WuTang, Shaolin and Kung Fu

[SouthernMantis]

Respect Bangers

I wanted to post about Wu's choice to take on the various Kung Fu mythologies and give a bit of background. Maybe someone is interested, maybe not, we'll see.

So it's interesting that Wu live in "Shaolin". Wutang Kung Fu and Shaolin Kung Fu are 2 entirely separate schools. Some might say they are rivals. Shaolin system has roots in Buddhism. Wutang has roots in Daoism. These 2 are very different philosophies. For example, Daoists can drink and eat meat, and don't believe that compassion is important, as Buddhists do. Daoists believe that the natural way is best, and nature has little compassion. Many Daoist / Wutang temples are close to the Himalayas and Tibet. For that reason, of the 2 schools of Kung Fu, the Daoist ones are usually the more mystical of the 2, dealing in spirits and magic. Or so the legend goes.

There are hundreds of different styles of Kung Fu, some Buddhist, some Daoist. Others neither. Interestingly I know of only 1 style of Kung Fu that has roots in both Shaolin and Wutang at the same time. It is a highly respected form of Kung Fu.

Legend has it that young Shaolin student Lao Soei was giving a demonstration of his Kung Fu skills in some village in China. At the end, everyone applauded but an old man stepped up and told Lao Soei that his Kung Fu was slightly better than nothing. Lao Soei had good fire so he challenged the man. With a single touch, Lao Soei was thrown through the air and landed on his back in the dirt. He later said that the shock was like being hit by lightning. He begged the man to be his Sifu (Teacher). The old man accepted and the Master and student went off together. The old man was a Daoist Master, named Wong Fook Go. Lao Soei went on to become "Number one of the three tigers of Dong Jiang". A handful of Lao Soei students are alive today, though very old. They say that the Masters hands flowed with electricity.

Anyone in this style of Kung Fu will say that it comes from Shaolin. People in the know, know that it comes from both Shaolin and Wutang, making it quite rare indeed.

Hope that's interesting for someone

[Kutman]

It is (interesting), if true. Thx 4 the info.

[Rev Jones]

yeah good read and good info

thanks