Our Kung Fu

“Kung Fu” is often misinterpreted to mean fighting but what it actually means is “hard work”.

Traditional Chinese martial arts can be categorised into northern & southern styles. Northern Shaolin Kung Fu is generally long or middle range fighting with an emphasis on kicking, moving and jumping, while Southern Shaolin Kung Fu is more of a middle to short range fighting, specialising in more hand technique and less kicking

When QiGong training is integrated into martial arts forms it increases the effectiveness of an individuals martial techniques which is also taught at our academy

Strictly speaking a “Shaolin” Kung Fu Style is one that has been taught in the Monasteries or Temples. Depending on definition it can also include those styles that have come from the temples or developed from temple styles. Each of the Temples had focus on certain styles of the physical Kung Fu but also had another side, such as teaching medicine or literary skills. The Shaolin Kung Fu taught within our Kwoon comes from the Shaolin Kung Fu taught to Master Aaron by Grand Master Frederick and by the Sifu he trained with in China and if you wish to question if it is “Shaolin” or not, it does mirror the styles of the five temples as listed on The Shaolin Institute Site fairly accurately (http://www.shaolin.com), (link used with permission).

There has also been discussion about grades and ranks etc. In the UK living in a "normal" fashion, with average day to day responsibilities, and taking a wide range of students from different ages groups, background and physical abilities, it is not possible to structure our School in the same way that the Temples were run. Hence, we have a grading system, this is flexible enough to cover all types of build, age, physical abilities or restrictions and modern living etc.

Occasionally, when possible (once or twice a year) there are intensive training weekends, when we all eat, train and live together in a "Shaolin" style.

The school encourages development of all its students in many areas outside the kwoon in addition to the teaching of massage and other traditional healing techniques etc within the School.

People can argue about these points indefinitely but fundamentally the ethos of Shaolin, in its ethics, discipline and honour, is upheld in all of the Schools aspects, as is best suited to fit in with modern society. As a small boy once asked his father why the big strong Oak tree had been felled by a storm and yet the grass and plants in the garden were all intact, the reply came "The Oak tree did not bend with the wind!"