Boxing

Chinese Wushu is divided into two main categories: The Northern and the Southern. Shaolin leads the Northern category. Combining both external and internal, and "hard" and "soft" exercises, Shaolin Wushu consists of barehand boxing and weaponry combat.

(I) Boxing is the foundation fo Wushu and Shaolin boxing serves as the basis of other kinds of Wushu. The Shaolin boxing has compactly designed routines. Its movemetns are quick, powerful and flexible; both practical for defense and attack. The most outstanding characteristic of Shaolin boxing is that the practitioner works on one straight line. It means that his movements of advancing, retreating, turning around, sideways, or jumping are restrained on one line. His arms are kept slightly bent so that he can stretch out to attack or withdraw for self defense freely. Another characteristic of Shalin Wushu is to maintain the body in perfect balance, as stable as a mountain. The practitioners should keep a tranquil mind but strike with great force and speed. He should be good at "Borrowing" force from the opponent. That is, he should not meet the opponent's strikes head-on ,but take advantage of the striker's force and go along with it to bring him to ward off a force of a thousand weights." He Should know how to make feigned strikes and when striking, hit the vital parts of the opponent. His movements should be as dextrous as a cat, his shaking as a tiger, his moving as a dragon, his advancing as lightning and his yelling as thunder.

The practitioner should generate his striking force from his breath. He should regulate his breathing slowly but when using it, use it swiftly. The practitioner breathes through the nose. When necessary he can yell to strike fear into the opponent.
The practice of Shaolin Wushu does not need a large space. A saying goes:"Shaolin boxing fights within an area where a cow can lie down.” It is not affected by weather, or the kind of weapons used. So Shaolin Wushu has become a very convenient sport.

There are many routines. External exercises include Minor Hong Boxing , Greater Hong boxing , Old Hong Boxing, Chaoyang Boxing , Chang Boxing, Plum Blossm Boxing, Cannon Boxing ,Luohan Buddha Boxing, Tongbei Boxing, Seven-star Boxing, Dragon-out-of-the-sea Boxing and Shooting-star Boxing ; for internal exercises there are Xingyi Boxing and Juji Boxing.
Shaolin boxing can be practiced singly or in pairs. The dual routines include: Banshou Liuhe Boxing , Yaoshou Liuhe Boxing , Erba Liuhe Boxing and Kick and Strike Liuhe Boxing.