In the province Henan, in the heart of China, we find the legendary monastery of Shaolin (young forest / wooded mountain). This monastery was the spiritual and Buddhist centre which played a major role in forming the philosophy of the East. It is here that you find the roots of Shaolin Kung Fu ( Kung Fu = master of endurance and strenght ).
Around 500AD the Indian monk Bodhidharma, the 28th successor to Buddha, crossed the Himalayas into China and settled in the monastery. From here he began to spread Chan Buddhism (Zen).
In nine years of meditation, Bodhidharma, called Da Mo by the Chinese, developed 18 physical and breathing exercises designed to help the monks to stay relaxed and mentally alert. These exercises made it easier for the monks to cope with hours or even days of meditation. Thus he laid the foundation for Shaolin Kung Fu as well as numerous other martial arts.
According to the teachings of Da Mo, martial arts are not intended to foster the promotion or practice of aggression. On the contrary, their purpose is to develop a healthy body and mind. The basis of Bodhidharmas philosophy are qualities such as discipline, modification, bodily control, and above all, respect for human life. Over the years, the monks of Shaolin continuously refined their arts. The fighting techniques were mainly adopted from the attacking or defending movements of animals. In this way were born famous fighting styles such as monkey, dragon, tiger, in all its variations during the Masters of Shaolin Kung Fu performance. The Shaolin Kung Fu, developed and perfected over 1500 years forms the basis of all Kung Fu fighting.
As a philosophy towards life and a form of physical training it will survive for thousands of years and influence many generations to come.