The origin of Shaolin martial art can be traced back to about 500 AC during the period of Bei Wel. The art is said to be founded by Boddidharma according to the legend. Since Boddidharma resided in the Shaolin Temple in Song Mountain in China, the art was named Shaolin Quan. Since then the art has been subjected to more than 1500 years evolution, and has never been lost during this long period of time. With time, Shaolin Quan has been studied and developed by the martial monks as well as the layman martial artists. This has contributed to the present form of Shaolin martial art which managed to expand and flourish beyond the border of China. Moreover, the experts in the art and the lovers of the art can be found everywhere in the world.
Through researches and development carried out by generations of Shaolin monks and layman martial artists, Shaolin martial art at present contains a complete system of trainings, which includes, among others, taolu (routines) and gongfa (methods). Shaolin martial art puts the importance on the balance between yin and yang, the equilibrium between hardness and softness, the rapidity in moving up and down and insisting in practically of the art in simple way without any decorative elements. Its attacks can be launched and retracted at will. It can be practiced within limited spaced; there are numerous ways to practice the art and the system includes internal and external practices
The Shaolin martial art taught in our association consists of basic sequences of movements, four empty-handed taolu (routines), four weapon taolu, all of these are still taught in the traditional way. As for more advanced taolu and training methods, I have developed them by carrying out researches during the past decades based on the teachings of many Shaolin experts from the previous generations. My objectives of doing this are to enrich the contents of Shaolin martial art and to enhance the combative capacity of the art.
I hope to encourage more martial art experts to do the same contribute to the heritage and expansion of Shaolin martial art. If everybody is willing to share his/her opinions in martial art practice and research, the theoretical and technical level of Shaolin martial art will be levied significantly.
I sincerely hope that all of us can work hard together towards the development of Chinese martial arts in this country.
Even though the methods in Shaolin martial art from different schools may be modified and developed with time, the basic training and the practice of qi (energy) remain similar. For readers reference, the descriptions in the following chapters start from the basic trainings and progressively lead to the more advanced training methods as it goes further.