External Arts: Northern Shaolin Kung Fu
Traditional external martial arts training through Northern Shaolin, weapons forms, conditioning, and lineage-based instruction.
Shaolin Kung Fu Photo Gallery
The Northern Shaolin Kung Fu System
Northern Shaolin, 北少林拳門, generally refers to the external martial arts of Northern China. The term may also refer to more than one style of Kung Fu practiced and perfected at the Northern Shaolin Monastery in Henan Province, China. As the basis of the system, Northern Shaolin refers to a style called Northern Shaolin Boxing and may include Seven Star Praying Mantis and Tan Tui.
These theories and practices were disseminated by Gu Ruzhang, 1894–1952, throughout China. This school traces its lineage one teacher at a time back to the Shaolin Temple. The knowledge passed down makes up the curriculum of study for each student and forms the basis of the core knowledge in the larger family of Northern Shaolin schools worldwide.
Northern Shaolin Lineage
- 朝元 和尚 — Monk Zhāo Yuán
- 甘鳳池 — Gān Fèngchí
- 萬邦才 — Wàn Bāngcái
- 嚴徳功 — Yán Dégōng
- 嚴三省 — Yán Sānxǐng
- 嚴機溫 — Yán Jīwēn
- 顧汝章 — Gù Rǔzhāng
- 嚴尚武 — Yan Shangwu
- 陳國偉 — Chen Guowei
- 竇萬春 — Dòu Wànchūn
The current main representative in the West of Gu Ruzhang’s legacy is Grandmaster Chen Guowei, with schools established in Brazil and passed down to his acclaimed United States student Dou Wanchun. Under Dou Wanchun in Los Angeles, California, the doctrine of the Northern Shaolin system of Kung Fu and the associated external and internal arts of Gu Ruzhang are provided for students to learn.
The Doctrine of Northern Shaolin
The doctrine of Northern Shaolin has been refined over nearly 1,000 years in China and served as the basis not only for self-defense in a perilous world, but also for health, spiritual development, and camaraderie.
Through practice and perfection, these time-tested methods were formalized. Due to modernization, war, and revolution, the knowledge traveled from teacher to disciple from Mainland China through Hong Kong and into the West. Today, we are fortunate to have instructors who draw their instructional lineage and teaching methods back to masters who spent their careers making the traditional Northern Shaolin system of Kung Fu world-renowned.
The Northern Shaolin doctrine of martial arts includes the foundational ten principle sets, complementary weapon forms, and strength-building exercises. It also allows students to specialize in complementary disciplines, including Seven Star Praying Mantis Boxing, Eagle Claw, Tan Tui foundational sets, and the internal chi-building arts of Yang Taiji, Bagua, and Xingyi.
Our students learn at their own pace. Our instructors encourage physical development, whole-body conditioning, and confidence in every student.
Contact Us About Los Angeles Kung Fu Classes
Class Information
Please contact John Scatoloni for qualification criteria and more information about external arts training.
