Chinese Origins The form of empty-handed fighting, which we know as karate, is generally traced to the exercises which were developed at the famous Shaolin Monastery in the Hunan district of China, the monastery which is also the traditional birthplace of Zen Buddhism. According to tradition, both Zen Buddhism and the I-Chin exercises of the Shaolin Monastery were introduced by an Indian Buddhist monk called Taishi Daruma (Japanese), Bodhidharma (Hindi), or Tamo (Chinese). Taishi Daruma is a legendary figure. Some scholars believe he is actually the personification of a number of persons. Most, however, agree that he was a single, historical figure who was born in Southern India in the latter years of the 5 th century, A.D. He was the third son of a noble of the Kshatriya (warrior caste) and bore the title of prince. However, Taishi Daruma forsook the privileges of nobility and became a Buddhist monk. In the adolescent years of the 6 th century (530 A.D.), the then middle-aged Taishi Daruma left India and crossed the Himalayan Mountains on foot to China an extremely arduous journey even now. His purpose was to correct what he believed were incorrect tenets of Buddhism which had been taught to China by missionaries who had preceded him. Orthodox Indian Buddhism held that man could attain enlightenment, the perfect balance of mind, body, and spirit, during life. But, the teaching in China was that enlightenment was attained only after death. Chinese Buddhists were urged to devote themselves to the forms of Buddhism the construction of the temples, the education of monks, and the support of missionary teachers rather to their own self-perfection. Taishi Daruma was initially welcomed by Emperor Wu of the Li ang Dynasty (502 A.D. 557 A.D.). Wu is reputed to have been a pious but worldly monarch who generously supported the forms of Buddhism but avoided the self-sacrifice which the attainment of enlightenment demanded. Taishi Daruma was uncompromising in his teaching and, ultimately, Wu expelled him from the kingdom. Banished, Taishi Daruma traveled north with a band of disciples and took up residence at the Shaolin Monastery. The exercises practiced at Shaolin Monastery served an integrated callisthenic and spiritual purpose. The rigors of the meditation demanded by Taishi Daruma, which were apparently based upon Indian yoga, were physically as well as spiritually demanding. He had his disciples practice the I-Chin exercises in order that they might develop their bodies to withstand these physical demands and, thus, allow undistracted meditation. Also, in the philosophy espoused by Taishi Daruma, man was perceived as subject to three conflicts those of mind, body, and breath. The independent, undisciplined, and uncoordinated functions of these three elemental aspects of a person s being prevented the attainment of enlightenment. The coordination of these elements, through I-Chin exercises, was a necessary part of the way or path to enlightenment. From these exercises there developed an empty-handed fighting method which became known as Shaolin szu kempo (Shorinji kempo in Japanese), the boxing art of Shaolin. Ancient and medieval China was un-policed and undisciplined, and highway robbers freely plied their trade upon those who
would venture out of city or temple walls without heavily armed escort. The monks of Shaolin, who would travel unarmed to other monasteries and on teaching missions, became renowned for their ability to defend themselves and their companions from roving bands of robbers. Most scholars believe that while the exercises of Shaolin were primarily spiritual in purpose, they were martial in nature. First of all, their founder, Taishi Daruma was a prince of the warrior caste of India and was, presumably, trained in the Indian martial arts from early boyhood. Secondly, the I- Chin exercises appear to have been based upon an Indian book on martial arts with which Taishi Daruma was undoubtedly familiar. Finally, the remarkable success with which Shaolin szu kempo is credited preempts the notion that the exercises were purely calisthenics. At the same time it is agreed that the art of Shaolin was essentially nonaggressive. Certainly, the character of Taishi Daruma and of his Zen teachings is entirely inconsistent with offensive behavior. Also, the principle purpose of the I-Chin exercises was the attainment of enlightened self-perfection; fighting ability was a by-product. Finally, the Shaolin fighting techniques were primarily defensive in nature. Modern karate, properly taught, continues this ancient