HMEI School

Most people deny the legend of Shaolin Temple, but that’s where you went in ancient China for education in the martial arts – particularly Kung Fu! The most authentic records state, the Shaolin order, dating back to 540 AD, was begun by a Buddhist Indian priest called Tamo. Shaolin means ‘new forest’ in Mandarin Chinese. Tamo was initially denied entry to the temple that was built in a forest clearing. The story goes that Tamo meditated in a cave nearby and even bore a hole straight through one of the cave walls simply by focusing upon it.

Thereafter, Tamo was admitted to the Shaolin Temple. Tamo found the monks at the temple in weak physical condition as they spent days writing rather than performing any physical activities. Tamo introduced chi exercises at the temple. Education at the temple soon began to include yoga movements. It is not known when these basic exercise sessions became a full-fledged system of martial arts education.

Of course, martial arts had existed for several hundred years in China. But, Tamo bought a new system of martial arts teaching to the temple. Martial arts education at the Shaolin Temple took many years to complete. It was based on the principles of avoiding conflict rather than attacking. Later, education at Shaolin included Taoist principles as well. Learning Kung Fu at the Shaolin Temple was viewed as the ultimate education in the martial arts.