Shaolin
Wushu (Shaolin Martial Art) is one of the most influential genres of Chinese martial art, and it's named after the Shaolin Temple located in Dengfeng County, Henan Province. The monks in the Shaolin Temple began to study martial art during the Southern and Northern Dynasties and this tradition prevailed during the Sui and the Tang dynasties (581-907).
Shaolin Wushu is famous both at home and abroad as a highly effective method of self-defense and health-building. Combining both external and internal, and "hard" and "soft" exercises, Shaolin Wushu involves various methods of fighting techniques, consisting of barehanded boxing and weaponry combat. Shaolin boxing has compactly designed routines. Its movements are quick, powerful and flexible; both practical for defense and attack.www.ryedu.net
The most outstanding characteristic of Shaolin boxing is that the practitioner works on one straight line. It means that his movements of advancing, retreating, turning around, sideways, or jumping are restrained on one line. His arms are kept slightly bent so that he can stretch out to attack or withdraw freely for self-defense. Another characteristic of Shaolin Wushu is to maintain the body in perfect balance, as stable as a mountain. The practitioners should keep a tranquil mind but strike with great force and speed. He should be good at "borrowing" force from the opponent. That is, he should not meet the opponent's strikes head-on, but take advantage of the striker's force and go along with it to bring him to ward off a force of a thousand weights. The practitioner should know how to make feigned strikes and when striking, hit the vital parts of the opponent. The movements should be as dextrous as a cat, the shaking as a tiger, the moving as a dragon, the advancing as lightning and the yelling as thunder.
Shaolin Wushu is a very convenient sport, for the practice does not need a large space and is not affected by weather or the kind of weapons used.
There are many routines. External exercises include Minor Hong Boxing, Greater Hong Boxing, Old Hong Boxing, Chaoyang Boxing, Chang Boxing, Plum Blossom Boxing, Cannon Boxing, Luohan Buddha Boxing, Tongbei Boxing, Seven-star Boxing, Dragon-out-of-the-sea Boxing and Shooting-star Boxing; for internal exercises, there are Xingyi Boxing and Juji Boxing. Shaolin boxing can be practiced singly or in pairs. The routines include Banshou Liuhe Boxing, Yaoshou Liuhe Boxing and Kick and Strike Liuhe Boxing.
少林武术是中国最有影响的一个武术流派，因形成于少林寺而得名。
少林寺位于中国中部河南省登封县嵩岳少室山北麓玉乳峰下，始建于北魏孝文帝太和十九年。据史料记载，少林寺习武始于南北朝而盛于隋唐，后又汇集各家之长而逐渐形成为中国最大的武术流派。它的支脉繁衍，遍及各地。
少林武术在国内外均享有盛名。它以强身健体、去病延年、保护名山、镇守古刹、防身抗暴、杀敌制胜为目的。以朴实无华、套路繁多、功法繁衍、内外武功著称。以技击性强、利于实战为风格。以拳打一条线、威发卧牛地、打人不见形、打了还嫌迟、内静外猛、刚中透柔、劲似曲蓄而有余、借力打人、四两拨千斤、拳打一气连等特点，而独创一家，在国内外均享有盛名。
少林武术的内容包括：拳术、器械、散打、把头、点穴、卸骨、擒拿。
