Master vs. Sifu in Chinese Martial Arts - An article discussing the various titles of respect we use in our martial arts training and what they all mean.
Is Buddhism Good for Your Health? - New York Times writer Stephen S. Hall takes a comprehensive look at the scientific research being conducted on Buddhist meditators and its impact on their health and well-being.
Martial Moralities - Dr. Yang Jwing Ming (Shaolin White Crane) discusses "Wude," or martial moralities, both of mind and of deed in this article found on the Dragon's List.
Stretching & Flexibility - A signification proportion of injuries sustained during martial training can point to improper warm-up and stretching as a cause. This article by Brad Appleton provides an extraordinarily in-depth discussion on the mechanics of joints, ligaments and muscles, as well as providing insightful instructions on how to warm up, when and how to stretch and what other resources can be found on these topics.
About Shaolin - Shaolin kung fu is a part of Chinese kung fu. Shaolin kung fu was not the first type of kung fu, in ancient times people had to fight everyday for survival as well as use tools to work the land and make produce. So kung fu came into being by long term practising and developing of this daily struggle. During the stone age (roughly 600,000 years ago) our ancestors had begun to hunt with flint, axe, stone sword, stone hammer, stone sickle etc. People got the notion of chopping, spliting and smashing and they used these weapons and techniques when in combat with animals and each other.
About Shaolin2 - The Order of Shaolin Ch'an, founded in 520 C.E. by the Indian monk Tamo, is a branch of Ch'an (Zen) Buddhism dedicated to the study of nature and humanity's place in our world. Through the physical study of martial arts we learn to extinguish our egos, through the study of nature we seek understanding of the unity of all life, and through meditative practices we strive to maximize the potential of each individual. |