12-07-2005, 02:21 AM
Also from "rl"
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Part 2Â - Asian martial arts, the Indian (or Hindu) connection.
CHINESE KUNG-FU - Everyone has heard the story of Bodhidharma (Ta Mo in Chinese). He is the first patriarch of Chan (Zen in japanese) buddhism, who supposedly introduced Kung-fu into China. Legend has it that he was a South Indian prince (some say of kanchipuram), of either Kshatriya or Brahmin descent. His legends abound, and a google search can tell you more about him than I have the patience for. He is supposed to have bought Chigung (Chi strengthening - Chi is 'lifeforce' - the most similar word in Sanskrit is 'Prana') exercises to Shaolin temple as well as some martial arts, which form the basis of Shaolin Kung-fu. However, many centuries have passed, and many local and not-so-local martial arts have entered and left the temple. Also, Shaolin temple has been burnt to the ground 3 times and a lot of history and practice have been lost - every time the tradition has to be rebuilt by re-learning the martial arts from local non-monk folk-masters being in traditions descended from Shaolin. Also, the Daoists also had their own martial arts which have cross-pollinated with Shaolin. This has given rise to a uniquely chinese system of martial arts. However, Northern Shaolin Kung-fu is very similar to kalarippayattu to look at. The concepts underlying are very similar to yogic ones too (Chi <->Prana, Chi meridian <-> Naadi, Dan Tien <->Chakra). It is fashionable for some jingoistic Chinese to deny Damo's existence since they don't want to have anything to do with India. At this point he is a legend, so it's hard to argue either way. Also, it is very hard to find authentic kung-fu nowadays since the communists cracked down on kung-fu in the 50s and 60s and persecuted the old masters who had to go underground, just like the british did to kalarippayattu. Nowadays, the kung-fu in Shaolin is just for show, and very few of them can actually use it in a real fight.
INDONESIAN MARTIAL ARTS - They are definitely indian/hindu in origin. The master is called 'Guro' and they have 'Marma Adi' in it, just like kalarippayattu! However, the Muslims are trying to co-opt these traditions and claim them to be of Muslim origin.
THAI MARTIAL ARTS - Muay thai is very popular in thailand, and has made it's name as an excellent stand-up style in the UFC. Thai people practice a synctretic form of Hinduism/buddhism, and the Ramayana is their national epic. Hence you will find a lot of Hindu names to the Muay Thai techniques - eg., Hanuman visits Lanka, Hanuman's ring, etc. A lot of the advanced trainers are buddhist monks. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Part 2Â - Asian martial arts, the Indian (or Hindu) connection.
CHINESE KUNG-FU - Everyone has heard the story of Bodhidharma (Ta Mo in Chinese). He is the first patriarch of Chan (Zen in japanese) buddhism, who supposedly introduced Kung-fu into China. Legend has it that he was a South Indian prince (some say of kanchipuram), of either Kshatriya or Brahmin descent. His legends abound, and a google search can tell you more about him than I have the patience for. He is supposed to have bought Chigung (Chi strengthening - Chi is 'lifeforce' - the most similar word in Sanskrit is 'Prana') exercises to Shaolin temple as well as some martial arts, which form the basis of Shaolin Kung-fu. However, many centuries have passed, and many local and not-so-local martial arts have entered and left the temple. Also, Shaolin temple has been burnt to the ground 3 times and a lot of history and practice have been lost - every time the tradition has to be rebuilt by re-learning the martial arts from local non-monk folk-masters being in traditions descended from Shaolin. Also, the Daoists also had their own martial arts which have cross-pollinated with Shaolin. This has given rise to a uniquely chinese system of martial arts. However, Northern Shaolin Kung-fu is very similar to kalarippayattu to look at. The concepts underlying are very similar to yogic ones too (Chi <->Prana, Chi meridian <-> Naadi, Dan Tien <->Chakra). It is fashionable for some jingoistic Chinese to deny Damo's existence since they don't want to have anything to do with India. At this point he is a legend, so it's hard to argue either way. Also, it is very hard to find authentic kung-fu nowadays since the communists cracked down on kung-fu in the 50s and 60s and persecuted the old masters who had to go underground, just like the british did to kalarippayattu. Nowadays, the kung-fu in Shaolin is just for show, and very few of them can actually use it in a real fight.
INDONESIAN MARTIAL ARTS - They are definitely indian/hindu in origin. The master is called 'Guro' and they have 'Marma Adi' in it, just like kalarippayattu! However, the Muslims are trying to co-opt these traditions and claim them to be of Muslim origin.
THAI MARTIAL ARTS - Muay thai is very popular in thailand, and has made it's name as an excellent stand-up style in the UFC. Thai people practice a synctretic form of Hinduism/buddhism, and the Ramayana is their national epic. Hence you will find a lot of Hindu names to the Muay Thai techniques - eg., Hanuman visits Lanka, Hanuman's ring, etc. A lot of the advanced trainers are buddhist monks. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->