tradition. The practice of karate has as its primary purpose self-improvement, and its intended use is essentially defensive. Indeed, reputable instructors insist that students pledge to use karate only in defense of myself, my family, and my country. Development of Empty-Handed Fighting in China For some centuries, Shaolin szu kempo was practiced only by the monks of the temple. Although the art may have been observed by others when it was employed for self-defense, the I-Chin exercises were guarded and the fighting techniques were taught in secret. Shaolin kempo went public after the decline of the monastery and the dispersal of its monks. It is believed that these monks, now more regularly exposed to the sufferings of the people at the hands of bandits and renegade warriors, taught the I-Chin exercises and the Shaolin szu kempo to the people in order that they might have a means of protecting themselves. In turn, masters of the art grew up among the people. These masters developed their own styles which incorporated traditional Chinese fighting techniques with those of the Shaolin szu kempo. Not only was the pristine art of Shaolin diluted by this public accommodation, but also its philosophical aspect was subverted by the principal emphasis which was placed upon fighting techniques. By the time of the Ming Dynasty (1368 1644), fighting ability was no longer a by-product of the art. Rather, fighting ability was the art. During the Ch ing Dynasty of the Manchus (1644 1911), the practice of kempo fell into official disrepute. It became closely associated with the revolutionary secret societies. In the later years of the Ch ing Dynasty, the borders of China were forcibly opened by Western trading nations. Resistance movements aggressively introduced the Western imperialists to Chinese kempo. The resistance
culminated in the famous Boxer Rebellion, in which the boxers were ultimately put down by superior firearms. In 1900, the Manchu government banned kempo throughout all of China. The Chinese martial art which we now know generically as ch uan fa (also kung fu) is not a unique form of empty-handed fighting. It is a hybrid of the techniques developed in the Shaolin Monastery and of traditional Chinese techniques which some scholars have traced back as far as 2000 B.C. Moreover, over the centuries, numerous styles of ch uan fa developed. While there are two principle divisions Northern and Southern styles many variations grew up in different districts and under different masters. However, all are believed to incorporate the art if not the way of the I-Chin exercises and the Shaolin fighting techniques.
First Green Tip Kihon: (Basics) Tegatana uke Tsuru Dachi Oi Tsuki Performance: Waza Gokui Waza 1-5 Write a translation for each performance skill. Animal Forms Improved performance of all 3 levels of Animal Forms Juho Waza Collar Grab 2 Front Bear Hug Under Arms Kime Dachi Kumite 2 minutes Ukemi Waza Kata Improved performance of all break falls Anaku
Who was Taishi Daruma? Knowledge What are two other names for Taishi Daruma? What two things did he introduce? When and where was Taishi Daruma born? What caste was he born into and what title did he bear? What did Taishi Daruma do with the privileges of nobility? What did Taishi Daruma do in 530 A.D.? What was his purpose for doing this? What were the belief and teachings that Taishi Daruma did not agree with? What were his beliefs and teachings? Why did Emperor Wu of the Li ang Dynasty ban Taishi Daruma from the kingdom? Where did Taishi Daruma and his followers go after they were expelled? What did Taishi Daruma introduce to his disciples? What was the purpose of these exercises?
According to Taishi Daruma s philosophy, what are the conflicts that subject man? What did these three conflicts prevent man from attaining when allowed to function on the undisciplined man? Why do most scholars believe that the exercises taught at the Shaolin Monastery were martial in nature? 1. 2. 3. What was a by-product of the I-Chin exercises? When properly taught, what is the primary purpose for modern karate? When is it appropriate to use karate training? Why did the monks teach the I-Chin exercises to common people? What happened to the philosophical aspect of the Shaolin art? What happened in the Boxer Rebellion? What did the Manchu government do in 1900? What is ch uan fa? Although there are many variations of ch uan fa, where did they all derive from?
tegatana uke oi tsuki tsuru dachi nagami ashi geri or haku geri bushi kokoro budo bushido minide shiai te uke soto uchi seito ryu Vocabulary