How The Disciplines Found In Kung Fu,Capoeria,etc and the Architecture of ancient monasteries, Can help You navigate Climate Disaster!
In Western culture, few expressions evoke mystical contemplations of martial arts quite like “The Shaolin Temple” or “The Shaolin Monastery.” Established more than 1500 years ago and named after the forested Song mountains that envelop it, Shaolin has been linked with martial arts for many centuries, despite primarily serving as a hub for Zen Buddhism. What is the enduring appeal of martial arts and monasteries in contemporary consciousness?
Photographic evidence of the African roots of martial arts can be seen in Shaolin temples through statues, paintings, and hieroglyphics. Despite the widespread popularity of martial arts, only a small percentage of Africans in the diaspora, as well as slightly more Asians and Europeans, are aware of the true African origins of these martial arts. Many young Africans who dream of emulating iconic figures like Iron Fist, Master of Kung Fu, or Karnak from comic legends may be surprised to discover that Karnak was named after an ancient African temple in Kemet (known as Egypt by the Greeks). Recent scientific and anthropological findings have proven that all Homo sapiens originated in Africa. Therefore, there is a vast audience to educate about the untold origins of the world's oldest martial arts, as explored in books such as the 1990 publication "Nuba Wrestling: The Original Art."
The Black Karate Federation has highlighted that the origins and principles of Shaolin gung-fu, rooted in Buddha's teachings, can be traced back to the Dravidians, a Black ethnic group in India, and their ancient civilization known as Harappan. It is believed that this civilization influenced Bodhidharma, a monk who traveled from southern India to China in 520 A.D. to introduce and advocate for Buddhist principles. Despite this historical connection, it is unfortunate that colorism in India has marginalized many of these individuals, relegating them to a status of "untouchables", and also derogatorily labeled as "Slumdogs" in 2009 following the success of a film with the same name. In response to this discrimination, individuals referred to as Slum dwellers the darker skinned Black melanated Indians (similar to what Americans would call "Ghetto" or residents of " The Hood") have organized protests under the leadership of activists like Tapeshwar Vishwakarma, holding signs that assert their dignity with messages such as “Don’t call us dogs” and “I am not a slumdog.”
Indian cities face severe climate impacts, disproportionately affecting slum dwellers. Urgent steps are needed to address urban planning and climate justice to protect vulnerable populations. Indian cities face severe climate impacts, disproportionately affecting slum dwellers. Urgent steps are needed to address urban planning and climate justice to protect the most vulnerable. Changing the architecture to reflect African heat ameliorating structures is necessary for human survival in many regions and those without melanin are already seeing massive reductions in populations from migration and infertility caused by climate related issues.
One of the key elements of ancient Egyptian architecture that contributed to keeping it cool was a feature referred to in Arabic as a malqaf. Additionally, constructing buildings with unfired mud bricks or hemp provides a heat-resistant option. By allowing water to flow over clay tubes when the wind blows, a natural air conditioning effect is created without the need for electricity. Although there are no archaeological remnants of such structures from the time of the pharaohs, there are depictions of them on a house in a tomb in Thebes and on a funerary papyrus in the British Museum. These rooftop structures included triangular windcatchers open to the north, which directed the cooling north breeze into the house. In Ghanaian homes with bell-shaped structures, a similar technology is used to capture breezes from all directions.
Windows in ancient Egyptian dwellings were typically small and positioned high on the walls, just beneath the ceiling. Although these windows did not offer views from the street, they served the dual purpose of letting daylight into the rooms and allowing hot air to circulate and exit the house.
The disciplined spiritual practices of Buddhism within the Shaolin monastery were initially inspired by the teachings of Siddharta Gautama.
The Black Master of Animal forms, who observed nature to learn his techniques, later introduced exercises and movements to help monks maintain physical health and alertness during meditation. Bodhidharma, renowned for meditating motionless for nine years in a cave behind the Shaolin Temple, is also recognized for his mastery of dynamic martial arts forms rooted in ancient Montu hieroglyphs in Kemet. The fusion of Buddhism and Taoism in China gave rise to an effective method for nurturing a healthy body for a healthy mind. These exercises were inspired by the combat techniques of seven sacred animals native to the monastery's surroundings. Known as the 18 Hands of Lo Han, these movements and breathing exercises served as the basis for Chinese Shaolin Kung-Fu and, subsequently, Japanese karate. It is important to note that the Ainu people of present-day Hokkaido, Japan, played a significant role in spreading these martial arts to the Japanese islands.
it is always incorrect to interpret martial arts fighting techniques as having been designed to commit acts of naked aggression, as opposed to being employed as methods of self-defense. The martial arts, while deadly in the hands of skilled practitioners, when practiced correctly, are done so in accordance with the philosophies of non-violence and non-aggression. And through intense physical and mental preparedness and meditation, the unity of mind, body, spirit and soul produces a strong, focused and serene mind, and the “stillness” in movement that promotes growth and mental acuity. A talent that should be cultivated in the age of commonplace weather extremes. The arts are used in self-defense, only when necessary, thus making it extremely unwise to provoke a true practitioner.
Editor's Note: Kilindi Iyi has emerged as a significant advocate for African martial arts in North America, drawing from his work on the influential essay "African Roots in Asian Martial Arts" (Journal of African Civilizations, 7, 1: 138-143), as well as his involvement in the two-part video "The World of African Martial Arts" (CFW Enterprises, 2000), television appearances on "Strange Universe" and "Masters of the Martial Arts," and teachings at the Ta-Merrian Institute in Detroit, Michigan, and various international seminars.
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