THE ART OF SHAOLIN THE SECRETS OF KUNG FU FOR SELF-DEFENSE, HEALTH, AND ENLIGHTENMENT WONG KIEW KIT THE ART OF SHAOLIN THE SECRETS OF KUNG FU FOR SELF-DEFENSE HEALTH AND ENLIGHTENMENT By the same author The Art of Chi Kung The Complete Book of Tai Chi Chuan The Complete Book of Zen Chi Kung for Health and Vitality For Mr. Wong’s web site, please visit http://shaolin-wahnam.tripod.com THE ARI OF SHAOLIN KUN THE SECRETS OF KUNG FU FOR SELF-DEFENSE HEALTH AND ENLIGHTENMENT WONG KIEW KIT TUTTLE Publishing Tokyo | Rutland, Vermont | Singapore “BOOKS TO SPAN THE EAST AND WEST” Tuttle Publishing was founded in 1832 in the small New England town of Rutland, Vermont [USA]. Our core values remain as strong today as they were then—to pub- lish best-in-class books which bring people together one page at a time. In 1948, we established a publishing office in Japan—and Tuttle is now a leader in publishing English-language books about the arts, languages and cultures of Asia. The world has become a much smaller place today and Asia’s economic and cultural influence has grown. Yet the need for meaningful dialogue and information about this diverse region has never been greater. Over the past seven decades, Tuttle has published thousands of books on subjects ranging from martial arts and paper crafts to lan- guage learning and literature—and our talented authors, illustrators, designers and photographers have won many prestigious awards. We welcome you to explore the wealth of information available on Asia at www.tuttlepublishing.com. Disclaimer: Please note that the publisher and author(s) Distributed by of this instructional book are NOT RESPONSIBLE in any manner whatsoever for any injury that may result from North America, Latin America & Europe practicing the techniques and/or following the instruc- Tuttle Publishing tions given within. Martial arts training can be danger- 364 Innovation Drive ous—both to you and to others—if not practiced safely. North Clarendon, VT. 05759-9436 U.S.A. If you're in doubt as to how to proceed or whether Tel: 1 (802) 773-8930 your practice is safe, consult with a trained martial arts Fax: 1 (802) 773-6993 teacher before beginning. Since the physical activities [email protected] described herein may be too strenuous in nature for www.tuttlepublishing.com some readers, it is also essential that a physician be consulted prior to training. Japan Tuttle Publishing Published by Tuttle Publishing, an imprint of Yaekari Building 3rd Floor Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd. 5-4-12 Osaki Shinagawa-ku Published in 2001 by Vermilion, 20 Vauxhall Bridge Road, Tokyo 141-0032 London SW1V 2SA Tel: (81) 3 5437-0171 Fax: (81) 3 5437-0755 www.tuttlepublishing.com [email protected] www.tuttle.co.jp Copyright © 2002 Wong Kiew Kit Asia Pacific All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be Berkeley Books Pte. Ltd. reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, 3 Kallang Sector #04-01 electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, Singapore 349278 recording, or by any information storage and retrieval Tel: (65) 6741 2178 system, without prior written permission from the Fax: (65) 6741 2179 publisher. [email protected] www.tuttlepublishing.com LCC Card Number: 2002112453 First Edition ISBN 978-0-8048-3439-1 25 24 23 22 ISBN 978-1-4629-2352-6 (Ebook) 20 19 18 17 Printed in the Singapore 2206TP TUTTLE PUBLISHING® is a registered trademark of Tuttle Publishing, a division of Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd. This book is dedicated to my beloved father Wong York Sang, and my beloved mother Bok Pik Yoke, who are now in the Western Paradise, and whose love