Frequently Asked Questions
This is the frequently asked question list.
1. Just what is kung fu anyway?
2. Is this the same as the "kung fu"
TV series?
3. Why the different spellings, "gung
fu" and "kung fu?"
4. How is kung fu different from karate, Judo,
or Tae Kwon Do?
5. What's the difference between northern and
southern Shaolin styles?
6. What is the philosophical basis of Shaolin
kung fu?
7. What is ch'i (qi)?
8. Why isn't my kung fu style listed in the
styles section?
9. Where did you get all this information?
10. I am finding it hard to find a Shaolin
school near me. What should I do?
11. What are some good books on Shaolin kung
fu?
12. I've heard that Shaolin is too much of a
"hard" style.
13. I've heard that Shaolin is too much of a
"soft" style.
14. How long would it take me to get a black
belt (or it's equivalent)?
15. You mean there are several black belt rank
levels?
16. You don't have very much history about some
styles. Could you add more?
17. Can you send me more information about
Shaolin?
18. I want to study at the Shaolin Temple in
China. Can you give me more information?
19. How can I follow the path of Shaolin?
20. Is Shaolin compatible with my particular
faith?.
21. If Chuck Norris, Jackie Chan, and
Jet Li were all locked in a room and had to fight it out,
who would really be the best?
1. Just what is kung fu anyway?
Kung fu, also spelled gung fu, is a generic term for martial arts
originating in China. A direct translation of the term would be "hard
work" or "effort". Shaolin is a subset of kung fu that was
studied in temples between around 500 AD until the destruction of the
temples in the early 1920's. Click here for a more detailed description of
Shaolin kung fu.
2. Is this the same as the "kung
fu" TV series?
Both of the styles seen on the original Warner Brothers series
(1971-1977), black crane or Chin Na (David Chow as technical advisor) in
the earlier shows and praying mantis (Kam Yuen as technical advisor) in
the later ones, are Shaolin kung fu styles. The philosophical content of
this series was mostly accurate (in our estimation, the temple flashbacks
were arguably the best part of the series). The more recent "Kung Fu:
The Legend Continues" (1992-) uses a random assortment of styles,
many, we suspect, devised just for a particular episode...
3. Why the different spellings, "Gung
Fu" and "kung fu?"
This is yet another result of western linguists confusing both eastern
and western speakers. In the once near-universal Wade-Giles spelling, a
Chinese "G" sound was written in English as "K", while
what the Chinese pronounced as "K" was transcribed as "K'
". Thus if kung fu were supposed to be pronounced with a
"k" sound, it would have been written as "k'ung fu."
When Bruce Lee introduced American audiences to his martial arts, he both
spoke and wrote the American "G", hence "gung fu."
Confused? Don't worry about it, so is everyone else....
4. How is kung fu different from Karate,
Judo, or Tae Kwon Do?
Judo is a sport that involves primarily throwing and grappling. It is
very similar to western wrestling, and was invented in the late 1800s by
Jigoro Kano, in Japan, specifically as a sport. Karate was originally an
Okinawan method of combat that almost completely dispenses with throws.
Its blocks are hard and it is a power oriented style. Tae Kwon Do is a
Korean art, similar to karate, that emphasizes the feet as weapons and is
also very power oriented.
Kung Fu has both hard and soft styles.
All styles teach the use of throws, grappling holds, weapons, and self
defense. It is therefore a more broad and complex system of combat than
many other styles. Similar non-Chinese martial arts include Jiu Jitsu
(Japan) and Hapkido (Korea)
5. What's the difference between northern
and southern styles?
There are no unique differences. Northern styles are typically more
foot/leg technique-oriented than southern styles, but there are many
notable exceptions. For example, the south's White Crane is more
acrobatic, aerial, and kick-oriented than most northern styles.
6. What is the philosophical basis of
Shaolin kung fu?
The Shaolin philosophy is a combination of philosophical Taoism
and Buddhism. The primary aim was to
follow the Tao, the way of Nature. Only thus could the practitioner be in
harmony with the Universe, and himself.
7. What is ch'i?
Ch'i is a basic concept in most Asian arts, martial and otherwise. It
is also known as prana (India) and ki (Japan), words which generally
translate into "breath." At the most simple level, ch'i is
described as the life force, or "electricity" of living things.
It is analogous to the energy that makes something alive, rather than
inanimate, and death is described as a body devoid of ch'i. It's
cultivation is taken almost on faith, via such arts as Dragon kung fu,
Ch'i Kung, and T'ai Chi Ch'uan. Thus, though difficult to define, measure,
or explain, ch'i lies at the root of martial
and meditative arts practices.
