Is the Shaolin martial art the best?

Question

Are the Shaolin Martial artists really the best?, i know they won't show anybody but, They do show some of their training, Are they all they are cracked up to be? ----I'd like to see a Criminal on death row or something attack a shaolin fighting monk, and see how it goes....just incase they kill him. hah so yeah, like Would Kick boxing end up beating up a shaolin monk? or is it legit? what do you think?

Answer 1

the only reason those guys are so uber is cause they train at least 5 hours a day probably even more you could do any form of martial art and that training would make you a killer boy

Answer 2

Shaolin is one of the oldest martial arts still practiced in the world and it is the basis of almost every Asian martial art. It took over 200 years to perfect it and it has changed little since. One of the reasons it hasn't changed much is that it is still effective. I don't like to brand things as best or worst but If you're looking for an effective art Shaolin fits the bill.

I don't know where you heard that they don't show anyone their art but they have had many demonstrations around the world including practical displays against other arts and they stand up well. One of the classic examples is a very old video where a Shaolin monk faced a TKD master in an open ring. While the TKD master expended a lot of energy trying to get a single attack in the Shaolin monk spent very little energy defending and blocked almost every strike. Only at the very end did the monk attack at all and when he did it was effective. It's an old video so the quality is poor and it was friendly demo match but still you can see in it that the monk made contact many more times then the TKD master.
http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=3a00e595e092c2d5d9ef2078b956912b.920609

Shaolin can be learned in many places around the world. The monks have several outreach programs where you can learn their arts directly from them. Also some schools do teach true Shaolin Kung Fu, either their masters were taught at an outreach program or at the temple itself.

I don't think Shaolin is the best art, but it is just as valid still as it ever was and easily as good an art as any other. I would take (and do) Shaolin over kickboxing or TKD but find an art that you have access to and one that you are interested in. if you can train in Shaolin I'd go for it.

Answer 3

First of all, JJBeard9 knows something, so read his post. Second, shoalin represents not one style, but a group of Chinese martial arts originating from the Shaolin Temple. These styles tend to be more traditional. The true secret to the Shaolin Monks being the best fighters, is constant training and dedication. This is the actual meaning of the term Kung Fu. Shaolin Kung Fu tends to be faster than most martial arts but falls short on power. It is up to you to decide which art form works best for your body. I love Shaolin Kung Fu myself, but not everyone does so well with it. For example, If you are overweight, you might try learning a more grappling intensive style.

Answer 4

A criminal on death row would beat any martial artist whether he practiced Shaolin, Kickboxing or Jiujitsu simply because the criminal wouldn't fight fair and would more likely use a weapon like a gun to kill anyone who tries to stop them. And no, Shaolin Martial Arts is not the best, neither is any of the other Martial arts out there today, you need to stop thinking you'll become the best if you study a particular Martial Art style. You become the best because of your drive and dedication to perfect yourself. It's the person who makes the martial art he is practicing appear like it's the best, not the other way around. If the Kick boxer trains harder and is more motivated than the Shaolin monk you mention, then he will kick the monk's butt and the same is true vise versa.

Answer 5

I have found from many testimonials that kick boxing is not the greatest martial art (no offense). As for the legitimacy of Shaolin monks, they are very very deadly in combat. You could watch one of the many performances by shaolin monks and see their stuff.

I myself saw a circus from peking that was on tour in south america. The shaolin practitioners in here were able to jump over 15 feet through little rotating hoops. I am also part of a line of shaolin schoolls called Shaolin-do. I have sparred with some of the black belts and they are very good.

I also made the mistake of partnering up with a black sash (tai chi branch) during a seminar for learning Pa Kua. I found out the hard way that tai chi practitioners will hurt you just by touch. He would literally hurt/ knock back me from mild touches and punches.

My experience says that Shaolin monks are perfectly legit.

Answer 6

No, Martial Arts like Taekwondo and Karate are overly commercialized and anyone can get a black belt, even a five year old. A good martial artist should figure out a way to defeat another style using the skill sets they know and can improve. Also, a black belt in Karate and in BJJ will beat a pure BJJ fighter in a no rules match. Also talking about no rules, martial arts like Jujutsu and Krav Maga have techniques that would make a BJJ fighter lose pretty quickly, eg. Eye gouging, Crotch strikes, Weapons!

Answer 7

Shaolin is good, but I cannot say it is the best. Every martial art has its own beauty, strength, and weakness. The more kinds of martial arts you learn, the better you will be. Just choose ones that are suitable for you. But the best victory is victory without war and bloodshed. Beat them up before they step ahead, by your mind.

Answer 8

I don't think it would take much for any martial artist to defeat a criminal on death row. Just pummel him while he's chained up. :) The shaolin martial arts seem pretty good to me, though what they show the public is very colorful theatrics, there are real martial arts taught there, at least according to oral tradition.

Answer 9

The best, I don't think one style is better than another. Its the person who studies the style that makes it there own, I have been in the Chinese martial arts, for about 29 years. And have tested my style with many other different styles. But the best I have ever met was a monk I met in Louisville KY, I am a good size guy. and had about 70lbs on the monk. And he made me look like I just started the arts. I don't think it was his style. I think it was the man. (amituofo)

Answer 10

Well, in the past, one of the top Shaolin fighter lost to a kick boxer and to a boxer.
See how it goes? I think those criminals you're talking about would be carrying a gun.