In ancient times progressing from a novice to a master Shaolin Warrior Monk took many years of hard work and study. The young were required to attend a series of two hour training sessions each and every day and after that they would carry out their assigned chores in the temple. Junior monks would attend three sessions and senior students, a fourth class at midnight. So it took huge amounts of hard work and discipline to become a Shaolin monk. If a monk wished to leave the temple as a Shaolin master he was required to pass a test. Only after he was successful would he truly become a Shaolin monk.
The monks had to defend themselves at a series of five gates guarded by their teachers. The master monks would choose methods of defense from five different fighting styles based on animal behavior namely the tiger, leopard, snake, crane and dragon. Today the animal techniques number 170!
Shaolin monks served the people of China as warriors and priests for many centuries earning respect for their discipline, bravery, adaptability and action-oriented approach. Today these same principles are the example for students dedicated to Shaolin.
How to Become a Shaolin Monk - The Ten Steps
To become one of these admired warriors it is necessary to follow the ten basic precepts of the combat arts, the most of important of which is believed to be persistence. A Shaolin monk needs to train in weaponry and combat no matter what the weather, his circumstances or physical condition.
