Qi Gong & Kung Fu
Mind and body fitness
Qi Gong
Shaolin Qi Gong for health - Internal
Qi very simply put means breath or life energy. Qi Gong masters can use qi gong to protect themselves from the sharp end of spear or the blow of a brick, and we can use qi gong to protect ourselves from ill health and ageing.
Qi Gong is a technique of using energy to heal the body. It works on the same scientific principle as acupuncture and is often used alongside it to prolong the benefit of the treatment. Some people call it a moving meditation; others describe it as a Chinese yoga. The Shaolin Temple define it as a science of the mind and body, and it is a practice they have time tested for more than one thousand five hundred years.
Research suggests that the practice of Qi Gong, sometimes spelt Chi Gong and pronounced chee gong, can change the functional age of our body, reverse the effects of ageing, help with stress-reduction, and ease the stress and strain of working at a computer.
There are thousands of different forms but the most important one in the Shaolin Temple is called Yi Yin Jing (Muscle/Tendon changing classic) and Xi Sui Jing (Bone Marrow cleansing classic)
In the past the teaching methods of these Qi Gong forms, were passed down secretly to only a very few Shaolin disciples in each generation. The Yi Yin Jing Xi Sui Jing taught the monks how to use Qi to clean the bone marrow and strengthen the blood and immune system, as well as how to energize the brain, which helped them to attain Buddhahood.
“Men should not be governed by Yin and Yang (they should) use the body of blood and Qi and change it into a body of metal and stone... You must study this gung fu carefully”
“Enter the door and acquire the secret of heaven. Practice diligently!”
The practice
The Eight Treasures (sometimes called Eight Pieces of Brocade and in Chinese Ba Duan Yin) comes from these books and is possibly the most popular Qi Gong in the world. It consists of a series of gentle movements designed to dramatically improve health, increase energy and revitalize the body.
Latest research has shown that practicing this form can prevent bone loss in middle-aged women.
Shifu Yan Lei teaches genuine Shaolin Qi Gong at Shaolin Brighton and teaches these forms in his DVDs.
Kung Fu
Shaolin Kung Fu for fitness - External
The Shaolin Temple is the home of martial arts. Emperors often enlisted Shaolin monks to help them defend their thrones against invaders. As there were no guns or bombs at that time the monks had to use their bodies as weapons.
The Shaolin skills are not a history book, they are something which are as relevant today as they were thousand of years ago. These days instead of doing battle with a warlord we do battle with our low fitness level or our weight gain.
The traditional forms tap into the innate harmony and energy of our bodies, transforming not only the exterior look of our body but also the interior of our mind. Students have reported an increase in energy, concentration and confidence through the practice of Shaolin.
Fusing traditional Shaolin techniques with modern fighting skills students from the Shaolin Temple UK frequently fight in mixed martial arts competitions and have just come back from competing in the world Sanshou competitions in China.
Shifu Yan Lei teaches genuine Shaolin Kung Fu at Shaolin Brighton and teaches these forms in his DVDs.