72 Fists (Movements/Hands/Skills)
A couple of hundred years later a rich young noble and experienced martial artist, entered the Shaolin Monastery and assumed the name of Chueh Yuan. He soon devoted all his studies to the further development of Shaolin Kung Fu and fitness training. Within a few years, he revised the 18 Fists of Lo Han and created what he called the 72 Styles or movements. As this was a very violent time, these 72 Fists were a very effective form of both Strategy and Combat.
His 72 Fists (methods/Skills etc) were so successful that all Shaolin monks adopted his 72 Fists very quickly. They were very effective for both internal and external fitness and incorporated strategy and thought into Shaolin Kung Fu. Much of the 72 Fists remained within Shaolin even as it evolved into the 170 Skills and later 5 Animal Kung Fu. Chueh Yuan was still not fully satisfied with what he created (and h CE plenty of time on his hands). He went out to teach and learn, looking for Masters of other styles.
This (the Journey Years) later became common practice for Shaolin. Shaolin adepts were sent out to share Buddha's teaching and help the poor ( much like the founder of Shaolin ). It was also a test, as many would be Shaolin monks were tempted by worldly pleasures and did not return. Those that did became the Priests and brought many new skills, knowledge and wisdom from their travels.
170 Movements
On his travels, Chueh Yuan witnessed a bandit attacking a 60-year-old traveller. He saw how the attacker landed an apparently very strong kick to the body of the traveller with very little or no effect. The old traveller only used two fingers against the bandit's leg sending the attacker to the ground, seemingly unconscious by the time Chueh reached them. This manoeuvre obviously impressed Chuan enormously and he introduced himself to the senior. Much to his surprise the old man did not know much of martial arts and what little he knew him h CE learned from the local master Pai Yu-feng.
Pai Yu-feng was a friendly 50 year old and Chuan convinced him to accompany him back to his temple. Over the next few years they, using the 18 fists, the 72 movements and these 'pressure point grappling/wrestling techniques', redeveloped Shaolin Kung Fu into the 170 exercises, a mixture of 72 Fists expanded with pressure point and grappling/wrestling/throwing techniques.
A couple of hundred years later a rich young noble and experienced martial artist, entered the Shaolin Monastery and assumed the name of Chueh Yuan. He soon devoted all his studies to the further development of Shaolin Kung Fu and fitness training. Within a few years, he revised the 18 Fists of Lo Han and created what he called the 72 Styles or movements. As this was a very violent time, these 72 Fists were a very effective form of both Strategy and Combat.
His 72 Fists (methods/Skills etc) were so successful that all Shaolin monks adopted his 72 Fists very quickly. They were very effective for both internal and external fitness and incorporated strategy and thought into Shaolin Kung Fu. Much of the 72 Fists remained within Shaolin even as it evolved into the 170 Skills and later 5 Animal Kung Fu. Chueh Yuan was still not fully satisfied with what he created (and h CE plenty of time on his hands). He went out to teach and learn, looking for Masters of other styles.
This (the Journey Years) later became common practice for Shaolin. Shaolin adepts were sent out to share Buddha's teaching and help the poor ( much like the founder of Shaolin ). It was also a test, as many would be Shaolin monks were tempted by worldly pleasures and did not return. Those that did became the Priests and brought many new skills, knowledge and wisdom from their travels.
170 Movements
On his travels, Chueh Yuan witnessed a bandit attacking a 60-year-old traveller. He saw how the attacker landed an apparently very strong kick to the body of the traveller with very little or no effect. The old traveller only used two fingers against the bandit's leg sending the attacker to the ground, seemingly unconscious by the time Chueh reached them. This manoeuvre obviously impressed Chuan enormously and he introduced himself to the senior. Much to his surprise the old man did not know much of martial arts and what little he knew him h CE learned from the local master Pai Yu-feng.
Pai Yu-feng was a friendly 50 year old and Chuan convinced him to accompany him back to his temple. Over the next few years they, using the 18 fists, the 72 movements and these 'pressure point grappling/wrestling techniques', redeveloped Shaolin Kung Fu into the 170 exercises, a mixture of 72 Fists expanded with pressure point and grappling/wrestling/throwing techniques.