The TRUE History Of Martial Arts

[falkor]

I'm halfway through reading this book:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Chinese-Martial-Arts-Training-Manuals/dp/1556435576

I am trying to find out about the history of martial arts to find out when and where animal styles originated, which are essential for a good Kung Fu movie, i.e. flashy, flowery martial arts with interesting hand forms even though they may not be good for self-defence. Apparently, all martial arts probably originated from military training and not from Shaolin.

HISTORIANS

TANG HAO (1857-1959)
1930 Taiji Boxing and Naijia Boxing
1930 A Study of Shaolin and Wudang
1935 Neijia Boxing
1936 Wong Wugong Taiji Linking Saber
1936 Wong Song Lance Manual
1936 The Lost Old Chinese Sword Method
1936 The Qi Qi Fist Classic
1937 Essays of Hsinjen Residence
1940 Series on Qing Dynasty Archery
1940 A Study of Chinese Sports Illustrations
1940 A Study of Chinese Martial Arts Illustrations
1940 A Study of "Secrets Of Shaolin Boxing"
-Studies of the Emei School Of Boxing
-Reference Material For The History of Chinese Martial Arts and Sports (8 volumes)
-The Preliminary Study For the Historial Materials For Ancient Chinese Ball Games (8 volumes)

XU ZHEN
The Authentication Of Taijiquan Training Manuals
The Study Of The Authenticiation of Taijiquan
The Study Of Illustrations Of Orignal Methods Of Shaolin
A Survey Of National Martial Arts

CHOU CHI CHUN
?

MATSUDA RYUICHI
198X An Illustrated History Of Chinese Martial Arts

KANG GE WU (1964 -)
-The Complete Practical Book Of Chinese Martial Arts

STANLEY E. HENNING
-Ignorance, Legend and Taijiquan
-On Politically Correct Treatment of Myths in the Chinese Martial Arts
-The Chinese Martial Arts in Historical Perspective

MA MING DA
2004 collection of essays on Chinese martial arts history (2 volumes) by Lion Books.

SHAOLIN AND WUDANG LEGENDS/MYTHS

Origins of the Shaolin legend (95% myth) cannot be traced back earlier than 2 books and there is no evidence that it was ever part of an earlier oral tradition:
1907 Travels Of Lao Can
1915 Secrets Of Shaolin Boxing

Apparently, there's no evidence that Shaolin was a hotbed of martial arts training, and they probably learnt most stuff from the military before becoming monks. What Shaolin were famous for were staff techniques that go back to before 1561. This is based on research by TANG HAO and STANLEY E HENNING (see above). Wudang didn't invent Taijiquan, which can be traced to General Qi and the Chen and Yang families.

EARLIEST MARTIAL ARTS

So what was the earliest martial arts systems/styles that we have a factual record of?

Qing era (1644 - 1912) or earlier
Wudang (Xingji, Bagua and Taijiquan)
South Shaolin/Hakka/Guangdong province (Hakka Boxing, Yue Fei Boxing, Displaced People Boxing)
South Shaolin/Hoklo/Fujian province (Forever Spring Boxing, Fujian Lohan Buddha's Disciples Boxing, Grand Emperor Boxing, several varieties of Crane Boxing, Da Zhun Great Achieving Respect Boxing)
Others: Monkey Boxing, Golden Eagle, Cai Family Boxing, Phoenix Eye Fist, Bronze Man Manual (whatever style used this).
+ MANY MORE

A lot more research needs to be done on this, so expect this post to be updated based on any books or articles I manage to locate by the above historians; does anyone have any weblinks for anything, including more bibliography?

[falkor]

I've started reading the book--recommended by peringaten in the other thread and Linn Haynes in his Heroes Two audio commentary--to try to get to the bottom of the history of the Shaolin Monastery! :smile:

[peringaten]

Why don't you learn kung fu?

[Yakuza954]

I can't wait till their new book comes out- http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jingwu-School-That-Transformed-Kung/dp/1583942424/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262406456&sr=1-1

[falkor]

Why don't you learn kung fu?
Because nobody dislikes me enough in person to want to beat me up and inspire me to learn self-defence! :bigsmile: I am not interested in what martial arts are the best for street fighting or self defence. I like to watch other animals imitating other animals as a form of entertainment! :tongue: Being good at Kung Fu Movies is not about being good with your arms and legs, but your eyes and your brain. I am simply interested in martial arts/kung fu to find out where animal styles originated and the truth about the legends/myths/stories that feature so heavily in kungs. I am also studying the history of China in my spare time, which all helps enhance my viewing experiences!

Apparently, most of the early chinese martial artists had learnt from the military in the hope of working in one of the following areas:
1) Martial Arts Teacher
2) Peking Opera
3) Street Performer (see From The Highway!)
4) Escort (untold kung flix feature stories about this)
5) Bodyguard

[Jesse Smooth]

Check out the Bubishi. Very interesting and informative.

[falkor]

Here's a good explanation I found re: Shaolin/Wu Tang Myths:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiqBTU4oXAM

Also:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2pbDtzJnag (Part 1)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLbZtyqwEx4 (Part 2)

This addresses many things that were discussed in the other thread re: Wu Shu. However, there's one thing I'm still not sure about. What evidence is there that the 5 animal styles were ever practised in the grounds of the Shaolin Temple before the republic?

[KyFi]

falkor,

I was one who recommended the "Chinese Martial Arts Training Manuals--A Historical Survery" book in another thread, and I think that's a really great source for "mythbusting" and getting some historical accuracy. I had to laugh though----look on page 37 :bigsmile:

(they show an illustration from an old training manual of a guy running up a vertical wall) I saw that and though "hey, the Five Venoms is historically accurate!" :bigsmile:

Here's a history of Taijiquan, written by my sword teacher, which I think is quite good:

http://www.grtc.org/art/the-martial-and-the-civil-in-yang-style-taijiquan/#more-44

[peringaten]

Because nobody dislikes me enough in person to want to beat me up and inspire me to learn self-defence! :bigsmile: I am not interested in what martial arts are the best for street fighting or self defence.That's not what I'm talking about; I'm not suggesting you go out & learn to grapple & wrestle some drunkards or some shit. I'm talking about learning the traditional classical kung fu from which the animal styles & choreo you love derives from.I like to watch other animals imitating other animals as a form of entertainment! :tongue: Being good at Kung Fu Movies is not about being good with your arms and legs, but your eyes and your brain. I am simply interested in martial arts/kung fu to find out where animal styles originated and the truth about the legends/myths/stories that feature so heavily in kungs. I am also studying the history of China in my spare time, which all helps enhance my viewing experiences! I only mention it as you seem a man obsessed with the kung. True, the movies offer all sorts of stimulation, but nothing will open up your viewing experience like being given true understanding of the shapes from a good traditional lineage - it's surprising what you can find in London for one. Keeps you healthy too. Anyhoo, I'm derailing...

[TibetanWhiteCrane]

So true.....! Watching kung fu is great, but actually learning and practicing kung fu, is a whole other matter! You get a whole new appreciation for the movies, and a spiritual kinship of sorts, with the performers!