Northern Shaolin

Believed by many to be the oldest of all martial arts, Shaolin derives its name from the Buddhist Temple in which it was said to have originated. Originally a means of training monks for fitness and for the defense of their beliefs, Shaolin eventually spread throughout the Chinese countryside and developed into a variety of different styles. Two of the earliest general categories were simply Northern and Southern Shaolin, the names reflecting the geographic area with which they were associated. Northern styles tended to emphasize kicking and leg techniques. The system we practice is Northern Shaolin.

Our system of Northern Shaolin consists of elementary techniques, or "postures", which form the basis of the 33 primary empty-handed techniques, which are called "seeds". These in turn are the basis of the "Forms", which are choreographed sequences of seeds. In addition to empty-handed techniques, Northern Shaolin also incorporates a variety of traditional weapons. There are six levels of certification available to the interested student, with the sixth being a Teacher's Certificate.