Why did Shaolin monks fight?
Why did Shaolin monks fight?
Shaolin monks initially practiced martial arts as a way to defend themselves from intruders/bandits. They also use this as a part of their religious life in terms of gaining spiritual wisdom through physical training.
Why do Shaolin monks train?
Bodhidharma developed the 18 boxing techniques of Shaolin and trained the monks to prepare their body condition willingly for the long meditations. The exercises should promote the health of the monks, the steely muscles and stimulate the internal organs, so they live longer.
How are Shaolin monks different from MMA fighters?
Shaolin Monks training style is totally different from that of an MMA fighter. For Shaolin Monks, sword and other weapons are part of their training whereas, MMA fighters train for unarmed combat. That is why, it is believed that, if historical monks from Shaolin Temple are given their weapons, they have a chance to win against an MMA fighter.
How are the monks at the Shaolin Temple trained?
Most students find stance training to be extremely challenging. The monks at the Shaolin temple in China are required to run up and down the ancient stone stairways of the temple on all fours every morning. This is only one of many traditional strength and conditioning exercises.
Why is flexibility so important in Shaolin Kung Fu?
Flexibility is extremely important in Shaolin kung fu, because many of the advanced kung fu sets cannot be performed without it. From the beginning of training, the Shaolin system builds flexibility through the use of stretching exercises, many of which would seem extreme and even dangerous by Western standards.
How old do you have to be to be a Shaolin monk?
Shaolin monks are highly spiritually disciplined and well trained with centuries of strict tradition behind them. The Shaolin monk train boys as young as eight or nine years old. Kung-fu practitioners believe that their traditional methods of training are the best and their instructors are always right.