Shaolin Fighting Secrets

Author: Deqian / et al.
Editor-in-Chief: Dong Yingshuang
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1999-10-01
Features:
Excerpt: Chapter Overview
The Origin of Shaolin Fighting Techniques According to the Shaolin Fist Manual, as early as the Tianyou era of the Song Dynasty, Master Fuhu often taught his disciples such as Zhirui and Zhixing to practice fighting techniques within the temple. The disciples frequently injured themselves during training. Therefore, Master Fuhu established a reward system: those who injured others in combat were rewarded with one tael of silver, while those who were defeated were rewarded with a pound of tofu to restore their health. Under the strict guidance of their master, the disciples studied diligently and their martial arts skills improved significantly. Within just three years, Zhirui and Zhixing mastered their skills and often fought outside the temple, returning with honors and becoming renowned martial arts masters.
In the early Yuan Dynasty, Master Jueyuan was not satisfied with merely inheriting the 18 hands of the Luohan Fist. He repeatedly left the mountain to seek masters and practice martial arts from all directions. In Lanzhou, he met the martial arts master Li Lao and later befriended Master Bai Yufeng. The three returned to Shaolin Temple and devoted themselves to studying Shaolin martial arts, innovating the techniques into over 70 forms, which brought prosperity to the Shaolin sect. Master Jueyuan particularly emphasized free-fighting, and his famous disciples included Jueze and Qinghui. Notably, Jueze was exceptional in fighting techniques, often defeating hundreds of opponents with ease and earning the nickname "Little Zhao Yun." He compiled Thirty Moves of Flying Tiger Throwing and Thirty-Seven Forms of Flying Dragon Grappling.
During the Yuan Dynasty, masters such as Zhi'an, Zhiju, Zian, and Juexun excelled in free-fighting techniques, combat, and fighting. Building upon the legacy of their predecessors, they integrated special skills like qigong into free-fighting and fighting, enriching Shaolin martial arts in both content and technique. Zhi'an compiled Thirty-One Moves of Dragon and Tiger Conflict.
The Ming Dynasty marked the peak of Shaolin martial arts development, with further innovations in free-fighting and fighting techniques. Masters such as Tong, Meihui, Xuanran, Tongxi, Mingxue, Wuhua, Pubi, and Qingwang were all undefeated champions in the arena. Notably, Master Tongxi not only mastered grappling and fighting techniques, often defeating hundreds with a single blow, but also compiled a specialized work titled Essentials of Grappling, which included 16 grappling hands, 18 grabbing methods, and 13 entangling techniques, totaling 47 moves. This is the earliest recorded manual on free-fighting, grappling, and practical fighting techniques, still passed down among Shaolin monks today.
Another master, Qingwang, was young and talented, surpassing others in martial arts by the age of 20. He used his expertise in combat to subdue villains and capture thieves, gaining fame across the land. He wrote works such as Twenty-Four Forms of Kicking and Grappling, Thirty-Two Forms of Free-Fighting Attack and Defense, and Forty-Five Forms of Free-Fighting, providing detailed explanations of footwork, strikes, hand grappling, and the integration of wisdom and technique in combat.
Although Qing Dynasty rulers repeatedly banned martial arts practice, forcing some monks to leave the temple, they could not suppress the's determination to protect the nation and revitalize the ethnicity. They practiced secretly by day and openly by night, spreading the fire of Shaolin martial arts far and wide, truly embodying "teaching martial arts to all directions, strengthening skills even more."
Famous fighting masters of Shaolin during the Qing Dynasty included Xuanzhi, Rujing, Zande, Zanju, Jizhu, and Jibo. Notably, Master Xuanzhi compiled works such as Grappling and Throwing Techniques and Free-Fighting and Grappling Breaking Methods, which are still passed down today. Master Zanju wrote Thirty-Six Forms of Free-Fighting, making significant contributions to the development of Shaolin free-fighting techniques.