Strengthen The Physique, Tone Up The Body and Improve Your Self Defense Skills , Wednesday, July 22, 2009 at 12:57 AM, in

There are many Shaolin boxing styles, hundreds in fact. But today, students generally devote themselves to one style. There are six recognized Shaolin boxing styles and one popular style is Arhat Boxing. Also known as Luohan Quan, Arhat boxing was created by Shaolin monks who meditated and also watched and imitated the different expressions and forms of Arhat statues in the temple. They adapted these movements to become skills of combat.
The best in the contemporary period was Maestro Miao Xing who was nicknamed Gold Arhat. A native of Dengfeng in Henan Province he knew the combat skills and was also interested in the literal arts, especially Buddhism. He used to chant Buddhist scriptures whilst he worked on his farm and after work he practiced martial arts. He later traveled and met with many Wushu masters and learned different styles of martial arts. Although he later became a Shaolin monk he practiced his martial art and explored the differing skills of combat.
Arhat Boxing has been called the 18-hand tricks of Arhat, it had 18 combating skills and techniques. Combined with 24 movements of advancing and retreating.






It uses six routines of fist plays, two routines of palm plays, one routine of elbow play, four routines of holding and strangle holding, each of which has its own practical value and health-building effect. It was later improved and a 27 form was developed along with larger 108 form Arhat boxing styles.
It has been said that during practice, boxers take on many forms and can be as soft as willow twigs, as agile as a smart monkey jumping over a mountain gully, as mighty as a lion, and as powerful as a dragon stirring the sea. Blows are triggered by the mind and power is generated throughout the body. It takes many years of practice, not only of the movements themselves but of other exercises that will enhance the movements and cause the student to be able to execute the movements more efficiently.
The basis of Arhat boxing is plain and simple, hiding the powerful skills of self-defense behind movements that are smooth and graceful. Regular practice improves not only your coordination but strengthens your muscles, leaving your body toned and supple and builds up the body's' immune system. The mental aspect of Arhat Boxing relieves the body of stress which is the cause of many illnesses.
In addition to the many martial arts schools teaching Arhat Boxing, either in a large class or by private tuition there are DVD's available to help with your home practice and go over what you have learned in class. Arhat boxing is beneficial, as exercise, for its meditative practice and also a highly skilled and powerful martial art.
Yoshi E Kundagawa is a freelance journalist.





He covers the mixed martial arts industry. For a free report on Arhat Boxing visit his blog.

Yoshi Kundagawa is a freelance journalist covering the martial arts world. Too much time at his computer eating donuts reduced him to couch potato status. He's on a quest to recapture his youth and fitness. You can read his blog at Martials Arts.