Shaolin Kung Fu - Stretching
The Shaolin monks devote a lot of
their time on stretching, which is one of the main elements for a
good execution of the techniques. The monks start very early
during their childhood training these 'stretching' techniques. The
most famous of the Shaolin 'stretching' techniques are probably
the 'Yi Jin Jing' form ('Elderly Stretching'), and the 'Tong Zi
Gong' form ('Childrens Kung Fu')...
'
Ji Jin Jing' are
the 49 postures of Da Mo, the sister internal art of yoga and the
precursor to the fighting arts of the Shaolin Temple. The Yi Jin
Jing are designed to condition the major and minor muscle groups
of the body by utilizing dynamic tension and isometric contraction
of the muscles.
'Tong Zi
Gong' must
be trained from childhood. Shaolin Child Exercise Kungfu consists
of 18 styles and requires the preservation of hard training. If
this kung-fu is crowned with success, each style could be turned
into a move for attack and defense. In the past thousand years,
Shaolin Monastery always took the child's exercise as the basic
Kung-fu for children to be a Shaolin monk.
Click on the pictures to enlarge...
