Nam Yang Shaolin Kung Fu Retreat

Shaolin Boxing is the short form for 'Shaolin Temple Boxing Techniques'. As a means of spiritual discipline, Shaolin Boxing has been integrated in hundreds of schools, with Chan Buddhist influence or Zen guiding its presence. 'Shaolin boxing styles very greatly. There are in fact hundreds of different boxing styles. Students usually will practice general basics and then will devote him or herself to one or two boxing and weapon styles. 

Shaolin Kung fu practice is generally talked about in terms of three realms. 

1. In the primary realm, the practitioner practices their form and appearance.
2. In the intermediate realm, there is the integration of mind and fist, changing the tangible into the intangible, turning the law into the lawless; obeying no rules, having no movement to follow, controlling the enemy in the intangible. An ancient boxing manual reads, `defeat a person in the intangible or fail being seen`.
3. Shaolin Kungfu's highest realm is for all to be guided by the heart and to fight not just from form but from the formless.

Shaolin Buddhist practice is started in the mindful training of Kung Fu as it cultivates greater awareness. The purpose of learning Kung Fu no longer becomes the goal in itself, but is used as a means of awakening.

Features of Shaolin Kung Fu

1. Short but precise.
2. Box in a line.
3. Casual footwork.
4. Roll in and out.
5. Integration of mind and behavior.
6. Bending but actually not and straight but actually not.
7. Rise high in a tight form and drop in a spreading way. Rise to move with an intention of advance and drop to move with an intention of retreat.
8. Integration of Buddhism and boxing.
9. Focus on defense.
10. Combination of attacking and defending.
11. Numerous tricks.
12. Simple and practical.
13. Vigorous and strong.
14. Numerous acts shrinking back.
15. Numerous kicks.
16. Produce sounds.

Qigong (or ch'i kung) refers to a wide variety of traditional cultivation practices that involve methods of accumulating, circulating, and working with qi, within the body. Qigong is practiced for health maintenance purposes, as a therapeutic intervention, as a medical profession, a spiritual path and/or component of Chinese martial arts.

The qi in qigong means air in Chinese, and, by extension, life force, dynamic energy or even cosmic breath. Gong means work applied to a discipline or the resultant level of skill, so qigong is thus breath work or energy work.

Qigong is an essential element of Chinese martial arts, traditional Chinese Medicine and Spirituality. The manipulation of this energy has both martial, healing and spiritual applications. In the marital arts qigong training is energy training in order to protect the body and or to develop internal force for combat. For this breath, movement and intent combine to direct qi flow.

The martial application of qigong began with the understanding of qi circulation and acupuncture. This was increased significantly when Da Mo’s Wai Dan exercises were introduced at the Shaolin Temple in 536 A.D. Although Da Mo’s Wai Dan exercises had been conceived for heath purposes the dangers of the time meant that it was not long before the monks discovered that the exercises derived from Da Mo’ Muscle/Tendon Changing Classic could greatly increase the strength and efficiency of the their muscles and also allowed them to direct the qi to resist blows. From then on it was researched and developed to improve martial arts as well as health. The theory was simple with the monks training they where able to use their minds to lead the qi to the muscles so energizing them so that they function more efficiently. If the average person generally uses his muscles at under 40% maximum efficiency with training he should be able to use his intent to lead qi to the muscles more effectively and so increase fighting effectiveness. 

It was quickly reasoned that if balanced qi was required for life and well being then disturbing or stopping that flow would cause harm. It was discovered that the acupuncture cavities where ideal targets for pressing, grabbing, kicking or striking techniques. To make these strikes more affective hands, fingers where conditioned and methods for penetration where created. 

The distinction between hard and soft qigong in many ways is similar to the distinction between hard and soft martial arts; in both cases the hard style is more external, focusing on external strength and power, whereas the soft style focuses on the flow of energy within the body. Hard qigong focuses on the strengthening of the muscles and tendons, leading 'guardian qi', or wei qi, to the skin to protect the body (as in Iron Shirt training / Shaolin Steel Jacket), and other external manifestations of qi. Although many forms of hard qigong have beneficial effects for the health this style can result in energy dispersion problems i.e. overdeveloped muscles. This is often why there is a progression from Wai Dan Qigong (external) to Nei Dan (internal) hard styles to soft styles and internal styles that move from soft to hard. In this way harmonious qi flow and usage is promoted for martial arts, health, vitality and longevity.

The Benefits of Qigong include:
1. Curing illness and promoting health.
2. Enhancing vitality and developing internal force.
3. Promoting youthfulness and longevity.
4. Expanding the mind and the intellect.
5. Spiritual cultivation.

Qinna or Chin na are seizing and controlling techniques. It is the term used to describe techniques which lock up an opponent. Literally Qinna means catching and locking in Chinese. Qinna techniques can be specialized in. However, they are more likely to be used as an essential part of combat.  To that end Qinna is one of the four components of unarmed combat used in Chinese martial arts.  These four components are: Kicking (Ti), Striking (Da), Wrestling (Shuai) and Seizing Control (Na). 

While techniques along the lines of qinna (chin na) are trained to some degree by most martial arts worldwide, many Chinese martial arts are famous for their specialization in such applications. Styles such as Eagle Claw (Y?ng zhua quán ), which includes 108 different chin na techniques, Praying Mantis (Tánglángquán) the "Tiger Claw" techniques of Hung Gar, & Shuai Jiao are well known examples.

Qinna (Chin na) can generally be categorized as:

1. "Fen Jin" or "Zhua Jin" (dividing the muscle/tendon, grabbing the muscle/tendon). "Fen" means "to divide", "Zhua" is "to grab" and "Jin" means "tendon, muscle, sinew". They refer to techniques which tear apart an opponent's muscles or tendons.

2. "Cuo Gu" (misplacing the bone). "Cuo" means "wrong, disorder" and "Gu" means "bone". Cuo Gu therefore refer to techniques which put bones in wrong positions and is usually applied specifically to joints.

3. "Bi Qi" (sealing the breath). "Bi" means "to close, seal or shut" and "Qi", or more specifically "Kong Qi", meaning "air". "Bi Qi" is the technique of preventing the opponent from inhaling. This differs from mere strangulation in that it may be applied not only to the windpipe directly but also to muscles surrounding the lungs, supposedly to shock the system in to a contraction which impairs breathing.

4. "Dian Mai" or "Dian Xue" (sealing the vein/artery or acupressure cavity). Similar to the Cantonese "Dim Mak", these are the technique of sealing or striking blood vessels and "Qi" points.

Qin or Chin means to seize or trap, na means to lock or break, and while those actions are very often executed in that order (trap then lock), the two actions can also be performed distinctly in training and self defense. 

There is quite a bit of overlap between Qinna (Chin na) theory and technique with the branches of traditional Chinese medicine known as Tui na as well as the use of offensive and defensive qigong as an adjunct of Qinna (Chin na) training in some styles. In fact traditional Chinese medicine has been an essential part of the martial arts in China for both healing injuries and understanding the body’s weaknesses and strengths.