Shortfuse
19-Nov-2003, 11:58 PM
ok, from what i have gathered this is what sums up what i found out with the help pf this site and one other:
Shaolin Kung Fu can be broadly divided into Northern and Southern styles. Northern Shaolin Kung Fu often uses low stances, high kicks and long arm movements because in the cold winters people often wear heavy padded jackets which restrict arm motion and protect the body from light blows. Low stances help keep your balance on rough, hilly ground.
Southern Shaolin Kung Fu, on the other hand, often uses high stances, low kicks and more hand techniques. This style was often used by boatmen who had well-developed upper bodies from rowing boats. In China, when they talk about Kung Fu they say," Southern hand, Northern foot" .
Shaolin stances are often named for animals and imitate the movements of the tiger, snake, crane, leopard, monkey etc. Some of the wonderfully imaginative names are" golden rooster stands on one leg" ," wave hands at clouds" ," parting the wild horse' s mane" .
Shaolin Kung Fu styles are often called external styles, because they begin with strength training and physical conditioning. Tai Chi and other styles such as Hsing I (mind-body boxing) and Pa Kua (eight trigrams boxing) are called internal styles because they start trying to develop the internal Chi power at the beginning of training. The internal styles are practised for health and longevity as well as self-defence.
In addition to developing fighting techniques and the strength of the body, many Kung Fu masters say that long practice develops a mysterious" life force" called Chi. They say that this energy moves in channels throughout the body, and that when the energy is blocked anywhere the body becomes sick. Techniques like acupuncture are used to unblock the channels and restore the free flow of Chi. For this reason many Kung Fu masters are also doctors of traditional Chinese medicine. They say that if you learn to hurt the body, you must also learn to heal.
Kung Fu was once taught only to Chinese people, and even in China sometimes only to members of certain families. Nowadays it is taught all over the world, to people of all nations and races. The Chinese consider it a part of their heritage and are proud that the whole world wants to learn about their ancient culture.
(englishencyclopedia.com)
Shaolin Kung Fu can be broadly divided into Northern and Southern styles. Northern Shaolin Kung Fu often uses low stances, high kicks and long arm movements because in the cold winters people often wear heavy padded jackets which restrict arm motion and protect the body from light blows. Low stances help keep your balance on rough, hilly ground.
Southern Shaolin Kung Fu, on the other hand, often uses high stances, low kicks and more hand techniques. This style was often used by boatmen who had well-developed upper bodies from rowing boats. In China, when they talk about Kung Fu they say," Southern hand, Northern foot" .
Shaolin stances are often named for animals and imitate the movements of the tiger, snake, crane, leopard, monkey etc. Some of the wonderfully imaginative names are" golden rooster stands on one leg" ," wave hands at clouds" ," parting the wild horse' s mane" .
Shaolin Kung Fu styles are often called external styles, because they begin with strength training and physical conditioning. Tai Chi and other styles such as Hsing I (mind-body boxing) and Pa Kua (eight trigrams boxing) are called internal styles because they start trying to develop the internal Chi power at the beginning of training. The internal styles are practised for health and longevity as well as self-defence.
In addition to developing fighting techniques and the strength of the body, many Kung Fu masters say that long practice develops a mysterious" life force" called Chi. They say that this energy moves in channels throughout the body, and that when the energy is blocked anywhere the body becomes sick. Techniques like acupuncture are used to unblock the channels and restore the free flow of Chi. For this reason many Kung Fu masters are also doctors of traditional Chinese medicine. They say that if you learn to hurt the body, you must also learn to heal.
Kung Fu was once taught only to Chinese people, and even in China sometimes only to members of certain families. Nowadays it is taught all over the world, to people of all nations and races. The Chinese consider it a part of their heritage and are proud that the whole world wants to learn about their ancient culture.
(englishencyclopedia.com)