Shaolin Monk Training

Shaolin Monk Training

Shaolin Monk Training

Award winning photographer Tomasz Gudzowaty provides a rare inside look at the martial arts training of Shaolin Monks in his fantastic photo essay “Shaolin Temple“.

In the seventies, the martial art of Kung Fu became a pop-culture phenomenon due to the cult TV series of the same name. The show’s main character, a fugitive monk from the Shaolin monastery, finds himself in the western world. From that time forward, Kung Fu and Shaolin have been associated with that media icon of a warrior-monk of extraordinary ability. But for the Buddhists, Shaolin remains a cradle of one of the most significant forms of the religion called Chan; a discipline that values spiritual self-improvement through meditation over prayers and ceremonies. Introduced in the 5th century AD by the Indian monk Bodhidharma, the principles of contemplation and martial arts, present in the daily life of monks, are regarded as a remedy for physical weakness and indolence. Despite the vicissitudes of history, the monastic tradition survived until Mao’s Cultural Revolution, when the Shaolin temple was officially closed. But the formal organization, with a prior as leader, remained untouched, and in the eighties the temple was re-opened as a training center and tourist attraction. Students of karate, judo, and tai box often refuse to recognize Kung Fu as a martial art due to its theatricality and testing of one’s own resistance instead of the opponent’s. In a way, this is true. Training in Kung Fu is mostly done without an opponent, as it was never meant to kill, and the poetic names of the moves implies that it is more of meditation than a fight. However, the only difference between breaking a clay jug and smashing a human skull with one’s bare hands is consciousness of will.

See more…

Shaolin Monk Training 2

Shaolin Monk Training 3

Shaolin Monk Training 4

via

 

Donnie Yen vs Bruce Lee

Donnie Yen vs Bruce Lee

Here’s a really cool video animation that gives us an idea at what it might look like to see legendary martial artist Bruce Lee fight Donnie Yen. The video is called A Warrior’s Dream, and it was directed by Li Jin.

A Warrior’s Dream is a 3D animated short film with photorealistic visual style. The story is about a martial artist’s combat with his imaginary opponent. The martial artist finally realized that the mightiest opponent is himself. The film ends with Bruce Lee’s calligraphy “Walk On”. Thus the director wishes Donnie Yen can walk on as a martial artist like Bruce Lee, the idol of Donnie Yen himself.

 

Jackie Chan Recalls Getting Hit By Bruce Lee

Jackie Chan remembers the best experience of his life, when Bruce Lee accidentally hit him in the head during the filming of Enter the Dragon.

For a young martial arts performer, getting to act opposite Bruce Lee was a huge honour – and Jackie Chan got the chance on the set of ‘Enter the Dragon’. But things didn’t exactly go according to plan.

When Bruce accidentally hit Jackie in the head, he felt awful. Which allowed Jackie to spend a little quality time with his idol.

HT
 

Load More