8. Why isn't my kung fu style listed in the styles
section?
Unfortunately, in the history of kung fu many thousands of styles have
existed at one time or another. For us to provide information on each of
these styles would be an exercise in futility. The web site is designed to
provide information on Shaolin styles of kung fu. What is a Shaolin style?
That question will be more fully answered in the styles
section at a later time, but we will give a small answer here, also. Over
the course of the 1500 or so years the Shaolin temples existed, many, many
outside styles, such as styles developed in villages, family (Pai) styles,
or in Taoist temples were at some point studied in the Shaolin temples.
But there is a difference between styles studied at some point in the
Shaolin temple and Shaolin styles.
The Shaolin Temples were something akin to universities, with strong
departments of martial arts studies; like universities, they studied many
arts that originated outside their walls. The confusion over what is or is
not a Shaolin art boils down to definitions. We define a "Shaolin
style" as such if the style originated in the temples, or by
instructors who were bona fide monks. This definition includes Wing Chun
(developed by three priests, one a "nun"), and Hung Gar (founded
by refugee Shaolin practitioners after the destruction of the Honan Temple
in the 1780s). At this web site, we specifically exclude styles that were
not (or were questionably) founded by priests or within the Temple. T'ai
Chi Ch'uan, Eight Drunken Immortals, Choy-Lay-Fut, Pa-Kua, and Eagle Claw,
for example, are thus specifically excluded (and, excepting Choy-Lay-Fut,
pre-date the origin of the Shaolin order!).
9. Where did you get all this information?
All the information on this web site comes directly or indirectly from
refugee Shaolin priests who fled China and emigrated to America before the
temples were destroyed in the 1920's.
10. I am finding it hard to find a Shaolin
school near me. What should I do?
Unfortunately, Shaolin schools are hard to find. Many people have sent
in feedback asking if we know of a school near them. The problem is that
many schools who consider themselves Shaolin do not teach anything close
to what is described on this web site. Some schools have left feedback
stating what they teach, but we are reluctant to put a list of
"Shaolin" schools on this web site without actually seeing the
practitioners. We are still considering how to solve this problem. For
now, we have created the Kwoon
to help readers in their search.
11. What are some good books on Shaolin kung
fu?
Take a look at the Suggested
Reading List. Unfortunately, "good" books are few and far
between. There is more quality to be found in philosophical texts and
histories than books on technique. We like books that cover form AND
application and that constitutes the majority of the books we cover.
12. I've heard that Shaolin is too much of a
"hard" style.
This is a favorite comment by many of the Taoist internal stylists. The
Taoist internal martial arts (T'ai Chi Ch'uan, Hsing-I, Pakua) believe
they are the only styles that teach how to use ch'i in a martial art. The
Shaolin system is one which takes the position that both external and
internal training are necessary for students. Unfortunately, many schools
that refer to themselves Shaolin forsake the soft, or internal, techniques
of the style for the more readily useful hard technique, thus earning the
reputation stated above. For more information on the what an
"internal" and "external" style is and a description
of Shaolin styles, see the Styles
section.
13. I've heard that Shaolin is too much of a
"soft" style.
This is a comment heard often among Karate and Tae Kwon Do stylists. As
stated in the response to the last question, Shaolin takes the position
that both external and internal training are necessary for students.
Unfortunately, again, many schools that refer to themselves as Shaolin, in
their mistaken attempt to build up ch'i as quickly as possible, ignore the
above theory and focus only upon soft techniques, forsaking the physical
element that is necessary to generate power behind the technique itself.
We also find it interesting that many of the T'ai Chi Ch'uan
instructors assert that once you have studied a hard style, it is not
possible to learn the subtleties of a soft style. It would seem this
reflects more upon the inadequacy of the instructor than the style he/she
teaches. Chinese martial arts consist of thousands of styles, both hard
and soft. It is not uncommon for students of a hard style to seek out a
soft style to augment his training and vice-versa. In Shaolin, this is
accomplished within the style itself and thus proof that the above
assertion is false because the internal, or soft, aspects of Shaolin are
shown only after the student has a solid foundation in external technique.
For more information on the what an "internal" and
"external" style is and a description of Shaolin styles, see the
Styles section.
14. How long would it take me to get a black
belt (or it's equivalent)?
