Demonstration & Teaching by Shaolin Abbot Shi De Li

Textbook for Abbot De Li's Teaching

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Part of teaching plan from Da Mo Martial Monk Abbey
Shaolin Temple Mt Song, China

By She De Li

Abbot of the Da Mo( Bodidharma)  Monk Abbey,
31st Generation direct successor of The Virgin Boy Kong Fu
Since Buddha Da Mo,
Shaolin Temple, Mt Song, China

Morning Kong (Training) and Evening Kong (Training)

Morning Kong is also called “Lu Sui Kong” (Training of Dew). Before the sun rises, one is to swiftly rise and practice breathing, taking in the new air and breathing out the old.

1. Time Schedule:
1.   Morning:  3:50 AM—6:50 AM
2.   Evening: 11:00 PM—1:00 AM

2. Training Ritual and Routine: (Fundamentals for Shaolin Kong Fu)
1. Washing and Cleaning
2. Worshipping the Buddha—Burn incense and pray at the Shrine
3. Drinking—at the cafeteria
4. Worshipping the patriarchs—patriarch’s briefing -- a ritual before the start of all Kong Fu practice in Shaolin.
5. Triple loosening—One time
6. Triple Tu Na ( Regulating of breath)—Three times
7. Triple Changing of Chi (or Qi)—7 or 5 times.

Note: The above routine is the very first Kong a Shaolin Martial monk must go through. It is the very fundamental of his Kong Fu practice. It is the first door into Shaolin Kong Fu.

I. the Eight Pieces of Brocade, so named because the essence of training is summed up in an octet as paraphrased below.

                           *Three Chiao—means the three cavities—Lung, Stomach and Lower Abdomen.
       II. Yi Jin Jing (text of Changing Tendons/muscles)

         III. Tong Tzu Kong (The Virgin Boy Kong Fu)

Closing Form:  Sitting Buddha position naturally
Note: This is the Soft Technique of Shaolin Kong that includes 18 sections. In short:
The Eight Pieces of Brocade for the Internal Kung Fu of Yi Jing/ Xi Xui has been part of the tradition passed down by the Shaolin Temple of Mt Song. This fundamental method of drilling is practiced by both the clerical abbey and martial abbey monks of the temple. It has been the prerequisite for all other Kong Fu. Frequent practice of this Kong Fu will render the whole body’s tendons and bones to be as supple as cotton and yet as strong as iron. One can achieve the ultimate state of indestructible diamond of body (vajra). In Shaolin, it is passed down generations after generations as the secret sutra of supreme importance for building good health.     

Explanation: Not all the 49 forms above have to be practiced each and every practice session. One or two major Kong Fu’s per session is sufficient. E.g. you can pick only one or two out of the Eight Brocades or the Yi Jin Jing or Tong Tzu Kong for each session.

(* Chuang means various Horse Standing positions)
Note: Tzu Wu Chuang is also called “Hun Yuan Chuang”. The objective of this training is to cultivate the Yuan Chi (Original Chi) of Tang Tian. Through drumming up the internal Chi from Tang Tian, Chi is sent to the tendons and bones. The Chi nourishes the whole body’s tendons, Meridians, Pressure Points and nervous system. This has the effect of boosting one’s stamina, balance, observation and reflexes.
Explanation: Usually, one can stand Chuang from 30 minutes to 2 hours. Persons of supreme ability can go as long as 7 days and 7 nights Standing Chuang in Horse Stand form. Those who can achieve this ability are mainly the virtuosos of Kong Fu practiced by some monks.

Note: Taiji Ball and Tzu Wu Chuang are closely related. Together, they are known to be “Tzu Mu Kong” (Mother/Son Kong Fu). While Tzu Wu Chuang trains your internal Dan (or internal Elixir), Taiji Ball trains your external Dan (or external Elixir). These are essential for the basic trainings of Shaolin Kong Fu. The ideals for this training can be summed up in these aspects: Adequate dynamic and inert; Chang (or Zen’s ideals) and Fist as one; Cultivating both Internal and External; same weight for Ying and Yang. It is perfection of integrating the Ying’s soft energy and the Yang’s hard energy.
Explanation: Taiji Ball training steps: one can start from 5lbs and increase up to 80lbs. The maximum can range from 120lbs—180lbs which should be the ultimatum, however, it is not usually recommended. Usually, 80lbs weight is good enough as a generally accepted maximum as it is adequate for practical Kong Fu application while 120-180lbs weight should only be used as a token milestone of achievement. Each training session should be tailored to the individual’s ability, for each weight category, 81 times should be good number to practice. One can go all the way to 108 times but again this is considered as an upper limit and ultimatum of a token achievement.

Note: White Crane Chuan was one of the Northern Shaolin’s five animal forms. However, when the form was passed down to the southern Shaolin, it was further developed by the martial art virtuoso Lady Fang Chong Tzu. Her grasp of the Chang (Zen) philosophy and unique understanding of practical techniques had reinvented White Crane Chuan into a major flagship Kong Fu form for the Southern Shaolin. It also established itself as a major form in the Arena of Chinese Kong Fu family. Within the Southern Shaolin’s family, its position is at par as other four Patriarchal Chuan’s (or Quan’s--Fists). Together they are called the Five Patriarchal Chuan’s, namely, Da Chung, Lo Han, Five Patriarch He Yang, Ti Su Chuen Fa and White Crane Chuan. This form has been passed down for about 300 years and the form is still quite intact. It is one of the rare blossoms of Kong Fu ever developed in the big family of Chinese martial art.

Explanation: “Triple Combats and Seven Steps” is the basic Kong Fu of White Crane Chuan. It has to be practiced everyday. Usually, practice 81 times in each training session. It can be divided in group of moves e.g. one can divide into 9 groups and practice 9 times for each group and get 81 times in total. One can also increase the intensity of training by using metal rings (or loops) to enhance the result for building up strength.

Note: Pu Kong is also called “Li Chan Kong” in Shaolin. This is one of the secret Kong Fu's of Shaolin. It specifically trains the strength of the palm strike from afar. There are many other names for this Kong Fu, viz. Yin Palm (Impressing), Pi Palm (Controlling air), Pu Palm (Cloth), Pan Chan Palm.

Explanation: Pu Kong training consists of striking through the air at a far away object such as a hanging cloth, hanging paper, hanging wood, hanging brick or hanging stone etc…and ultimately strike object obscured by a plank or obstacle.

Special Note: All the above 7 Kong Fu's training methods and procedures are preferably practiced both in the morning and the evening. Morning training is called “Chin Kong” (bettering one’s Kong) and the evening training is called Ku Kong (firming up one’s Kong). It is recommended the schedule be maintained persistently day in day out to elevate one’s Kong Fu and strength daily. In fact, it is such important trainings that one must insist for his whole life. In Kung Fu, one is either practices and improves or neglects and degrades. The statement is worth repeated: practice and improve or neglect and degrade.

Pre-noon and After-noon Training—other training sessions
Training procedure: (Pre-noon from 9AM—11:30AM, After-noon: 3PM—6PM)
Standing Chuang, Skipping, Press Thighs, Kicking exercises, Striking Wooden Dummy, Prostrate and press arms, Hand stand, Lifting legs, Stepping the water mill, Double Head Wings, Up Wing, Down Wing, Iron Bridge, Iron Sand Palm, Hitting Sand bag, Da Pa, Triple Combats, Enlivening Chi Kong, Sitting Chan (Zen) Meditation, Out of meditation.