many now do not understand the difference between Seng Gongfu (僧功夫) and any Chinese martial art.

The famous Shaolin Wugong is actually a comprehensive cultural and spiritual system rather than a mere boxing art. Martial arts are only part of Shaolin Wugong’s abundant cultural heritage (chin.: guogu 國故) accumulated over 1,500 years; widely regarded as the cradle of Shaolin Boxing and Chan of the Chinese Buddhism.

Because of its philosophic sophistication and technical subtlety, Shaolin Wugong has become a term familiar to practically every part of the world. The Shaolinsi has been training Shaolin Martial Arts practitioners from every part of the world. Shaolin martial arts are able to engender an unusual mighty catalytic mechanism in the body of a practitioner; and the mechanism functioning like a catalyst can ruddily bring his prowess potential and latent physical strength into full play. As time elapses, fame of the Shaolin Temple has been spreading worldwide because of its seemingly supernatural attributes.

Can a western become a Shaolin monk?

2006-05-03T09:54:35+08:00

I was wondering since i live in the U.S. if i could go to Shaolin and become a monk?

Shaolin Wushu Team 1979?

2010-08-03T06:51:09+08:00

Having read that Shaolin Wushu Team (少林武术队shaolin wushu dui), the precurser of the Shaolin Kungfu Monk Corps (林寺武僧团shaolin wusengtuan), was founded in 1979, i was surprised, that it was so early, and also wondering, who has established it and who participated. Isn’t 1979 the year of the official re-opening of the temple, and haven’ there been only about 8 or few more mostly aged monks left in the temple?

Amituofo

Namo Amituofo Chant

2010-07-19T01:47:09+08:00

Namo Amituofo, what a beautiful phrase!

While sincerely chanting Namo Amituofo a wonderful peaceful calm can be experienced. In striving to study and live according to Buddhist teachings, contained in the first five precepts, one can actually find it possible to manage emotions caused by hectic and stressful daily living. To do so, in my case, when the going gets rough, chanting or just repeating Namo Amituofo sincerely often brings things back into perspective.

Transgressions in Practise

2010-06-14T00:16:30+08:00

Amituofo

How easy it is to gradually slip back as one becomes more comfortable emotionally and mentally when practising (to some degree) the teachings of Buddhism. It hit ime like a bolt of lightening when it became obvious that I was actually allowing the personality I was trying to change for the past 2 years to surface again!! Old selfish habits were sneaking back. This was very uncomfortable to admit. Thankfully, one of the many benefits of Buddhist teachings is that the tools are available and when put in to practise can help one to recognizle transgression and get back ‘on track’.

Shaolin wugong selfdefense

2010-05-02T17:15:58+08:00

Namo Amituofo

This topic has been annoying me for many years so i was hoping to learn some insights here.
At the Shaolin Temple and nearby schools of Shaolin martial arts i have only seen the practise of forms(Tao Lu), conditioning and kickboxing(San Da).

I have never seen anyone practise the practical applications of the old forms or seen anyone using some of these movements while sparring. It seems to be either forms with no partner practise of practical applications or San Da, which is basically like kickboxing with a few throws. It has very little to do with Shaolin wugong as far as i understand things.

So there is a lot of forms practise of ancient techniques and then when someone is going to spar all that is thrown away and turned into kickboxing. I just dont get it.

I have spent about 8 years with a mix of knock down karate and Muay Thai and the techniques learned there are always put to the test in a sparring session with an opponent.

So my question is how, in ancient times, the Shaolin monks could test their techniques freely and spontaneously on some one who resists and do things at his own will if sparring was never done? I find it hard to understand this. Not to mention the psycological preparation for dealing with someone who wants to hammer you.

I really dont mean to insult someone with this post, and i realise that it can seem a bit arrogant. However this is not intentional!
I just dont get this and would like to hear if others have had the same puzzles going on - and if someone knows how this was done/perhaps still is being done? I have never seen anyone putting their traditional wugong techniques to the test in sparring.

One “excuse” always seems to be “well, its too dangerous, we cant do it safely”. If this is true how can it be tested out then? Also, i would imagine that with all the new safety equipment of today a lot of things could be done anyway.

Hoping for feedback.

Amituofo.

Shi De Qiang

Hello

2010-06-13T09:41:39+08:00

Hi everybody,

It has been a long time since i didn’t get connected into the website. LOL. Almost 2 years.

I can still see that the forum is alive and some old users that i know still here, Like LFJ and OLDMAN,etc....

Now im back, and established in Canada.

Have a good day everybody.

Meditation instructor in Berlin

2010-06-02T16:36:00+08:00

Hello all!

I have recently moved to berlin and I am looking for someone who could (and would want to) instruct me in Buddhist meditation.
I would be happy if someone here would be able to point me to someone, or to a starting point in my quest.

I am also looking for where I could practice Shaolin Kung Fu in Berlin. The well known sources such as the (official) Shaolin Temple are far from where I live (in the east Part of town), and they are so expensive… Any ideas?

Thank you! Amituofo!

Shaolin Temple’s homepage - in English !

2010-06-09T02:00:58+08:00

Since a couple of days Shaolin temple’s homepage has a section in English! Finally!
It covers various themes, as: Events and Activities, the Temple and its “Subsidiary shrines “(下院), Chan (even with Xu Yun’s “Discourse in the Chan Hall"), Buddhism, Gongfu, Art, the Sangha, Charity and more.
Enjoy!:
http://www.shaolin.org.cn/en/index.aspx

Amituofo

Venerable Shi Suxi

2010-05-10T04:52:29+08:00

Namo Amituofo all

I have tried to access the article on the late Shi Suxi but am not allowed to read the whole article(for senior members only).

Would it be possible to have a copy sent on email?
I would really like to know more about this remarkable man and feel that this site is the right place to search for info about him. I would at the same time ask permission to share this article with my “elderbrother” Shi De Qin alias Jeffrey J kelly in the United States, who spent more than two years together with Shifu in the period 1986 to 1989, and was completely “shattered to pieces” when learning of Shifus death in 2006.

I respect ofcourse the copyrights of this site and would not share it with anyone else without your permission.

Hoping for your positive feedback moderators and site owners.

Amituofo

Shi De Qiang