what is Northern style Shaolin kung fu about?

[bigfish423]

Can anyone give me some info on this style?

First off, I'm 6'1, 190 lbs, 23 years old. Good shape, upperbody is fairly strong. I'm not too flexible, but hope that will come with the training

I'm new to martial arts, and have been looking for a style to get into. I've been looking at TKD, and I'm liking it.

But there is a dojo near my house that teaches Northern Style Shaolin kung fu. I couldn't find too much on that style, anyone know about it that could post some links maybe, or just give a brief summary of the style itself, or even give your experiences with that style in particular.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!!

[Enviroman]

It depends on the specific style. Eagle Claw Northern kung fu utilizes a lot of high flying, high kicking, and some weapons. From what I know, the northern styles tend to use more high kicks/attacks because they were developed to fight people on horseback coupled with the fact that the northern area of china is mountainous (which led to stronger legs naturally). At least that's what I've heard...

[stonecrusher69]

Why don't you ask what are the names of the forms.You can find out what style it is my what forms they teach.

[123bling]

lohan style kung fu is powerfull hits and high kicks as mentiond try a class or so and see if you enjoy it i do

[shogeri]

More information is needed in order for many us to give a good reply.

You could always Google the term northern shaolin. Lots of information pops up.

[cheetahkata]

they are involved with more kicking techniques than the souther style.

[harmoniouswarrior]

More information is needed in order for many us to give a good reply.

You could always Google the term northern shaolin. Lots of information pops up.

Shogeri makes good points. Just to further whet your appetite in the meantime, though, Northern Shaolin is generally considered more long-range than Southern. Someone mentioned horseback opponents; another theory is that the Mongolian indfluence made northern peoples taller, hence use of longer limbs. But follow Shogeri's suggestions and you'll have a good start.

HW

[stonecrusher69]

If your into TKD it's a good chance you'll like NSL. Both have high fancy kicks that rely on flexibilty and speed.

[Dragn]

I cross trained in Northern Shaolin Long fist for a couple of years when I was competing in wushu, because I wanted to understand the applications of the moves in my wushu forms.

I found the philosophy of the art to be quite interesting, but technically I found many of the applications to be over complicated and difficult to apply against a resisting opponent.

Perhaps it was just the teacher I was with. We did no free sparring at all and most of his students were a tad on the soft side. The most usefull things I learned were the elements of chin na and shuai chao contained in the system.

As with any style, quality varies radically from school to school .So give the school a look. If they dont do any sparring I would be a little cautious. But thats just my personal policy.

[shogeri]

http://www.wongkk.com/

or

http://www.shaolinkungfu.com/English/english_main.html

One thing to note is that Kung Fu systems are based upon building or creating or molding the person over a long period of time.

Many of them focus heavily on the internal strength or cultivation of qi, rather than just raw physical strength.

On the other hand, many TKD (and karate) systems are taught in a factory or assembly line fashion.

Northern style kung fu is practiced using very wide and open stances. Arms and legs are often full extended when they defend and attack with emphasis placed on fast leaps, turns, and high kicks, flying kicks and sweeping movements.

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I am not promoting the following, nor have I read either of them. I put them here for reference sake...

If you need to work out on your own, you could also check out the book:

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Kickboxing by Karon Karter, Guy Mezger.

Or try the book:

64 Leg-Attack Methods of Shaolin Kung Fu

by

Wang Xinde

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To me, if you want to employ kicks then do so based upon you own expectations and limitations.

You add the dynamics {of your background} of kicking to that of any style, be it kung fu or karate.

Do so wisely.

The styles of kung fu that I have researched, practiced or witnessed each use a mix of different techniques including hands, elbows, knees, and legs, along with standing grappling.

TKD is about many things, and in all respect should never have been, just about using the feet.

The emphasis has been on legs, but it can just as easily be about something else.

You make the style conform to you.

You make it Martial.

Good luck!