[indran]

During the 6th century A.D., martial arts spread from Tamilakam (South India) to China by a prince turned monk named Daruma Bodhidarma. Daruma Bodhidharma (Chinese: Ta Mo; Japanese: Daruma) was the third child of the Pallava king Sugandan from Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu. At birth he was born with a breathing disorder and was banished by his family due to caste system superstisions. He was adopted and trained at birth in breathing exercises and combat, namely in the arts of Varma Kalai and Kuttu Varisai. Bodhidarma also studied Dhyana Buddhism and became the 28th patriarch of that religion.

When his master passed away, he wanted to spread his apprenticeship to other countries and moved to China. After having met emperor Wu-Di of the Liang dynasty, he settled down in the Shaolin Monastery, which is situated in the province of Henan (northern China). In the monastery, Bodhidharma lived ascetically and by meditating for 9 years developed Ch'an Buddhism (Japanese: Zen Buddhism).

When he taught Ch'an Buddhism, which contains elements of Dhyana Buddhism and Taoism, he realized that his apprentices did not have the mental and physical shape to really meditate, or to defend themselves from bandits. That's why he developed certain gymnastics and breathing techniques. Bodhidarma?s "muscle exercises" were surely influenced by his experience in the martial arts of the Tamil country. The "muscle exercises" and the "18 hands of lohan", which were developed later on, are however the basis for nowadays Shaolin Kempo, otherwise known as Kung Fu. Thus the evolution of Chinese martial arts began and were spread from China to Japan and Korea.

Bodhidarma also introduced the healing arts of Varma Cuttiram and herbal medicines from Tamil Nadu which evolved into Acupuncture, Tai Chi Chuan, Qi Gong, and Chinese medicine of today.

[africanwarrior]

Greetings, Indran,

I would  say that one should be careful about accepting these ideas unquestioningly. We may need some authentication that arts such as Varma Kalai actually existed at the time of Ta Mo's life, and that he did, indeed know them. Some areas of Chinese Qi Gong cannot be readily identified as non-Chinese. I have not necesarily found equivalents in Chinese "Internal" movement sciences with the Indian variants. IMHO, more work needs to be done in this regard.

Africans also have similar breathing methods, such as the Zulu, for eaxample, with their Sangoma/Sanusi/Nyanga breathing methods to raise the Umbilini ("Libido") for healing or killing. But I would caution anyone attempting to pursue the idea that Asian meditative sciences derive from the African variants.

I enjoy your wonderful posts. I have learned a great deal from you about Indian martia culture!

Fraternal,

Ken

[americansilat]

Hello, I read the reply about accepting the ideas without question. Just a note, my teacher trained with Master Lee in the old Taiji. According to him (a verifiable source) it was a form of moving Yoga. I dont know how this exactly relates to the art you specify but my intuition tells me it is close being that Bodhidarhma was mentioned.

Another source has told me that the most ancient of combat arts originated in Africa. Still going over this but so far seems likely.

My personal opinion varies. I think to myself, " where does any idea come from?". Years of sense perception and memory or perhaps somewhere else. The most ancient origin could possibly be that it came from something invisible. Even if the idea of evolution is plausible, then even it had a beginning......
Thoughts to ponder.

[GoldenNaga]

One can easily argue that all martial arts came from africa, as evolution seems to point to that being the cradle of human life.  It seems to me, though, that ideas about how to breath, how to heal and how to fight are all necessarily similar.  We're all working with the same canvas.  Even if two completely separated groups happened to have similar techniques in these areas does not mean that they ever, necessarily, shared.  Of course, neither does it mean that they didn't.

[Royal Dragon]

One thing to consider, Chinese historians are, for the most part, totally discounting the Ta Mo story. There is little evidence that this story existed prior to the last several hundred years.

Assuming they are wrong, there iis still no real evidence that he created marrtial arts at Shaolin. Chan Budhisum yes, but so far all the practices attributed to him seem to have come form other places.

Even the supposed 18 Louhan hands is just legend. The researchers I have been in communication with have told me originally it was the Louhan 13 Gongs, which is based on the TAOIST 13 Tong Bei Gongs.

Also, much of Shaolins martial arts are based on TAOIST Tong Bei, and the military arts of the Sung dynasty.

If I remember right, the legendary historical stories of Ta mo were first seen in fictional books, not the actual Shaolin records.

A really good person to discuss this with is Sal Canzonieri from Emptyflower.com. He is one of the primary researchers I get my info from. He has deep ties with other credible researchers and has access to those who have been comparing all the old Shaolin and village documents to uncover what really happened as opposed to the legends.