Northern Shaolin Style Kung fu

Northern Shaolin Kung fu as taught By Sifu Wong Jackman

Northern Shaolin is a remarkable achievement of the human race.  Almost all modern martial arts claim to trace their ancient origins to the  Shaolin Temple.  If they do not claim direct lineage they will cite Shaolin Temple martial arts as a pivotal influence.  The Shaolin Temple was responsible for a deep integration of martial, medical, and spiritual knowledge within a unique aesthetic design.  This marked a distinct evolution from the previous more technically oriented martial skills employed by warriors in the past. This art has profound cultural and historic value within the Chinese peoples.  

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2. While Shaolin has become a generic term or category heading referring to a variety of martial arts styles that originated at the temple or were fundamentally influenced by the  temple.  The art defined as Northern Shaolin is in fact a distinct  style  that was created 800 years ago as a brilliant synthesis of five earlier arts and methods practiced at the temple.  This art then become a standard curriculum and represented a pure expression of the Temples martial, spiritual, and aesthetic values.
   

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3. The heart of  the Northern Shaolin System are ten long sequences of movements practiced without weapons.  These are called the Ten Forms.  These forms are an encyclopedia of the most dangerous and effective techniques ever created.  The techniques cover every branch of unarmed combat including striking, kicking, locking the joints, striking vital points, ground fighting, and throwing. 
   

Northern Shaolin has six elements.  These are:

1. Foundation Training – Foundation training means building the foundation of your Kung Fu.  Foundation training includes stretching exercises, strengthening exercises, stance and footwork training, leaping and tumbling drills, striking drills, and kicking drills.  The Muscle Tendon Changing Exercises are the quintessential foundation of Northern Shaolin.  Because of the combination of breathing, stretching, and Qi cultivation the Muscle Tendon Changing Classic deeply transforms the body; that is the real foundation.  However, the basic techniques of the art also need to be practiced and developed to a high degree.  Practicing kicks outside of the forms in kicking drills is especially helpful, fun, and necessary.
   

1. Northern Shaolin Empty Hand Forms – Empty Hand Forms are the core of the Northern Shaolin.  Empty Hand forms are sequences of movements utilizing precise body position to practice the offensive and defensive techniques of Northern Shaolin.  The art of Northern Shaolin is built around the Ten Forms.  These forms have a long and amazing history.   They are famous for their fighting effectiveness, extreme athleticism, beauty, and essentially classic Kung Fu style.  This is an awesome body of material.  Complex yet internally coherent, profoundly structured, and directly executed these forms are an encyclopedia of the best of the best of the Shaolin Temple. 
   

1. Northern Shaolin Weapon Forms – Weapon Forms are sequences of movements practiced while holding a weapon.  Each form contains all the techniques of an entire style of weapons fighting.  Each of these forms is one that you could stake your life on in an ancient Chinese battlefield.  These are elite level forms that develop a high level skill in weapons use.
   

1. Two Person Drills and Free Sparring – Two Person drills are exercises done with a partner to develop skill in applying specific techniques or learning general self-defense skills like dodging.  Free sparring with a competitive partner develops you real fighting ability and brings all of the other elements together.
   

1. Northern Shaolin Two Person Forms –Two Person Forms are routines practiced with a partner.  In these forms the partners alternate roles of offense and defense.  Using skillful evasions to create the opportunities for victory makes these forms fun and a vital bridge between solo forms and free sparring.
   

1. Northern Shaolin Two Person Weapons Forms - Two person weapons forms help students learn how to really apply the movements in the weapons forms and understand how to use their weapons.  The are also fantastic for developing bravery, focus, and hand to eye coordination.  These forms are also very fun and exciting to practice and watch.