What is the connection between Buddhism and the martial arts?
It is universally believed by historians and martial arts senseis alike that the martial arts were founded by an Indian Buddhist monk called Bodhi Dharma who was also the founder of Zen Buddhism. He is known as Damo in China and Daruma in Japan and his picture is hung in dojos all over the world while the Chinese love to wear jade lockets with his image and the Japanese carry Daruma dolls in his honor. It has been proven time and again by world experts including the BBC and Discovery Channel that he taught the Indian martial art of Kalaripayat to the Shaolin monks of China along with Chan or Zen Buddhism. In fact each and every aspect of Kung Fu were direct translations from Kalaripayat from the Northern and Southern styles to the imitation of animal forms and all of the kathas come from Buddhist mudras used by Dharmapalas (Protectors of the Buddhist Dharma or Faith). Furthermore, there are ancient frescoes on the walls of the Shaolin Temple that show Indian Buddhist monks teaching the
