At
the School of Shaolin Kung Fu we teach the following styles:
(details about each style below)
Northern
Shaolin
Seven Star Praying Mantis
Tai Chi Praying Mantis
Tai Chi Chuan
Chin-Na (Self-defense)
Shuai-Chiao (Chinese Wrestling)
San Shou (Free Sparring/Lei Tai)
Northern
Shaolin (view
our lineage)
Northern
Shaolin is part of the Shaolin Long Fist (Chang Chuan) family.
Chang Chuan is considered to be the original Kung Fu system
dating back thousands of years, and the most widely practiced
system in China today. It is one of the five major systems developed
in Northern China. They include Wa, Cha, Fa, Pao, and Hung or
Shaolin. The School of Shaolin teaches the traditional Northern
Shaolin System in its entirety. Northern Shaolin utilizes all
conceivable ways of using one’s hands, feet and body movement.
This system, known for its high kicks and swift footwork, specializes
in long-range fighting techniques. The hand techniques are executed
with quick tension and short focusing time that allows for fast,
flowing movement and quick changes. More than other systems,
emphasis is placed on agility, general flexibility, stamina,
speed and aesthetics. The Shaolin practitioner is known for
acrobatic, but devastating kicks. Classical form is very important
to the Northern Shaolin system, arising form the belief that
perfection of form will give you greater coordination and a
freer execution of techniques.
At
the School of Shaolin the Northern Shaolin curriculum includes
many hand, weapon, and sparring sets.
Seven
Star Praying Mantis
(view our lineage)
The
Praying Mantis system started when a Chinese Martial Artist
named Wong Long needed to perfect his fighting ability. By chance
he observed a praying mantis in battle. As he watched, he was
amazed how well it fought and protected itself and also how
it easily defeated a much larger opponent. He decided to study
the mantis' techniques, and developed the trademark of Praying
Mantis, the Mantis Claw (gou),a grabbing motion that derives
all of its power from the wrist and forearm. Wong Long also
observed the manner in which monkeys move and from that created
the Mantis "monkey step", a quick and balanced method
of footwork.
Seven
Star Praying Mantis techniques stress that one hand should be
used to defend at all times. The guarding hand is kept up and
centered around the front and the other hand should remain free
to execute the next move whether offensive or defensive. This
means that two or three movements are happening at once. This
is very effective for infighting techniques. The stances and
foot movements along with the hand techniques can be intricate
and demanding but with practice can be perfected. Classical
form is also very important to the Seven Star Praying Mantis
stylist.
Tai
Chi Praying Mantis (view
our lineage)
The
famous fighting master and founder of the Northern Praying Mantis
system, Wong Long, had four disciples during the Ch'ing dynasty,
each claiming superior innovations and each seeking to be released
from the founding school. The master said their desires would
be granted on one condition, that each disciple name his system
after markings on the back of personally captured mantis. One
had the appearance of the Yin-yang symbol (Tai T'si), another
looked like a Plum blossom (Mei Hua) one with the marking of
7 stars (Tsi Tsing), and one with no marks at all called the
Bare Back (Kwing P'an).
The
Tai Mantis practitioner delivers most of his strikes with great
internal power, using a penetrating strike rather than sub-surface
impact. Power generates from the ground to the waist to the
technique. Parries are used more often than blocks, including
one unique defensive technique called the "trading off"
theory. Here, the practitioner will slightly deflect an opponent's
technique by quickly twisting his or her body to the side, or
he or she may even allow the technique to connect. In return,
he or she is situated very close to his or her opponent and
can strike back with a much more powerful blow, usually dead
center to the opponent. Due to the emphasis on these parries
and close proximity fighting, considerable effort is made to
toughen the arms, legs, and body by hitting hard objects, and
by two-man contact sparring. Indeed, it has been said, "If
you spar with a Tai Chi mantis, every time you hit him, you're
helping him train."
Tai
Chi Chuan
New
Tai Chi Classes!
More information will be available later on this style... Please
check back.
Chin-Na
Chin
Na has taken a firm hold as a leading Chinese martial arts system
ever since its emergence approximately 400 years ago during
the Ming Dynasty. Chin Na is rooted in ancient wrestling and
Tien’hsueh (attacking vital points), but can be traced
back to the very beginnings of martial arts, when the first
person was grabbed by another person and had to get away. Chin
Na evolved in the early 1600s when government officials sought
more restrained methods to subdue criminals without necessarily
killing them. Chin Na was devised as a system of capturing and
detaining. (Chin means "to capture", Na means "to
hold"). As refinements were developed in the subsequent
Ch’ing Dynasty (A.D. 1644-1911), Chin Na became part of
the basic training program for Chinese military personnel as
well as policemen. Emphasizing seizing, twisting, and locking
of the joints, Chin Na also employs short kicking, punching
and striking techniques similar to those of many other styles
of Kung Fu. The essential difference is that Chin Na does not
have prescribed performance sets or long forms of movement to
memorize and practice like most Chinese systems.
Shuai-Chiao
Shuai-Chiao,
a combination of all fighting techniques, carries out time,
speed, force, and angle to its highest potential, applying the
free use of strikes, kicks, holds, sweeps, and locks to the
end result of throwing or taking down the opponent.
San
Shou/Free Sparring/Lei Tai
Kung
Fu San Shou is a form of free sparring based on five categories
of techniques. The five include punches and kicks, leverages
and throws, pressure points, the power of the mind over the
body, and physical power. Kung Fu San Shou is not a sport or
a game, but a warrior discipline based on punches, kicks, nerve
attacks, take-downs, all executed in perfect rhythm. These techniques
can be changed instantly depending on the situation and do not
necessarily follow a set pattern.