and kindness bestowed on me I can never repay. CONTENTS List of Illustrations XI Preface XV 1 WHAT IS KUNG FU? RF Four Aspects of Kung Fu NKR The Visible Aspect of Form O The Importance of Force Training B Application for Combat and Daily Living Kung Fu Philosophy for Deeper Understanding B&B The Benefits of Kung Fu m Mund Expansion and Spiritual Development o N THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF CHINESE MARTIAL ARTS 10 Kung Fu in Prehistoric and Ancient ‘Times 10 The Glorious Han and Tang 12 The Song, the Yuan and the Ming 14 The Modern Period 16 FROM SHAOLIN TO TAJTQUAN 18 Kung Fu and Quanshu 18 Shaolin Kung Fu 19 Changquan or Long Fists 21 Yan Qing, Deceptive Movements and the Monkey Style 24 The Various Styles of Taijiquan 25 Soft and Hard, Internal and External 28 A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF KUNG FU 30 Contrasting Shaolin and Wudang Kung Fu 31 Internal Palm of Bagua Kung Fu 31 Xingyi Kung Fu and Taoist Concepts 33 The Philosophies of Wudang Kung Fu 34 Wuzuquan or Kung Fu of Five Ancestors 35 Tanglangquan or Praying Mantis Kung Fu 36 The Spread of Souchern Shaolin Kung Fu 38 Major Southern Shaolin Styles 39 Vill THE ART OF SHAOLIN KUNG FU 42 DEFINING AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 42 The Importance of Theoretical Knowledge The Three Requirements for Attainment 43 46 Direction and Purpose Setting Aims for Kung Fu Training 47 49 Personal Objectives 51 Course Objectives THE FOUNDATION OF SHAOLIN KUNG FU 54 Inheritance from Past Masters 54 The Significance of Form and Formlessness 55 Various Shaolin Hand Forms 56 Horseriding and Other Stances 60 Basic Shaolin Patterns 64 FROM FORM TO COMBAT APPLICATION 68 The Four Directions of Attack 68 An Imaginary Opponent in Skill Training 69 The Principles of Effective Combat 71 Specific Techniques Against Kicks 75 Felling and Holding Techniques 79 COMBAT SEQUENCES AND SET PRACTICE 84 Linking Patterns to Form Sequences 84 Various Sequences for Practice 86 Relieving Injuries Sustained in Sparring 94 Linking Sequences to Form Sets 94 ComposinYgou r Own Kung Fu Sets 99 SHAOLIN FIVE ANIMALS 102 Understanding Characteristics and Essence 102 Some Preliminary Information 105 The Five-Animal Set 106 The Names of the Five-Animal Patterns 117 10 FIVE-ANIMAL COMBINATION SET 119 How to Improve Combat Efficiency 119 The Fascination of Kung Fu Application 120 Spacing and Timing in Combat 126 Advanced Techniques to Clinch Victory 132 1x 11 THE INTERNAL FORCE OF SHAOLIN KUNG FU 134 The Relationship Between Technique and Force 134 The Art of One-Finger Shooting Zen 136 Developing Forceful Punches 139 The Compassionate Art of Qin-Na 142 The Internal Force of Tiger Claw 143 12 TACTICS AND STRATEGIES 149 Techniques, Tactics and Strategies 149 The Legacy of Past Masters 151 Using Continuous Attack Effectively 152 A Tactic to Distract Your Opponent 153 Selecting Strategies to Suit Particular Situations 154 13 CLASSICAL KUNG FU WEAPONS 157 Why are Classical Weapons Still Being Used? 157 Stafts 158 Whips, Knives and Other Weapons 160 The Spear Family 162 Light and Heavy Weapons 164 Common Implements as Weapons 166 14 UNDERSTANDING AND DEVELOPING CHI 168 From Combat Efficiency to Spiritual Development 168 The Various Genres of Chi Kung 169 The Three Elements of Chi Kung 171 Lifting the Sky 173 Lohan Embracing Buddha 175 Abdominal Breathing 177 15 SHAOLIN KUNG FU AND ZEN 179 Cultivating Heart, Nourishing Nature 179 Discipline and Wisdom 180 What is Ultimate Reality? 183 Bodhidharma and Taoism in Zen 186 16 THE SHAOLIN WAY TO ENLIGHTENMENT 189 Attaining a Focused Mind 189 Meditation to Train Awareness 191 Investigating Cosmic Reality? 193