SHAOLIN KEMPO KUNG-FU
Our school’s main tradition is a Chinese art called Shaolin (少林- Young Forest) Kempo [Quan Fa] (拳法- Fist Law or Boxing) Kung-Fu (功夫 – Skill), combined with some elements of Karate (空手 – Empty Hand) and Sanshou (散手-‘free-style fighting’). The art traces its origins back over 1500 years to the original Songshan Shaolin Temple of China.
Shaolin Kempo Kung-Fu techniques are divided into four general fighting categories:
• Da (打): Striking with any part of the hands, arms or head.
• Ti (踢): Kicking with any part of the foot, knee or legs
• Shuai-Jiao (摔角): Wrestling methods which unbalance, sweep or throw the opponent down
• Qin-Na (擒拿): Wrestling methods that seize or control the opponent through locks, pins, pressure points, or wrestling.
Although all these can be found in most traditional Chinese martial arts systems, many styles tend to focus only on one or two categories, and such gave rise to numerous ‘specialized’ disciplines.
To become a well-rounded martial artist, we believe one must not only be proficient in these Four Ways of Fighting but also be able to seamlessly integrate them together as one, thereby eliminating all weaknesses and vulnerabilities.