As long as it takes, no longer and rarely sooner. Unlike grade school
and college classes that must squirt people through in a given amount of
time, a martial art is boundless. That means that advancement is achieved
only after the student can DO a certain level of technique. If it takes a
month or a year, that is up to the student and his or her abilities, time
for practice, and other individual factors. However, many styles do
establish minimum times in grade before allowing students to advance to a
higher rank. While such a program may be useful (giving the student time
to be comfortable with the old before tackling the new), be wary of such
schools; often, the delay is a ploy to prolong student payments. All in
all, excepting the most threadbare styles and questionable requirements,
it takes at least three years for most skilled people to reach the lowest
level of black belt rank.
15. You mean there are several black belt
rank levels?
You bet. Most Japanese styles have ten black belt ranks, called dans
(Judo has 12, but numbers 11 and 12 may only be awarded posthumously),
while Chinese styles often have similar levels or degrees of disciple and
master ranks. The highest ranks for most styles wear a red, not black,
belt or sash, but there are many exceptions. In some family styles, a
light blue sash is reserved for the senior master, while other schools use
no rank belts at all.
16. You don't have very much history about
some styles. Could you add more?
We are adding material as fast as we are able. Unfortunately, we have
day jobs and are not able to update the site as much we would like. We do
read all your feedback and are working on the subjects most requested.
17. Can you send me more information?
If we had more information written, we would put it on the web site! We
do not have anything additional which we can send to readers.
18. I want to study at the Shaolin Temple in
China. Can you give me more information?
Unfortunately, the Shaolin temples were destroyed in the 1920's.
Recently, the Chinese government decided to refurbish the temple at Honan.
While martial arts are studied there today, this is a recent re-emergence
into the arts. Our contacts who have visited the Honan Temple (1985, 1988,
and 1999) report that what is taught is mostly Wushu and T'ai Chi Ch'uan.
Most of our contacts who have visited the Temple believe it is more a trendy tourist point (and, yes, a
good place to learn wu shu-but NOT kung fu) than a real effort to restore
the arts outlawed by successive Chinese governments from 1901 until 1990.
Jon Funk (Black Belt, March, 1996:21) has written a
controversial article entitled "The Shaolin Temple Hoax."
Because of the number of letters we receive about "the return of
Shaolin Masters" to the tourist-dedicated, refurbished Honan Temple,
we felt obliged to publicize Mr. Funk's laudatory effort. Our primary
sources for this Web-Page are exiled Shaolin monks (or the diaries left
behind by those who passed away in the 1970s), who assure us that Mr. Funk
is right-on-the-mark about the complete absence of anything even remotely
akin to bona fide Shaolin arts being taught at the Honan Temple
today.
Because so many of our letters are written by people who believe that
the Temple is now offering genuine Shaolin arts (despite our protestations
about "who do you think expelled/killed the old Shaolin in the early
twentieth century?"), we quote a short, but important, part of Mr.
Funk's article:
"The Chinese government, it should be remembered, is communist,
and doesn't want a religious group generating any ideas that don't conform
to the party line."
There is always going to be a gullible audience for
"too-good-to-be-true" claimants. We are delighted that a source
who is completely independent of our own, has come forward in such a
prestigious and public forum as Black Belt magazine to substantiate
our caveat.
Although the Chinese government believes that the mere presence of
martial arts instructors at the Honan temple lends them legitimacy, we
find it as unlikely as the current attempt by the same government to
countermand the Dalai Lama's choice for the reincarnated Panchen Lama. The
last of the genuine Shaolin practitioners either fled the country or were
killed during the civil wars of 1900-1931.
19. How can I follow the path of Shaolin?
We receive quite a bit of feedback requesting information on how to
find a "true" Shaolin master, from people who would like to
dedicate themselves to Shaolin. Many want to go to China and many will
travel anywhere to find this master. Unfortunately, actual Shaolin masters
are very difficult to find. The Shaolin order was scattered to the winds
with the destruction of its temples and persecution for its neutrality
during a bloody civil war that ravaged China early in this century. Those
that are true inheritors of the Shaolin tradition - the few that may be
left around the world - are by their nature discreet and unassuming. They
do not generally start schools in strip malls. While the name Shaolin
appears everywhere, the traditions and techniques behind the name are
rarely of direct origin form the order of Shaolin. Over the centuries,
Shaolin monks taught many techniques to soldiers and lay people who would
then transmit these teachings to others, resulting in many styles named
Shaolin, which in fact lost their connection to the temples centuries ago.
