Kung Fu Institute Shizi Hou

The History of Kung Fu
Kung fu, Shaolin and Wudang

First of all, kung fu does not automatically mean martial art. Literally it means the skill achieved by hard work, discipline and perseverance. So anybody’s kung fu can be good independent on the profession he has. In 1982, Jet Li’s movie “Shaolin Temple” was released in the western world making introducing the term kung fu. The movie is set in the Shaolin Temple in China, the so-called birthplace of all Chinese martial arts. It showed the famous monks from the temple and of course their Shaolin kung fu (the skill they had learned in the Shaolin temple: the martial art). Because it was not known that kung fu could mean several things, it was only related to martial arts.

The oldest kung fu related to Chinese martial art would be Shaolin kung fu or Wudang kung fu. Most other styles (such as Choy Lee Fut, Wing Chun, some tai chi styles and others) are derived and developed from Shaolin, Wudang or a combination of both. Shaolin is seen as the birthplace of external kung fu whereas Wudang is the place where internal kung fu started.

Shaolin kung fu originates from the Chan (or Zen) Buddhist Shaolin temple in the Henan province of China. In 495 AD an Indian monk named Bodhidharma (or Da Mo) came to the temple to spread Buddhist teachings. While meditating with the monks he found that most of them were physically not fit and could not finish most chants that could last for many hours. Therefore, he went to a cave up the mountain to meditate and create some basic exercises to promote physical strength and endurance. After ca. 9 years he returned to the temple with the basics of Shaolin kung fu and the fundamentals of Chan Buddhism.

Wudang kung fu originated in the Taoist Wudang temple that lies on mount Wudang in the Hubei province of China. According to Chinese mythology the concepts of Wudang kung fu originated from Zhang Sanfeng. According to stories this legendary Taoist priest was born somewhere during the 12th century, achieved immortality and lived for over 400 years. He was profound in medicine cultivation and martial art, especially skilled at boxing and swordplay. He combined the Taoist principles and knowledge of energy circulation with internal exercises and martial art and created Wudang kung fu, which does not rely on muscle power but on chi.

The History of Kung Fu
Chi kung, tai chi and wushu

Both Shaolin, Wudang and other kung fu exercises can be categorized in either chi kung, tai chi, and wushu.

Chi kung
When Da Mo came back from his cave, the first exercises he taught were almost similar to the chi kung exercises that are practiced and taught today. The movements are slow and focuses on breathing and body posture to promote a good chi-flow. In Wudang similar exercises were also carried out for the same reason. Chi can be translated to ‘vitalism’ and describes the relation between matter, energy and spirit. According to the Chinese, everyone has chi and without a good chi-flow there will be a higher chance for developing diseases and illnesses. No wonder that Chinese medicine, such as acupuncture, is built on this system. Furthermore, chi kung teaches to direct chi to a certain limb (a fist for example), which can be used in martial arts for example, to give a punch more power.

Tai chi
Tai chi is an internal martial art for both defensive training and health benefits. It characterizes in the fact that tai chi relies on the use of chi instead of muscle power and that all defensive movements are also attacks and visa versa. Its goal is to redirect the power of an attack back at the opponent. Hundreds of years ago, tai chi was practiced by only few people. It started in Wudang and was transcended to several clans who created their own style and kept it within their family. There are five family styles well known today which are from the Chen, Yang, Wu/Hao, Wu and Sun family. The Chen-style is the oldest and contains most martial arts aspects. The Yang-style is most famous now, because it’s simplified version is very good for ones health.

Wushu
Wushu literally means the art of fighting. Technically tai chi would also be wushu, but nowadays wushu is composed of two disciplines: taolu and sanda. Taolu is a routine of martial art maneuvers (stances, punches, kicks, sweeps, etc) and can be done alone or with multiple persons as a choreographed fight. Taolu can be categorized into several styles such as Northern and Southern wushu, and both unarmed and armed (sword, stick, spear, etc) routines. Sanda is the full-contact fighting aspect of Chinese martial arts and was developed with the Chinese military experiences in close range and hand to hand combat with reference to Chinese martial arts. It has all the combat aspects of wushu, such as kicking, punching, grappling and wrestling. Both taolu and sanda are practical martial arts, but competitive wushu is more popular. In taolu competitors show of skills and are judged to specific rules. In sanda, competitors score points by punching, kicking, etc.

The History of Kung Fu
Kung Fu in Holland

Compared to other Asian martial arts such as karate and judo, kung fu is still new and upcoming martial arts in The Netherlands. Kung fu has been in Holland since 1996 when J. Warsanis (Shi Yan Yu) invited the Shaolin monk Shi Xing Peng (or Zhang Li Peng) to open a school in several cities. J. Warsanis himself and many others were trained by Zhang Li Peng. When he left The Netherlands and relocated to America, his best students took over the schools and continued his teachings.

Because the schools were left without a common teacher, they needed an organization that kept the schools, the instructors and the students together. In 2000, J. Warsanis founded the Shaolin Bond Nederland (SBN). In the following years the SBN organized many events such as competitions and seminars by Shaolin monks and became part of the Shaolin International Federation (SIF) which is acknowledged by the Buddhist abbot of the Shaolin Temple in China.

The SBN also gives the students the opportunity to get an instructors degree in Shaolin which is recognized by the Dutch Sports Federation (NOC*NSF). Several instructors were trained by the SBN and opened their own school. Wouter van Leeuwen was one of them. Together with David Moh, he opened his own school in 2007 “Kung Fu Institute Shizi Hou”. One year later he founded Kung Fu Holland to promote Chinese martial arts through workshops and performances. Hopefully, new instructors will be trained at Shizi Hou to continue the promotion of kung fu in Holland.

Shi Xing Peng

Shi Yan Yu

What Shizi Hou means

Shizi Hou literally means the lion’s roar. This school is not only named after its founder Wouter van Leeuwen (translated Wouter from Lions). Shizi Hou has a deeper thought.

Shizi Hou is not a synonym for the kung fu style ‘Hop Gar’ (which also means the lion’s roar). Hop Gar is not the style taught at this school, but its fundamentals and underlying thoughts are partly equal with the ones from traditional Shaolin. The techniques in Hop Gar are based on a fight between a crane and an ape. The crane was able to dodge the monkey’s strong and big blows and pick the monkey with his beak on vital points. This fight is a good example of the techniques used in Shaolin kung fu. Kung fu uses lightning fast strikes that can be compared to the picking of the crane. It must be fast and precise, but at the same time as powerful as the monkey’s blows. This is what you try to achieve by training at Shizi Hou.

The name Shizi Hou can be compared to the lion itself. Although the lion didn’t live in China, it’s behavior and fighting style is similar to the one of a Shaolin martial artist. For example, when lions hunt, they move in formations and drive their prey into a trap. A few lions drive the prey into a high grass field, where two other lions stay concealed until the prey is near. When the prey is near, the three lions trap their prey for a definite win. Compare your own limbs with a lion. Every limb stands for 1 lion, and they all work together to drive the enemy into your trap. With kung fu, you’re constantly planning ahead and the goal is to let your opponent move the way you want him.