Contrary to popular
belief regarding "Kung Fu," few of the many arts and training of
Shaolin or other external styles concentrate solely on combat. In fact, many schools
exist where emphasis is on forms study and no combat or sparring takes place.
A meditative, non-combative,
non-competitive approach to Shaolin Ch'uan.
These are ritualized
movement practices that contain principles of health preservation, weaponless
self-defense, meditative insight. This work is heavily influenced by the
Chinese Zen monastic tradition of martial arts, which in turn grew out of the
Indian Buddhist vajramukti teachings which taught: aggression is illness
arising from fear within; compassionate self-defense does not produce durable
suffering; aspects of healing, health-nourishing, spiritual discipline, and
raising consciousness are proper concerns of the student.
The vehicle for such
a life-time study is the correct, controlled execution of technique embodied
within the famous Northern Shaolin School Each meeting includes: stretching and
strengthening, stance drills, arm and leg coordination exercises, work on the hsing
of the moment, including: 1) Bare-handed forms; 2) Weapons forms; 3) Moving
meditation; 4) Health forms. The non-combative, meditative health studies of N.
Shaolin Ch’uan is a valid, respected, time-honored paths for martial artists.
The N. Shaolin candidate will integrate forms studies with internal training
from the Zen tradition.
Northern Shaolin Ch’uan
WHITE BELT/SASH:
Basic Training
Liu Lu Lohan Ch’uan/6 Methods of the Monk form
BLUE BELT:
Iron Warrior 1
Begin Iron Warrior 3
Bei Shaolin Ch’uan/Northern Temple Arts
Fist
1st GREEN:
Iron Warrior 2
Continue IW 3
Kung Li Ch’uan/Fist of Power
2nd GREEN:
Continue IW 3
Tao Lu Ch’uan/Five Attacks Fist
Dragon’s Head Staff #1 – drills and form
1st BROWN:
Continue IW 3
Tan Tui/Springy Legs form
Single Baton drills and form
2nd BROWN:
Continue IW 3.
Dwun Da Ch’uan/Short Strike Fist
Dragon’s Head Staff #2: Drills & form
3rd BROWN:
Finish IW 3
Kung Chien Pu Ch’uan/Bow&Arrow
Stepping Fist
Dahn Dao/Basic Saber #1– drills and form.
1st BLACK:
Iron Warrior 4, Part 1
Bei Mei Hua Ch’uan/Northern Plum Blossom
Fist
Dragon’s Head Staff #3 – drills and form
Single Dagger form
2nd BLACK:
Iron Warrior 4, Part 2
Da Hsin Ch’uan/Striking to the Heart
Dahn Dao/Intermediate Saber—drills and
form
3rd BLACK:
Shaolin Yizhichan Chi Kung/Inner Breath
Work of the One Finger Zen School
Wu Yi Ch’uan/Infinite Mind Fist
Double Baton – drills and form
4th BLACK:
Stone Warrior Body Hardening Set
Bei Chang Ch’uan/Northern Long Fist
Siu Cern Dao/Twin Sabers
5th BLACK:
Shi Pa Lo Han Shou/18 Movements of the
Arhat
Tuozhe Bu Ch’uan/Shuffling Step Fist
Chien #1/Single rapier—drills and form
6th BLACK:
Publication of original manuscript
Tit Lo Han Chin Ch’uan/Iron Buddha set
Tuide Tuikai Men Ch’uan/Opening the Door
fist
Double Daggers form
Hatha Yoga
7th BLACK:
Publish original manuscript
Yi Chin Ching/Muscle Change Classic
Ling Tao Ren Ch’uan/The People’s Leader
Fist
Ping Kuen/Cannon Fist
Chien #2: drills and form
8th BLACK:
Publish original manuscript regarding
history and
philosophy of martial arts
Zuo Ma Ch’uan/Sitting on the Horse Fist
Monk’s Broadsword form.
9th BLACK:
Publish original manuscript
Lien Huan Ch’uan/Continuation Fist
Chan Wu Ge Shou Ch’uan Fa/Shaolin 5
Animals Fist
10th BLACK:
Kum Nye
Shing-Yi Ch’uan
Pa-Kua Chang
email Dr. Edward Orem: eorem@lycos.com