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Legend states that Zen Buddhist patriarch Ta Mo (“Da Mo, Bodhidharma” to the Chinese; “Daru-
ma Daishi” to the Japanese), the prince of a small tribe in Southern India, arrived in China after a
brutal trek over Tibet’s Himalaya Mountains.
The first Shaolin (from Shao Lin or Sil Lum, meaning “Young (Pine Tree) Forest”)Temple of Song-
shan was built in 377 A.D. for Pao Jaco, “The First Buddha,” by Emperor Wei on the Shao Shik
Peak of Song Mountain in Teng Fon Hsien, Henan Province. The Temple was originally construct-
ed for religious training and meditation only. Martial Arts training at the temple did not begin until
the arrival of Ta Mo in 526 A.D.
Ta Mo sought peace and converts to help him spread Charn Buddhism, (later known as Zen in
Japan) throughout China. Legend states that Ta Mo found his meditation method caused sleep-
iness among the monks. The monks at that time also lacked stamina and the ability to defend
themselves against warlords and bandits.
Ta Mo, a member of the Indian Kshatriya warrior class and a master of sta fighting, created a
system of 18 dynamic tension exercises. These movements found their way into print in 550
A.D. as the Yi Gin Ching, or Changing Muscle/Tendon Classic. We know this today as the Lohan
(Priest-Scholar)18 Hand Movements, the basis of Chinese Temple Boxing and Shaolin Kempo.
Ta Mo’s introduction of the Martial Arts to the Shaolin Temple was purely self-interest. He saw the
monks as solitary types content to live their lives within temple walls. He dreamed of develop-
ing mobile, fearless warrior missionaries able to spread Charn Buddhism throughout the world.
According to legend, Ta Mo developed a simple self-defense system to train Japanese Shorinji
(Shaolin) Monks who traveled between Shaolin Temples in China, Formosa, Japan and India. Yam-
abushi (“Ascetic Hermits”), referred to this art of the sta, spear and empty hand as Goshin-Jutsu,
the basis of Aikido, Judo, Jujutsu and Ninjutsu.
Ta Mo died in 539 A.D. at the Shaolin Temple at age 57, before the completion of his life’s mission.
However, Ta Mo created the basis of Shaolin Ch’uan Fa, an art that evolved into Sil Lurn Kung-Fu,
Shaolin 5 Animals Style,Chung-Kuo Ch’uan (Chinese Kempo Arts) and Shorinji Kempo (Japan). In
the 20th century, the Shaolin Arts modernized through necessity to become Shaolin Kempo, the
modern approach to self-defense taught at United Studios of Self Defense.
To the Shaolin monks, religion and the Martial Arts were separate ideals. They walked a thin line
between self-defense and non-violence. As vegetarians, monks would not eat meat, or even ride
a horse for fear of burdening the animal. On pilgrimages, they carried stas tipped with jingling
metal rings to scare away insects on their path, to ensure they would not step on them.
ROOTS OF KEMPO