| There are many Shaolin boxing styles, hundreds in | | | | 27 form was developed along with larger 108 |
| fact. But today, students generally devote | | | | form Arhat boxing styles. |
| themselves to one style. There are six recognized | | | | It has been said that during practice, boxers take |
| Shaolin boxing styles and one popular style is | | | | on many forms and can be as soft as willow |
| Arhat Boxing. Also known as Luohan Quan, Arhat | | | | twigs, as agile as a smart monkey jumping over a |
| boxing was created by Shaolin monks who | | | | mountain gully, as mighty as a lion, and as |
| meditated and also watched and imitated the | | | | powerful as a dragon stirring the sea. Blows are |
| different expressions and forms of Arhat statues | | | | triggered by the mind and power is generated |
| in the temple. They adapted these movements to | | | | throughout the body. It takes many years of |
| become skills of combat. | | | | practice, not only of the movements themselves |
| The best in the contemporary period was | | | | but of other exercises that will enhance the |
| Maestro Miao Xing who was nicknamed Gold | | | | movements and cause the student to be able to |
| Arhat. A native of Dengfeng in Henan Province he | | | | execute the movements more efficiently. |
| knew the combat skills and was also interested in | | | | The basis of Arhat boxing is plain and simple, |
| the literal arts, especially Buddhism. He used to | | | | hiding the powerful skills of self-defense behind |
| chant Buddhist scriptures whilst he worked on his | | | | movements that are smooth and graceful. |
| farm and after work he practiced martial arts. He | | | | Regular practice improves not only your |
| later traveled and met with many Wushu masters | | | | coordination but strengthens your muscles, leaving |
| and learned different styles of martial arts. | | | | your body toned and supple and builds up the |
| Although he later became a Shaolin monk he | | | | body's' immune system. The mental aspect of |
| practiced his martial art and explored the differing | | | | Arhat Boxing relieves the body of stress which is |
| skills of combat. | | | | the cause of many illnesses. |
| Arhat Boxing has been called the 18-hand tricks of | | | | In addition to the many martial arts schools |
| Arhat, it had 18 combating skills and techniques. | | | | teaching Arhat Boxing, either in a large class or by |
| Combined with 24 movements of advancing and | | | | private tuition there are DVD's available to help |
| retreating. It uses six routines of fist plays, two | | | | with your home practice and go over what you |
| routines of palm plays, one routine of elbow play, | | | | have learned in class. Arhat boxing is beneficial, as |
| four routines of holding and strangle holding, each | | | | exercise, for its meditative practice and also a |
| of which has its own practical value and | | | | highly skilled and powerful martial art. |
| health-building effect. It was later improved and a | | | | |