Northern Shaolin #5, Wu I:
Beautiful But Deadly Form
Kung Fu styles are famous for their beautiful and deadly training forms. Forms are long, almost dancelike, sequences of fighting techniques. Their athletic and challenging movement patterns prepare ones body and mind for both self defense and a long healthy life! The heart of the Northern Shaolin System are ten empty hand forms (“empty hand” means no weapons are used) referred to as the Ten Core Forms. Of these five, (#s 4, 5, 6, 7, & 8), are short and five are long, (#s 1, 2, 3, 9, & 10), are long. The shorter forms are 40 – 50 moves long. The long forms are 80 – 120 moves long. The forms are generally learned in order of difficulty beginning with #6 then #7, # 5, #4, and last #8. The long forms are all about the same in difficulty and can be learned in different orders. So Northern Shaolin #5, Wu Yi, is typically the third Northern Shaolin Form a student would learn.
Scott Jensen performs the opening techniques of Northern Shaolin #5 Near the Cherry Blossoms in San Francisco and teaches lessons in Marin and Berkeley
Get Your Kicks
Northern Shaolin Kung Fu #5 Martial Practice (or skill, or art) is a great kicking form. #5 Martial Practice explodes with kicks. It contains the most kicks of the Northern Shaolin short forms, with twenty total kicks including the Triple Kick, Spinning Side Kick, and the Rear Kick. There is one sequence of seven kicks in a row. The Triple Kick combines the Double Toe Flying kick, Leaping Rear Kick, and Tornado Kick. This is a trade mark kicking sequence that originated in Northern Shaolin. These dynamic kicking sequences display impressive power and speed. Because each kick hits a hand as a target and there several body slaps interspersed with the kicks there is a rhythm to the sound of the form.
New High Leaps and Low Landings
In addition, to the many kicks are two new leaping techniques one involving a full 360 degree spin and the other landing in a Low or Swallow Stance. This combination of many kicks, sweeps, leaps, and low stances in close succession makes this form very fast paced and very athletic. It is faster than Northern Shaolin #8 Jumping Step but not as strenuous. Martial Practice really shows the leg development of the Northern Shaolin system.
Fast, exciting, and aggressive, this is an excellent tournament or demonstration form. Martial Practice also has a variety of new and deadly hand techniques. This form takes about two months to learn and definitely builds leg speed and balance.
Learn Northern Shaolin in our Local Classes!
We have great classes in Northern Shaolin in San Anselmo, San Rafael, and Lagunitas. I also teach private lessons and would love to share this awesome form and martial art with you.
Northern Shaolin
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