It is said that these arts were born in the Shaolin Temple in Honan Province, China. The traditional stories speak a wandering monk named Ta Mo (also known as Bodhidharma), of Indian origin, twenty eighth patriarch of Buddhism and founder of Zen Buddhism or how Chán. came to China under the reign of Emperor Wu of the Liang (502-549 AD). This pilgrim brought fighting techniques and philosophy contemplative associated with his homeland.

In fact, it is likely that the rudimentary forms of these arts were practiced and followed in China long before this wandering monk reaches Honan province. Most experts have concluded that the martial arts have been practiced in some form in China for over three thousand years.