专题 16 中国文化读写专项：少林武术+中国书法- 2024年高考英语常考中国文化读写专练+素材积累

Lesson 3 Shaolin Wushu 少林武术 Shaolin Wushu (Shaolin Martial Art) is one of the most influential types of Chinese martial art, and it's named after the Shaolin Temple located in Dengfeng County, Henan Province. The monks in the Shaolin Temple began to study martial art during the Southern and Northern Dynasties and this tradition was popular during the Sui and the Tang dynasties (581-907). Shaolin Wushu is famous both at home and abroad as a highly effective method of self-defense and health-building. Combining both external and internal, and "hard" and "soft" exercises, Shaolin Wushu involves various methods of fighting techniques, consisting of barehanded boxing and weaponry combat. The Shaolin boxing has compactly designed routines. Its movements are quick, powerful and flexible; both practical for defense and attack. The most outstanding characteristic of Shaolin boxing is that the practitioner works on one straight line. It means that his movements of advancing, retreating, turning around, sideways, or jumping are restrained on one line. His arms are kept slightly bent so that he can stretch out to attack or withdraw freely for self defense. Another characteristic of Shaolin Wushu is to maintain the body in perfect balance, as stable as a mountain. The practitioners should keep a calm and peaceful mind but strike with great force and speed. He should be good at "borrowing" force from the opponent. That is, he should not meet the opponent's strikes head-on, but take advantage of the striker's force and go along with it to bring him to avoid a force of a thousand weights. The practitioner should know how to make false strikes and when striking, hit the vital parts of the opponent. The movements should be as skillful in physical movements as a cat, the shaking as a tiger, the moving as a dragon, the advancing as lightning and the yelling as thunder. Shaolin Wushu is a very convenient sport, for the practice does not need a large space and is not affected