History of Martial Arts

The self-defense system that we know as Martial Arts dates back at least 2,500 years to the influence of the Greeks on the Indo-Euphrates valley. In 327 BC, Alexander the Great invaded India. While in India, he taught boxing and wrestling to the Indian warriors. However, India's claim of being the cradle of the martial arts is disputed by Chinese historians. The Chinese use documents dating from the 4th century BC to prove that Han emperors supported the study and refinement of Kung Fu. This was a more advanced system than anything being done in India at the time.

The Shaolin Order, one of the most widely known martial arts systems, dates back to about 525 AD, when an Indian Buddhist priest named Bodhidharma (Ta Mo in Chinese) traveled to China to see the Emperor. The Chinese were immersed in a historical project at the time: translating of Buddhist texts from their original Sanskrit to Chinese. The intent by the Emperor was that the general populace would embrace the new religion, and be more contented.

This was a noble project, but when it became apparent that the emperor believed this to be his personal path to Nirvana, Ta Mo disagreed. Ta Mo's view reflected contemporary Buddhist thought: you could not achieve Nirvana (or enlightenment) only through good works performed by others in your name. The emperor and Ta Mo parted ways over this disagreement, and Ta Mo traveled to the nearby Buddhist temple to teach and work with the monks. The temple had been built by clearing a forest, and was therefore called the Shaolin (small forest).

Ta Mo was originally refused admittance to the temple, however, he was eventually recognized for his religious prowess. A story told through the ages was that Ta Mo's trance was so intense that birds nested upon him, with him completely unaware. Legend further has it that he bored a hole through one side of the cave with his constant gaze; in fact, the accomplishment that earned his recognition is lost to history.

At the time that Ta Mo joined the monks, he observed that they were not in good physical condition. Most of their routine paralleled that of the Irish monks and that of monastic disciplines everywhere at the time: hours spent each day hunched over tables where they transcribed handwritten texts. Their lack of physical and mental stamina meant they could not perform even the most basic of Buddhist meditation practices. Ta Mo countered this weakness by teaching them moving exercises, designed to enhance the ch'i flow, and to build strength. These sets, modified from Indian yoga, were based on the movements of the 18 main animals in the Indo-Chinese iconography (e.g. tiger, leopard, snake, dragon, crane, etc.), and were the beginning of Shaolin Kung Fu.

As time went on, this Buddhist sect became more and more distinct because of the martial arts being studied. This should not be interpreted to say that Ta Mo "invented" martial arts. Martial arts had existed in China for centuries before Ta Mo. However, within the confines and discipline of the temple, it was possible to develop and codify these martial arts into the new and different styles that would become distinctly Shaolin.

One of the problems that western historians have is the supposed contradiction of Buddhist principles of non-violence coupled with Shaolin's legendary martial skills. In fact, the Shaolin practitioner is never the aggressor, nor does he or she dispatch the most devastating defenses in any situation. Rather, the study of kung fu leads to better understanding of violence, and consequently, how to avoid conflict. Failing that, a Buddhist who refuses to accept an offering of violence (i.e., and attack) merely returns it to the sender. Initially, the kung fu expert may choose to parry an attack, but if an assailant is both skilled and determined to cause harm, a more definitive and concluding solution may be required, from a joint-lock hold to a knockout, to death. The more sophisticated and violent the assault, the more devastating the return of the attack to the attacker. Buddhists are not, therefore, intending to hurt anyone; they merely refuse delivery of intended harm.