“A good defense is a strong offense. Be aggressive in attacking, whether it is a feint or a direct attack. Keep in mind that a good fighter defeats his opponent in three to five moves. If this condition is not met, then your opponents abilities are either equal to or better than yours. Whenever possible, counterattack at angles by sidestepping toward the opponents weak side. The three components of combat are 1.) Speed 2.) Guts 3.) Techniques. All three components go hand and hand. One component cannot survive without the others… Attack like the waves of the ocean crashing against the beach.”
-Wong Jack Man (Northern Shaolin Master)
The history of Northern Shaolin Kung Fu stretches back to the year 495AD, when the Shaolin Buddhist monastery was built in Honan province in Northern China. The temple was built, under the order of Su Wen, in adoration of the Buddhist master Badra. In order to defend the temple from attackers and thieves, the monks developed martial arts which combined combat techniques with the theories and practices of Buddhist meditation.
Today a general distinction of the kung fu styles in China is between “northern” and “southern” styles. This is not only a distinction of geography but also of the techniques and methods themselves. The southern styles of kung fu are characterized as having short fast hand strikes and low kicks. The southern styles are often referred to as “short fist” styles. Two examples of southern kung fu are “Wing Chun” and “Hung Gar”. The northern styles of kung fu emphasize extension in striking, with deep stances and dynamic kicking methods. The northern styles develop flexibility, strength, coordination, balance and agility. The theory of northern style is that power is developed through the rigorous training of the extended postures which one can condense into shorter strikes when actually fighting. The training also instills a great amount of versatility in movement and technique.
“Shaolin martial arts are as steady as a nail; cocked like a bow while turning like a leaf. Heavy as iron yet moving like a wave. As quiet as a mountain.”
-Chen Hsien Mon (Northern Shaolin Master)