The History of Shaolin Kung Fu
Around 520 AD, a Buddhist monk from India named Bodhidharma (Da Mo) came to the Shaolin monastery at the foot of the Songshan mountains in north-central China. To help the monks withstand long periods of meditation, he taught special breathing techniques and exercises to develop both their inner strength and their ability to defend themselves in the remote, often dangerous mountains where they lived.
Bodhidharma himself was said to have meditated facing a cave wall for nine years "listening to the ants scream." From these exercises, the Shaolin monks gradually developed a sophisticated fighting system known as Shaolin Martial Arts.
Two Concepts That Set Shaolin Apart
Two related concepts separate Shaolin arts from most other styles. One is the use of "internal" abilities derived from meditative-based training; the other is how its fighting techniques are largely based on the movements of animals.
Related to the Taoist backgrounds of many of the monks, observing nature and living in harmony with the world was an important concept — going hand in hand with the Zen Buddhist principles introduced by Bodhidharma. The combination of internal exercises with philosophies based on the forces at work in the natural world is the basis for the development of Shaolin martial arts.
History of Võ Cổ Truyền
Việt Võ Đạo is not a particular style or school, but a generic term naming all kinds of martial arts originating in Vietnam. That is why it is commonly paired with another term to name a precise style — such as Thất Sơn Võ Đạo, Cửu Môn Việt Võ Đạo, or Vovinam Việt Võ Đạo.
To keep the identity of each school, they typically honor their birth country in the name:
- Việt — Vietnam
- Võ — Martial art
- Đạo — The way
The traditional Vietnamese structure — school – master – disciple — explains the resilience and development of Việt Võ Đạo despite the difficulties it experienced. For Vietnamese people, practicing Võ is not only training in fighting techniques, but developing one's culture and character through the five traditional Confucian virtues: Nhân (humanity), Nghĩa (justice), Lễ (respect), Trí (intelligence), and Tín (honesty).
Vietnamese martial art is bound entirely to the culture and history of the country. The main schools developed at the end of the 19th century, founded by famous masters such as Ba Cát, Hàn Bái, and Cự Tốn. Many schools flourished across the North, Center, and South — each with its specialty: Thiếu Lâm, Bình Định, Vịnh Xuân, and more.
Practice a Living Tradition
Forms, weapons, and philosophy — passed down through generations of masters.
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