Bruce Lee. . .Jackie Chan. . . Jet Li. . . Wutang Clan. It all began long ago in a place far, far away. Since its foundation in 527 AD, the Shaolin Temple of Central China has enjoyed an illustrious legacy of martial arts and Buddhism for over 1500 years.
Time-tested and battle-approved, the arts of kung fu have retained the aesthetic beauty and lethal applications that Chinese martial arts are known for today. Today, there are over 300 unique styles of Chinese kung fu, nearly all are branches of old-school Shaolin, and most are no longer restricted to China or specific clans or monasteries.
The cinema has undoubtedly brought Chinese martial arts to the public eye, through legendary martial action stars Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Michelle Yeoh, and Jet Li. Many of America's "first generation" students of kung fu can remember their desire to learn about Shaolin after watching David Carradine on TV, or Bruce Lee on the big screen.
Kung fu has traveled a perilous journey, from wandering masters and Buddhist monks to the "Gold Mountain" and into Western pop culture. The modern style of Contemporary Wushu is poised to rock the world as an Olympic event in 2008. With the skyrocketing popularity of Shaolin kung fu, Chinese martial arts are experiencing unprecedented growth and transition into modern American society--and many Westerners could use the benefits of discipline, respect, health, and defense which are cultivated through kung fu.
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The Shaolin Fighting Monk: the epitomy of old-school kung fu, and the center of modern controversy.
