It is likely that what Bodhidharma brought to Shaolin was Hatha Yoga (the discipline of breath and body) and an Indian martial art called Kaliripyattu (When The Body Becomes All Eyes - a reference to the Goddess Kali), as well as his particular form of Buddhist practice (Ch'an, C. Shaolin was a refuge for brigands and former military, as well as a place of worship. It is likely he gained entrance into the Temple as a teacher around 480. Records (specifically, 'The Lives of Venerable Saints' scroll) show that Bodhidharma arrived in the North around 490. The Shaolin Temple was ordered constructed in 496. Martial arts as a discipline was likely first codified under Hu'ang Ti, the Yellow Emperor, and this was, again, likely, the Mongolian Wrestling known as Shan Sou (Three Throws) and what is now referred to as Spring Leg or Muslim Kung Fu Wu Su - the art of the guards of the Forbidden City. When these individuals saw people practicing Tai Ch'i and Chi Kung in the parks, they asked, "What is that?" and the reply came, "Hard work." - the response was intended as a joke, but it's subtlety was lost and, hence, the nominclature was born.Īlso, all due respect to Kennethtennyson - he speaks of the legend of Bodhidharma and the origin of hand-to-hand combat in India, both. Secondly, the reference to martial technique as 'Kung Fu' was a misinterpretation on the part of Christian missionaries. As Ai Ping Sifu - a 3 time World Wushu Champion - would say, "I do not teach the 'chi' ('ki', J. Contemporary Wushu is a performance art that teaches technique, but not application. Kung Fu Wu Su translates to "the disciplined techniques of the arts martial" - a reference to both armed and unarmed combat, strategy, the movements of a single man, or an entire force. I would not presume to just start editing, but I thought instead to join in here in order to clarify a few points.įirst, Kung Fu (more properly, Kung Fu Wu Su) and Wushu are not the same thing, and, therefore, a merging of these topics areas would be in error.
I've been lurking for a while in areas that interest me, and have found that there's a fair amount of wrangling going on re: Kung Fu versus Wushu, etc. 12 who is a 'famous wushu practicioner'.8 Merging of wushu, kung fu and Chinese martial arts articles.6 Wikipedia:List_of_Wikipedians_by_martial_art add yourself!.