Often called the "Grandfather of Martial Arts", Shaolin’s original movements and techniques can be found in Northern Shaolin, and is taught in Atlanta, Georgia. A wide and deep system of training and personal development, Northern Shaolin can be an excellent foundation for any future physical activity or a lifelong pursuit in itself.
What is Northern Shaolin?
Known by "Northern Shaolin", "Bei Shao Lin", "Bak Siu Lam", "Bak Siu Lum", "Pek Siu Lam" (or simply just BSL)… They all refer to the same Chinese Martial Art; it’s simply the dialect of Chinese that is being translated into English and Romanized that causes the naming difference.
Northern Shaolin is generally classified as an External, Northern Longfist, Chinese Martial Art, however this generalization usually leads to some misunderstanding. Although "external", the style has quite a bit of "internal" leanings and practices. Although Longfist, one would find many short-range techniques, including one whole form named "Short Strike". Needless to say, the system, like many of its brothers and sisters, has a wide breadth of flavors and movements.
Curriculum of Northern Shaolin
As taught in PATHS, Northern Shaolin will give you much more than empty movements. At the beginning, students begin building strength, flexibility, balance, coordination, focus, and many more attributes with the physical conditioning and calisthenics practiced every class. Students also learn proper body structure and alignment along with breathing. Energy and Qigong practices are taught as well. Stances, kicking, joint locks & manipulation, weaponry, and may other exciting elements are shared.
The student just approaching the system becomes an "open door" student and progresses through three phases of progress, learning many basic shaolin materials.
Once these three phases are completed, the student then moves on to the inner workings of the system, learning the Ten Classical Forms, plus various weaponry, auxillary trainings, special skills training and much more. All of this adds up to having achieved some very excellent skills and mastery in a piece of the grandfather of martial arts.
Although a wide and deep system, Northern Shaolin Kung Fu is still a path of Self Development and betterment, so there is a brother/sister environment about the class, providing mutual support and a step-by-step approach to learning and progressing.
