Shaolin Five Animal Set Performed By Grandmaster Wong Kiew Kit
The Three Jewels of Shaolin
The Three Jewels of Shaolin are Shaolin Kung Fu, Shaolin Cosmos Chi Kung and Zen. Participants in the Zen & Business Courses will NOT be required to perform any Kung Fu. Participants will learn some Chi Kung and they will certainly be taught Zen but not perhaps in the conventional way as it is perceived in popular culture i.e sitting cross-legged on the ground. Executives who attend the Zen & Business courses can at the very least expect to feel extremely relaxed and fresh during the course. No strenuous exercise is on the curriculum for the Zen & Business Course.
In fact, Zen pervades and subsumes the other Shaolin Arts. Unlike other martial arts which engage in mind-training with the aim of becoming better fighters, all of Shaolin martial practice and Chi Kung is ultimately aimed at and is a form of Mind-Training. When we perform a Kung Fu set, we perform it in a Zen State-of-Mind. To practice Chi Kung properly and get the best benefit, we should perform it in a Chi Kung-State-of-Mind which is essentially in a Zen State-of-Mind. As one becomes more adept through Kung Fu and Chi Kung, at entering into this state-of-mind (which can be learned and simply takes practice), the practitioner begins to enter into that state of deep connectedness at will and eventually to reside therein, living a fully engaged and true human life.
In fact, Zen pervades and subsumes the other Shaolin Arts. Unlike other martial arts which engage in mind-training with the aim of becoming better fighters, all of Shaolin martial practice and Chi Kung is ultimately aimed at and is a form of Mind-Training. When we perform a Kung Fu set, we perform it in a Zen State-of-Mind. To practice Chi Kung properly and get the best benefit, we should perform it in a Chi Kung-State-of-Mind which is essentially in a Zen State-of-Mind. As one becomes more adept through Kung Fu and Chi Kung, at entering into this state-of-mind (which can be learned and simply takes practice), the practitioner begins to enter into that state of deep connectedness at will and eventually to reside therein, living a fully engaged and true human life.
Kung Fu
Combat Application of Shaolin Kungfu
Kungfu, in western languages, normally refers to Chinese martial art. In the Chinese language the present official term for martial art is wushu. However, due to various reasons, one of the most important of which is that the present Chinese government wishes to promote wushu as a sport rather than a fighting art, the term "wushu" when used in the West often connotes a demonstrative form, whereas the term "kungfu" suggests a combative art.
Chen Style Tai Chi Quan
Internal and External
There are many styles or schools of kungfu. Traditionally these numerous styles are divided into two major groups, namely internal kungfu and external kungfu. The three well known internal kungfu styles are Taijiquan (Tai Chi Chuan), Baguazhang (Pakua Palm), and Xingyiquan (Hsing Yi Kungfu). External kungfu includes Shaolin Kungfu and all its derived styles.It is important to bear in mind that this division into internal and external kungfu is arbitrary and provisional. Actually there are more internal aspects in Shaolin Kungfu than in all the three famous internal styles put together!
There are many styles or schools of kungfu. Traditionally these numerous styles are divided into two major groups, namely internal kungfu and external kungfu. The three well known internal kungfu styles are Taijiquan (Tai Chi Chuan), Baguazhang (Pakua Palm), and Xingyiquan (Hsing Yi Kungfu). External kungfu includes Shaolin Kungfu and all its derived styles.It is important to bear in mind that this division into internal and external kungfu is arbitrary and provisional. Actually there are more internal aspects in Shaolin Kungfu than in all the three famous internal styles put together!
Internal Aspects of Shaolin Huaquan
This may appear to be a wild claim to some people, but if we take the time to examine the internal arts taught in Taijiquan, Baguazhang and Xingyiquan, we shall discover that all these arts are also found in Shaolin Kungfu.For example, meditation to develop mind, gentle movements to engender energy flow, and "zhang-zhuang" (stance training) to develop internal force, which are crucial training methods in all these three internal schools of kungfu, are also found in Shaolin Kungfu. On the other hand, some internal Shaolin arts like "one-finger Zen" and "tiger claw", are not found in the internal schools.
This may appear to be a wild claim to some people, but if we take the time to examine the internal arts taught in Taijiquan, Baguazhang and Xingyiquan, we shall discover that all these arts are also found in Shaolin Kungfu.For example, meditation to develop mind, gentle movements to engender energy flow, and "zhang-zhuang" (stance training) to develop internal force, which are crucial training methods in all these three internal schools of kungfu, are also found in Shaolin Kungfu. On the other hand, some internal Shaolin arts like "one-finger Zen" and "tiger claw", are not found in the internal schools.
