Tag Archives: shaolin
Eating Bitterness at Shaolin (吃苦) Posted by Stephen on May 20, 2012
Many people have asked about my experience studying kungfu at Shaolin first hand (体验生活－tǐ yàn shēng huó), so here’s a in-depth look at what the Shaolin hustle is all about. While prior to my stay, I had very little experience in Shaolin kung-fu styles and methods of training and was quickly thrown into a sink…
Qigong (气功) Posted by Stephen on Jan 10, 2012
I’ve been told that it is best to make decisions over the space of seven breaths. It helps, mostly because it allows you to slow down and fully weigh your options. However, it wasn’t until I started practicing tai chi (太极拳) and kung fu (功夫) that I learned the true value of controlled breathing and…
Worth a Thousand Words: Photos of 2011 Posted by Stephen on Dec 30, 2011
Following our 2011 Year in Review post I thought it would be fitting to reflect back on the best images from our blog in 2011. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so without further ado, here’s China (from the Silk Road to Simatai) through my camera lens…
2011 Year in Review Posted by sasha on Dec 30, 2011
It’s been an amazing year for Transparent Chinese. Our Facebook page passed the 50,000 fans mark, our YouTube and Twitter pages have had great success, and our blog looks better than ever. Of course, we couldn’t have done it without YOU! We’d like to thank all of our readers for supporting us and making 2011…
Modern Kung Fu and Commercialization (现代功夫） Posted by Stephen on Nov 13, 2011
On the surface (在表面上), modern Shaolin Kung fu seems little altered from its ancient and austere roots. Monks still dress the same way, perform the same dazzling feats and train at the same place. The Shaolin temple has been rebuilt in keeping with traditional architecture and the “Shaolin Way” has been exported throughout the globe…
Wǔ Shù (武术） Posted by Stephen on Sep 26, 2011
Kung fu is a modern day phenomenon that is more of a culture than the actual practice of Chinese martial arts. Wushu or 武术 (wǔ shù) on the other hand, is a broader term that refers to the many schools (門, mén), families (家, jiā) and sects (派, pài) of Chinese fighting. Much like 功夫, 武术 translates…