The Shaolin Temple's 72 Secret And Consummate Arts-'Kungs' or Fighting Exercises', involve extreme training but can produce astonishing results.'Kungs' involve mostly either Soft 'Yin Rou Energy' Training, (mainly Internal) or Hard 'Yang Gang Power' Training (mainly External) although a few involve both. The following example has applications which are largely defensive and features regularly in Shaolin Monk stage performances.
Introduction
Cloth Sack Arts aka Gunny Sack Arts/'Bu Dai Gong'
This demanding Internal Kung Fu Exercise involves the development of the abdomen into a flexible and resilient container half-full of air-the 'Cloth Sack' mentioned in the exercise's title. Sometimes known as the 'Mee Luck' or Universal Bag of Air, those mastering this Art can defend themselves against any attack.
Technical Analysis At first consideration this Shaolin Secret Fighting Exercise or 'Kung' seems to bear a close resemblance to Iron Bullock Arts (1). This, however, is a Yang Gang External Power Training Exercise whilst Cloth Sack Arts is of the Yin Rou Internal Energy Training variety and is far superior.
Method
Stage 1
Sit on a chair in a relaxed manner with hands resting on your knees, legs slightly apart. Breathe deeply into your abdomen and sway from side-to-side (move just over 30 degrees from the vertical in each direction). When this motion is completed, exhale gradually. Practise daily until exhausted.
After two years of training regularly in this fashion, the abdomen will be as soft as cotton-wool when relaxed, but as hard as iron when it is tensed. The student is then ready for the next stage.
Stage 2
An abdomen-high framework needs constructing to support a log approximately 6″ in diameter, which needs freedom to slide to-and-fro and roll from side-to-side.
Stand facing this log and press your stomach hard against it (so that it looks like it's sticking into your stomach). Attempt to grip the end of the log with your stomach muscles and maintain you hold with a vice-like grip.
Initially, this will prove extremely difficult but, with continued practice, you will be able to 'drag' the log towards you using internal abdominal strength alone. Moreover, eventually it will prove impossible for even a number of people to pull it out of your abdomen against your will. It should also be possible for the student to expel the log forcefully from the abdomen like a torpedo. At this point the exercise is mastered.
Overall
The abdomen should now be able to withstand attack from wooden and iron implements. The Yin (soft) and Yang (hard) aspects of this exercise require careful co-ordination. Mastery can take up to ten years.
The famous Shaolin feat where people are invited to attempt to remove a metal dish from a Monk's abdomen (usually unsuccessfully) is based on this 'Kung'.
Notes
(1) See 'Iron Bullock Arts' Ezine Articles, by this author for more details
Introduction
Cloth Sack Arts aka Gunny Sack Arts/'Bu Dai Gong'
This demanding Internal Kung Fu Exercise involves the development of the abdomen into a flexible and resilient container half-full of air-the 'Cloth Sack' mentioned in the exercise's title. Sometimes known as the 'Mee Luck' or Universal Bag of Air, those mastering this Art can defend themselves against any attack.
Technical Analysis At first consideration this Shaolin Secret Fighting Exercise or 'Kung' seems to bear a close resemblance to Iron Bullock Arts (1). This, however, is a Yang Gang External Power Training Exercise whilst Cloth Sack Arts is of the Yin Rou Internal Energy Training variety and is far superior.
Method
Stage 1
Sit on a chair in a relaxed manner with hands resting on your knees, legs slightly apart. Breathe deeply into your abdomen and sway from side-to-side (move just over 30 degrees from the vertical in each direction). When this motion is completed, exhale gradually. Practise daily until exhausted.
After two years of training regularly in this fashion, the abdomen will be as soft as cotton-wool when relaxed, but as hard as iron when it is tensed. The student is then ready for the next stage.
Stage 2
An abdomen-high framework needs constructing to support a log approximately 6″ in diameter, which needs freedom to slide to-and-fro and roll from side-to-side.
Stand facing this log and press your stomach hard against it (so that it looks like it's sticking into your stomach). Attempt to grip the end of the log with your stomach muscles and maintain you hold with a vice-like grip.
Initially, this will prove extremely difficult but, with continued practice, you will be able to 'drag' the log towards you using internal abdominal strength alone. Moreover, eventually it will prove impossible for even a number of people to pull it out of your abdomen against your will. It should also be possible for the student to expel the log forcefully from the abdomen like a torpedo. At this point the exercise is mastered.
Overall
The abdomen should now be able to withstand attack from wooden and iron implements. The Yin (soft) and Yang (hard) aspects of this exercise require careful co-ordination. Mastery can take up to ten years.
The famous Shaolin feat where people are invited to attempt to remove a metal dish from a Monk's abdomen (usually unsuccessfully) is based on this 'Kung'.
Notes
(1) See 'Iron Bullock Arts' Ezine Articles, by this author for more details
Sifu Peter Allsop M.Ed. teaches Shaolin Kung Fu and Qigong in Yorkshire and Derbyshire U.K. With almost 40 years experience he is Shaolin Fists International Area Instructor for this region and Senior Student of Grandmaster Yap Leong.
Trained in the U.K. and China, Peter teaches Changquan ('Longfist') Wu Xing (5 Animals), Wu Tzu (5 Ancestors) Kung Fu and 5 Elements Qigong.
Sheffield Chinese Lion Dance Team Member, he also publishes 'Red Dragon Martial Arts Ezine'.
Explore the free resources at: http://www.sheffieldkungfu.com
Follow us on Facebook at 'Sheffield Kung Fu
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Allsop Trained in the U.K. and China, Peter teaches Changquan ('Longfist') Wu Xing (5 Animals), Wu Tzu (5 Ancestors) Kung Fu and 5 Elements Qigong.
Sheffield Chinese Lion Dance Team Member, he also publishes 'Red Dragon Martial Arts Ezine'.
Explore the free resources at: http://www.sheffieldkungfu.com
Follow us on Facebook at 'Sheffield Kung Fu