That is one way to view the state of Shaolin. However, another view
might be that real Shaolin is everywhere; that Shaolin is not only a
series of closely guarded techniques but also a way of life available to
everyone. While the martial and other techniques developed by Shaolin
adepts over the centuries have proven very effective, both martially and
spiritually, these are nonetheless tools used within a system of
philosophy - of self discovery, of Buddhism, of a way of life - that is
the framework of Shaolin. This framework is available to all that wish it,
and without the need to travel all over the world. As the Buddha taught,
the truth lies ultimately within us. While there are those that may have
insight to offer us, if we always look to be told the truth, we will never
discover it.
Keeping in mind that Shaolin is a philosophical path in which the
martial technique is a tool, we encourage this type of path even if it
does not necessarily contain Shaolin or even martial technique. We
encourage the idea that dissolution of the illusions of the self can be
achieved through practice involving the relation of the whole body with
the world, and this can be done utilizing any body/mind centered activity
that adheres to this focus. The focus, skill, determination, and
compassionate approach used within Shaolin for centuries can be carried
into any pursuit or way of living in accordance with similar goals and
then be very similar to Shaolin. While ancient traditions like Shaolin
that have millennia of experience to facilitate the highest levels of this
type of spiritual path, and are certainly of use at very advanced levels,
it is possible to begin the path using any physical art combined with the
right intent and goals. If we are not able to find a master to teach us
now, we can begin the path with what is immediately available to us - with
books and writings of Buddhist and other masters; with instruction in a
martial art or yoga or some other body/mind centered activity; with the
trust that there is a wealth of knowledge available for discovery within,
and that a master will be available when needed.
Buddhism is an experience of discovering the true nature of the self,
and the tools developed by Shaolin are simply tools to this end. Shaolin
martial technique as it existed in the temples before their destruction
will likely not be conveyed to most through a master on-hand. While we
will be offering technique for direct download form this website in the
near future, it is important to remember that even true Shaolin martial
technique must be properly utilized as moving meditation to be truly
Shaolin. While Shaolin martial technique itself is famous for its
effectiveness, it is its use toward the higher spiritual goal that makes
it truly part of the Shaolin path. We will be doing our best to convey
what we can over this site about this relationship and ways to use the
technique for these goals.
The main point we would like to make is that Shaolin is a viable
philosophy and way of life in the present, and it does not consist
exclusively of its martial technique. As society moves further away from
the great teachings of the past, we do ourselves disservice if we reach
blindly for random relics of those teachings: we lose sight of the
teachings as a whole and fall into the trap of idol worship that so
disturbs some of the Christian faith(1). So, be mindful of why you are
searching for "true" Shaolin technique. Shaolin is not about
something that will take you to a better reality. Reality is a function of
how we view ourselves and our relation to the world. The way of seeing
that utilizes Shaolin martial technique as a tool on the path can find
other tools close at hand. Shaolin martial technique is not the Holy
Grail. Don't lose too much time on the quest
1. All faiths, including Christianity, fall into the trap of idol
worship. Ironically, the sacred cow of despising idol worship is also a
form of idol worship itself if the reason for eschewing idols is not
understood, if it is understood to mean physical idols instead of mental
ones. In the Buddhist view, treating God or Buddha or anyone as an actual
figure outside of our selves to worship is idol worship. In this view it
is not inherently "wrong" or "evil", but misleading
and illusory. Even the act of having a physical "idol" of a god
or God or the Buddha is only "idol worship" if it is used as a
separate entity from which realization will come, instead of a
representation of something inside our selves. Enough for now on that
subject, but look for a discussion of Buddhism in relation to Christianity
to come soon to this page.
20. Is Shaolin compatible with my particular
faith?
The bottom-line answer to that question is that everyone needs to judge
that for themselves. If it doesn't feel right to you, there is some kind
of conflict. However, we would encourage anyone finding conflict with a
philosophy of self and reality examination, as Shaolin and Buddhism are,
to do some self and reality examination, using whatever methods they like.
Shaolin offers a way of finding guidance within oneself and within the
natural world, and asserts no dogma to be taken on authority. Buddhism in
general has been adopted by people of differing faiths all over the world,
in conjunction with their existing faiths. Buddhism does not conflict with
most beliefs, and can often augment other forms of spiritual searching. In
a relationship with God or the gods or Allah or the Great Spirit, the
better one understands one's own self, the more fruitful and honest that
relationship is going to be.
So, if you are drawn to Shaolin or Buddhism but think there may be
conflict with your existing faith, take a close look at the fundamental
teachings of Buddhism and see if they hold some truth for you. And maybe
re-examine your existing faith while you are at it, something we recommend
for ourselves and everyone, everyday.
21. If Chuck Norris, Steven Segal, and
Jean-Claude Van Damme were all locked in a room and had to fight it out,
who would really be the best?
Who cares?