Is Shaolin temple the birthplace of Karate? Watch Jesse Enkamp (The Karate Nerd) travel to China and explore the historical connection between traditional Kung Fu and Karate. In this episode Jesse experiences Dog Boxing (地术拳), a ground fighting kungfu style once practiced at Shuri Castle in Okinawa. The journey then goes to South Shaolin monastery (南少林) in Quanzhou. It’s considered the source of most southern Chinese martial arts - like White Crane, Wing Chun and Five Ancestors Fist. According to the research of Patrick McCarthy, the Okinawan grand masters had 13 distinct ways of referencing Shaolin in the writings. Many styles are named after the temple (i.e Shorin Ryu, Shorei Ryu, Shorinji Ryu, Matsubayashi Ryu, Kobayashi Ryu etc.) This might be what’s described in the second half of Bubishi - the bible of Karate... Visit www.karatebyjesse.com to learn more. Special thanks to Josh Simmers from Okinawa Karate Podcast (okinawakaratepodcast.com). #KNIC

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