Shaolin Fighting Systems
| A Brief History of the
Shaolin Fighting Systems |
|
|
This particular style of martial arts can be traced fourteen
hundred years ago to the Shaolin Temple in the Hunan Province of
China. There monks taught Shaolin kung fu to many students who
then traveled to other countries spreading this fighting system.
Shaolin kung fu was based on the movements of five animals;
dragon, tiger, snake, leopard, and the crane.
As Shaolin kung-fu spread to other countries it naturally was assimilated into other fighting systems. It is believed that monks brought Shaolin kung fu to Japan during the sixteenth century. Moreover, it was the Mitose family of Japan that added Shaolin kung fu to it's family fighting system and developed a style known as kosho ryu {old pine tree style} kempo. |
Kenpo karate is a style of Japanese karate combined with Chinese Shaolin kung fu. A student of kung fu moves in flowing circular motions utilizing both soft and hard strikes. |
| In 1936, James Mitose, the twenty first generation grandmaster of Kosho ryu Kempo returned to his birthplace of Hawaii to teach self-defense techniques. It was in Hawaii where Mitose met William Chow. Chow, like Mitose, inherited his family knowledge of Shaolin kung fu. Mitose and Chow trained together and exchanged fighting techniques for three years. | The student of karate moves in a linear manner responding with hard strikes. |
Select another style or page.