Huaquan
External Form of Tai Chi Quan
Then, why is Shaolin Kungfu usually referred to as external, while Tai Chi Quan, Baguazhang and Xingyiquan are referred to as internal? The reason for calling Tai Chi Quan, Baguazhang and Xingyiquan internal is quite straight-forward. All these arts emphasize internal training like visualization, internal energy flow and zhang-zhuang, and pay little attention to external training like leg stretching, hitting sand-bags and lifting weights.
If you practice Tai Chi Quan, Baguazhang and Xingyiquan, but have little or no experience in visualization, internal energy flow and zhang-zhuang, then you probably have been practising only their external forms, and have missed the essence of these internal arts.
Shaolin Kungfu is generally referred to as external because most of the people who practise it usually exhibit only the external aspects of the Shaolin arts, like demonstrating beautiful unarmed or weapon sets, and breaking bricks with the Shaolin Iron palm. Because Shaolin Kungfu is so extensive, and its internal aspects are usually taught only after the students have been familiar with its external forms, not many people have the chance or patience to progress to this internal level of Shaolin Kungfu where the training of mind and energy is emphasized.
If you practice Tai Chi Quan, Baguazhang and Xingyiquan, but have little or no experience in visualization, internal energy flow and zhang-zhuang, then you probably have been practising only their external forms, and have missed the essence of these internal arts.
Shaolin Kungfu is generally referred to as external because most of the people who practise it usually exhibit only the external aspects of the Shaolin arts, like demonstrating beautiful unarmed or weapon sets, and breaking bricks with the Shaolin Iron palm. Because Shaolin Kungfu is so extensive, and its internal aspects are usually taught only after the students have been familiar with its external forms, not many people have the chance or patience to progress to this internal level of Shaolin Kungfu where the training of mind and energy is emphasized.
Wudang Cotton Palm 武當棉花掌 performed by Grandmaster Wong Kiew Kit
Chaquan
Northern and Southern Shaolin
Besides the parental Shaolin Kungfu, there are many styles derived from it. Broadly, it may be classified into Northern Shaolin and Southern Shaolin.Northern Shaolin, which includes styles like Huaquan, Chaquan, Praying Mantis and Eagle Claw, emphasizes long-reaching strikes and kicking attacks.
Southern Shaolin, which includes Hoong Ka, Wing Choon, White Crane and Choy-Li-Fatt, emphasizes close combat and hand techniques.
Besides the parental Shaolin Kungfu, there are many styles derived from it. Broadly, it may be classified into Northern Shaolin and Southern Shaolin.Northern Shaolin, which includes styles like Huaquan, Chaquan, Praying Mantis and Eagle Claw, emphasizes long-reaching strikes and kicking attacks.
Southern Shaolin, which includes Hoong Ka, Wing Choon, White Crane and Choy-Li-Fatt, emphasizes close combat and hand techniques.
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Importance of Self-Defence
Irrespective of whatever style you practise, you must be able to defend yourself if you practise kungfu; otherwise your training becomes meaningless, because the term 'kungfu' means martial art. But kungfu, unlike many other martial arts, is generally non-aggressive and non-brutal although it is very effective for combat. Some kungfu exponents may be aggressive. In my opinion this is due to the attitude and policy of their respective instructors, rather than to the art itself. |
Hoong Ka Kung Fu
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The Highest Achievement
If we examine the philosophy of the various styles of kungfu, we can find that they generally emphasize tolerance, respect for elders, righteousness and love for life. Such a philosophy is in contrast to that of some martial arts which advocate hurting or even killing the opponent at all cost, including the inevitability of hurting oneself in the process. In great kungfu styles like Shaolin Kungfu and Taijiquan, the highest aim is beyond mere fighting; it is achieving the highest attainment any person can wish to have, i.e. spiritual fulfilment, called by different names according to one's culture and religious belief, such as enlightenment, merging with the great void, return to God's kingdom, and Union with the Supreme Reality.
If we examine the philosophy of the various styles of kungfu, we can find that they generally emphasize tolerance, respect for elders, righteousness and love for life. Such a philosophy is in contrast to that of some martial arts which advocate hurting or even killing the opponent at all cost, including the inevitability of hurting oneself in the process. In great kungfu styles like Shaolin Kungfu and Taijiquan, the highest aim is beyond mere fighting; it is achieving the highest attainment any person can wish to have, i.e. spiritual fulfilment, called by different names according to one's culture and religious belief, such as enlightenment, merging with the great void, return to God's kingdom, and Union with the Supreme Reality.
