Ancient Mixed Martial Arts pt. 2
Shaolin's history as a school for warrior-monks began with Dao Mo. An Indian prince, Dao Mo, was revered as a bodhisattva (an enlightened being who delays Nirvana to rescue others).
He arrived in Canton in 527 AD and found many of the existing Shaolin monks to be weak. To solve this problem, he wrote two founding martial arts texts: the Yi Jin Jing (Muscle/Tendon Changing Classic) and the Xi Sui Jin (Marrow/Brain Washing Classic). To understand the basic principles of these texts, we must understand the ancient concept of Qi, the life-breath.
In traditional Chinese medicine, Qi is the energy flow inherent to all living beings which determine its health. Opposed to Qi is Li, which is the form that Qi takes in reality. To use a rough, Western analogy, Qi is energy and Li is matter. It was believed that by harnessing one's Qi, you could perform miraculous feats of healing and transformation. Some Chinese philosophers believed that Qi could be found in stones and other non-living entities as well. Because this flow was in almost everything, one had to become attuned to the world to utilize it.
Dao Mo's classics taught the monks to build their Qi to a super-human level, and thus enhance their physical strength and stamina. Eventually, this practice included the use of combat techniques. The monks soon became famous for their fighting prowess.
Shaolin training emphasized increased speed, strength and elasticity. It was vigorous and calisthenic and became the basis of Karate in Okinawa and Korean martial arts. Around 620 AD, the Shaolin came to the assistance of the future emperor Li-Shi Ming, and were rewarded with land and riches. They were also given permission to train their own soldiers, who spread Shaolin across China and brought back new forms of martial arts to be appropriated.