Shaolin kung fu - Donn F. Draeger

A comprehensive guide to Shaolin Lohan Kung Fu from both ancient and contemporary masters.With a new foreword by historian and decorated martial artist Alexander Bennett, Shaolin Kung Fu details the oldest form of this ancient Chinese martial art. Shaolin Kung Fu is prized for its elegant style, effectiveness as a fighting system and as an exercise that benefits both body and mind.Authors Donn F. Draeger and P'ng Chye Khim, both master martial artists and Shaolin experts, focus on the Lohan technique-believed to have developed from a form devised at the legendary Shaolin Temple some 1,500 years ago. This comprehensive book offers a practical introduction, including: A history of Shaolin Kung Fu The fundamentals of Shaolin A complete description of the Lohan pattern How to apply and master the techniques Detailed Shaolin training methods Weapons used in Shaolin This book is intended to be a supplement to a dedicated training program and includes detailed instructions explaining both the solo and partner practice forms. Accompanied by over 400 photos and sketches, this excellent introduction to the Lohan form is a must-have for any serious student of Shaolin and Kung Fu.Shaolin Kung Fu was intended to provide Buddhist monks in ancient China with an art that would not only act as an intense conditioning tool, but also arm them with a formidable system of self defense. Though the context for these skills has changed, modern readers can benefit from this method in much the same way as its original students.