Zen Martial Arts School

How Karate Do can be rooted to India and why India is considered as birthplace of martial arts

Spreading Buddhism & Martial Arts - India to China

Boddhidharma born in South India. He was the third son the king Pallava of Kanchipuram. As he was the third son of the king, so he was privileged in many ways like he was able to choose his life goals, and the career path by his own choice. During those days, the first son was considered as next ruler of the kingdom and hence he cannot choose his interested path and goals in life.

During childhood Boddhidharma was impressed with Buddhist religion and was his teacher name Mahakashyap. It is obvious that during his childhood to younger he was learning Buddhism at the same time he also learn Yoga’s and Kalaripayat. He achieved expertise in both.

After the instruction of his teacher he decided to travel to china for spreading Buddhism.

How he travelled from India to China there is no authentic evidence to describe his journey to china. Some experts believed that he travelled via sea and some said that he travelled by Himalayan mountain, Tibet to reach China. However, it is believed that it took him three Years of travel to reach China.

Boddhidharma In China

He enters china then he travelled to Shaolin temple which is at Guangdong Province. In china Buddhism is known as DAMA.

Emperor Wu who was ruling over the southern kingdom to china invited DAMA to his palace. Emperor himself was devoted to Buddhism. He built up many statues and temples. During the long discussion with DAMA king asked whether his action towards building temple is correct in turn DAMA replied negative. In response emperor Wu ordered DAMA to leave his palace.

After DAMA travels and reaches northern china and went to Shaolin temples, monks of shaolin temple also could not admit him to shaolin temple.

DAMA then found a cave nearby shaolin temple where he starts meditation. He sat for nine years in the cave with facing wall. During meditation DAMA was also doing Pranayama (Indian Breathing and Yoga Sana) he learnt in India, for strengthening body as well purification of mind for prolong meditation.

During his stay in caves Shaolin monks often travel caves and discuss him Buddhism and got impressed with his thoughts and knowledge of the subject. Monks also got impressed with DAMAs breathing exercise & physical exercise.

It is believed that during his stay at caves monks start learning some medication & exercise from him. After medication of Nine years DAMA was invited to shaolin temple by monks. During his stay at Shaolin DAMA started to teach meditation to monks and he observed monk’s incapacity of physically and mentally for long meditation. Also, he understood that during travelling monks were often attacked by bandits or wild animals.

Hence DAMA started teaching yoga’s for physical, mental and spiritual development while Kalaripayat for self-defense.

Shaolin monks learnt from DAMA movement of 18 Ahimsa tiger, snake, leopard, and deer. This 18-hand type were taught for getting inner and physical strength which is turn help monks to defend themselves from attack of wild animals to bandits.

DAMA Passed away in shaolin temple.

Shaolin monks continued learning of DAMA from one generation to another generations. The knowledge of the art was not only barely preserved and transferred to another generation, but efforts are took by each generation for continual development of the ancient art.

Later this development given birth to a classical combat system which is well Known now a days as Kung Fu or Wushu.

Naturally lot of development is made from ancient days till today in from of Wu