Benefits of Shao-lin

• STRENGTH
• FLEXIBIILITY
• FOCUS
• SELF-DEFENSE
• HEALTH
• LONGEVITY
• VITALITY

While the Shao-lin Kung Fu we study today may not be taught in a monastic environment, the benefits of the Shao-lin art remain the same - the cultivation of applicable and effective martial skills; strong, supple, healthy bodies; sharp minds throughout the length of our lives. Over the last 1500 years, the monks designed an extremely well-rounded and engaging physical, mental and martial system of training which could take any student who was lucky enough to make it inside the temple gates and turn them into an extremely effective warrior.

The past generations of Shao-lin Masters had several reasons for developing their martial training systems with such unparalleled dedication and intensity. The most immediately apparent reason is self-defense. The Shao-lin Temples were located in secluded areas and were home to countless religious treasures. As a result they were periodically raided by bandits and imperial government soldiers for their valuable gold and jade artifacts. Hence the monks found it extremely useful to develop the skills necessary for defending both themselves and the temples from raiders and thieves. In addition, many of the monks became wandering priests, journeying alone through some of the most remote regions of ancient China. Their legendary martial skills doubtlessly served the Shao-lin Priests well during their long travels.

Beyond the practical application of the Shao-lin art the monks found that their martial training was extremely effective for keeping their bodies strong, their health vibrant and their minds sharp throughout the entirety of their longer than average lives (the monks regularly continued their Kung Fu practices into their 80's and 90's). From a Buddhist perspective, the monks felt that the longer they could lead healthy lives with a keen mind, the closer they could get towards attaining Bodhisattvahood (enlightenment) during each lifetime.