Shaolin classes are Sundays 4-6pm and/or Thursday 6:30-8:30pm

Shaolin Kung Fu, or Shaolin Temple Boxing is a general name for a special group of martial arts. Shaolin is the name of a Buddhist Monastery that stands on Gao Mountain in Henan Province in China, encircled by two mountain ranges, Big Lion and Little Lion Mountains.

Shaolin martial arts originated at the Shaolin Buddhist Temple in Henan Province, China. In the 6th century A.D., Patriarch Bodhidharma (Damo), a Ch'an (Zen) monk from India, arrived at Shaolin Temple to teach Buddhism. As he spread the religion he taught the monks a series of exercises and martial movements that later served as the basis for Shaolin Kung Fu. The monks in turn taught the martial arts to lay persons, popularizing the form and inspiring new styles of Shaolin practice.

A Shaolin practitioner's martial skills gradually expand from external to internal, from hard to soft. The highest level of Shaolin Kung Fu is internal skill. The internal styles conform to the principle of yin and yang and the "Six Internal and External Harmonies." The process of harnessing power involves three levels of transformation: 1) from original power to chi, 2) from chi to spirit, and 3) from spirit to original nature (emptiness). The final aim of the Shaolin practitioner is to attain spiritual enlightenment.

The Wen Wu School Shaolin Kung Fu program includes thirty basic exercises to stretch the tendons and strengthen the bones, the ten lines of the Tan Tui set, Chang Chuan (Long Fist), Praying Mantis, sword, spear, staff, and Ryu Crane. The techniques are characterized by powerful strikes and rapid movements, emulating a flying dragon or jumping tiger. Each movement can be used for self-defense, although the primary goal of Shaolin Kung Fu is to improve health, nurture virtue, and deepen spiritual cultivation.