Barefoot Zen: The Shaolin Roots of Kung Fu and KarateJohnson makes the Shaolin way legacy accessible to all, releasing the art from the clutches of popular images and painful concerns about self-defense. Barefoot Zen is a brave new approach to the martial arts, which clearly demonstrates that the traditional movements of both Kung Fu and Karate, contained in the solo choreographed sequences of movements known as forms (or kata), grew out of the spiritual practices of the Shaolin order of Buddhist monks and nuns. Nathan Johnson explains that this mystical and non-violent teaching is a profound and beautiful expression of Chan (Zen) Buddhism and its pursuit of wisdom, peace, and enlightenment. Contrary to popular assumption, he contends that it was never intended to be an actual means of self-defense. Barefoot Zen bridges the gap between Kung Fu and Karate, and reveals their common origin through the disclosure of vital research material on three of the world’s most important Karate kata. Part I explains the spiritual disciplines that contributed to what we know as the martial arts. Part II explains the creation of the art along with practical instruction for performing kata. Part III explains the formation of many of the world’s Kung Fu styles. We learn that the original “empty hand art” was used as a method of kinetic meditation between pairs and was designed as a practical tool to assist practitioners in transcending the fear and insecurity of everyday living. The legendary courage of the Shaolin (Chan/Zen) order was not developed by fighting with enemies, but by not fighting! The Shaolin teaching was designed to free us from fear, the only true enemy. |
Contents
Wisdom not Warfare | |
The Sacred Science | |
TrimargaThe Triple Path to | |
CHAPTER 5 | |
PART | |
Pushing HandsTui ShouKahkie | |
The FormsTheir Creation Purpose | |
The Natural Range of Movement | |
The Archetypal | |
Universal Similarities in the Function of Trinity | |
TWOMan Forms and Naifuanchin Naihanchi | |
PART THREE | |
The Way Back | |
Irregularities in Orthodox Shorinryu Karate Kata | |
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ancient antique application attack ballistic become blocks body boxing breath Buddha Buddhist China Chinese Kung Fu Chojun Miyagi Chuan combat cultural Dharma Dragon elbow Figure fist force Fu and Karate Gichin Funakoshi Goju-ryu grappling Itosu Japan Japanese Karate Karate kata Karate styles Karate-ka kick Kung Fu Kung Fu styles leg forward Lock Mara martial arts master methods mind modern Karate monk movements moving Mudra Naifuanchin Naihanchi Okinawan Karate kata Okinawan Karate teacher opponent original partner physical posture practice practitioners punch pushing hands pushing your hips pushing-hands right leg ritual Rokushu Sacred Science Samurai Sanchin Sanchin form Sanchin Section Sanchin stance Sanchin turn Sanskrit seated meditation self-defense Shaolin Temple Shorin-ryu Shoshin Nagamine Shotokan skills solo form solo sequence sparring spiritual step student symbolic T'ai Chi Ch'uan Tao Sheng Taoist teaching techniques thought traditional unbendable arm understanding Wado-ryu warrior Wing Chun wrist Yoga