Bei Shaolin Quan/Bak Sil Lum Kuen- Northern Shaolin Boxing
By Hibik

Entrance Requirements: PP and PE of 11 or higher. No alignment restrictions.
Skill Cost: 15 Years Primary, 7 Years Secondary.

Bei Shaolin (Northern Shaolin, in Mandarin), or Bak Sil Lum (Cantonese), is a general term for the arts of Shaolin that originate from the Northern Shaolin temples, such as Song Shan and Long Tam. It is also the name of the fighting style that has made Shaolin famous, an art of strong acrobatics and powerful grounded and aerial kicks.
The creation of this art can be attributed to the monk Gan Fenchi (whose monk name was Fu Zhu), who was famous for supposedly gaining entry into the Forbidden City during the reign of the Emperor Yong Zheng (1733-1735). Gan Fenchi was reportedly an anti Manchurian rebel. However, he was reportedly a curious person as well, and managed to enter the Forbidden City, a place few people were allowed to go to. There, he performed a demonstration for the Emperor, simply to see the Forbidden City with his own eyes. After he was done performing, he simply excused himself, and left.
The most famous practitioner of Bei Shaolin, however, is Ku Yu Cheung (also known as Gu Ruzhang 1894-1962). Gu Ruzhang was one of the Top fifteen champions of the famous national martial arts examinations conducted by the Central Goushu ("National Art", the Republic of China term for traditional Wushu) Institute of Nanjing in 1929. The Goushu institute was founded by the original Republic of China, lead by Sun Yat Sen, and were great supporters in the resurrection of Chinese Kung Fu.
One of the famous "Five Southbound Tigers", Gu Ruzhang and 4 other masters, Wan Lai Sheng, Wai Lai Min, Li Xian Wu, and Fu Zhen Song, were famous for travelling to the south and spreading the popularity of the northern Chinese martial arts. Eventually, Ku Yu Cheung ended up settling in Guangdong/Canton province, where he spent some time translating his art into Cantonese. This is where Northern Shaolin gets the Cantonese name (and a name that often confuses it with a southern Chinese art.), Bak Sil Lum.
Bei Shaolin itself is a very flexible and extremely comprehensive art. As it contains much of the knowledge of the northern Chinese arts, it's not unusual to see elements of animal forms such as Eagle, Tiger, Crane, Mantis, etc. within its forms. While many of its routines follow the credo of "Northern Leg", which suggests that most northern styles of Kung Fu have high kicks, there are many routines that use low stances and primarily hand attacks as well, further promoting Bei Shaolin's reputation as a comprehensive style.
The basics of Bei Shaolin are contained within 10 empty handed forms, a variety of weapon forms, and a comprehensive Iron Palm and Iron Body set (of which Gu Ruzhang was famous for.). After that, there are roughly 40 other forms, all of which contain and stress different skills, use of power, and techniques. The style also focuses on four basic forces. These are Da (Hitting) Tui (Leg usage) Na (Catch and hold) and Hsuay (Wrestling and throwing). The style also contains Qigong meditations
Bei Shaolin (Or, Bak Sil Lum, if you prefer) is interestingly enough, no longer practiced at the Shaolin Temple today. As the Peoples Republic of China is primarily a major supporter in the competitive art of Wushu, Wushu artists today are the ones that primarily populate the recently rebuilt Henan Shaolin Temple. While today's "Temple" Kung Fu and Bei Shaolin share many of the same traits, techniques, and forms, some suggest that, as today's Shaolin Temple Kung Fu is a modified hybrid of Wushu and traditional Shaolin skills, the Bei Shaolin/Bak Sil Lum system is actually closer in forms, techniques, and skills to the original Shaolin.
Bei Shaolin/Bak Sil Lum, thanks to the migration of its many southern Chinese masters, can be found in various places around the world, especially the United States Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Europe.

Costume: Silk Kung Fu uniform, OR Shaolin monk robes.
Stance: This very much varies on the forms the artist is prominent at, and the situation he's in. As Northern Shaolin artists can typically go with a lighter stance for kicks, or a deeper stance for a good root and strong punching, the Northern Shaolin artist will often end up switching stance often.

CHARACTER BONUSES
Add +10 to SDC
Add +2 to PP
Add +1 to PE
Add +2 to Spd

COMBAT SKILLS
Attacks Per Melee: 3
Escape Moves: Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact.
Attack Moves: Leap.
Basic Defense Moves: Dodge, Parry, and Automatic Parry.
Advanced Defenses: Circular Parry, Combination Parry/Attack, and Disarm.
Hand Attacks: Punch (Strike), Palm Strike, Knife Hand, and Backhand.
Basic Foot Attacks: Kick, Snap Kick, Roundhouse Kick, Crescent Kick, Tripping/Leg Hook, and Backward Sweep.
Jumping Foot Attacks: Jump Kick.
Special Attacks: Deathblow, Knee, Forearm, and Elbow.
Holds/Locks: Wrist Lock.
Weapon Katas (Select Two): W.P. Qiang (Spear), WP Gun (Staff), WP Jian (Straight Sword), WP Dao (Saber/Broadsword), WP Chan (Spade/Shovel), WP Guan Dao (Guan's Long Handled Saber), WP Pu Dao (Horse Chopping Saber), WP San Jie Gun (3 Sectional Staff), WP Ji (Halberd), WP Fu (Axes (Paired)), WP Cha (Trident), and WP Jie Bian (Steel Whip.).
Modifiers to Attack: Pull Punch, Knockout/Stun, Critical Strike, and Critical Strike from Rear.

SKILLS INCLUDED IN TRAINING
Martial Arts Powers: Select a total of TWO (2) from Martial Art Techniques, Body Hardening Exercises, or Specialty Katas (including Chi Katas). If desired, any number of powers can be traded, one-for-one, for any Basic Skill Programs.
Languages: Chinese (Choose a Northern Dialect.)
Physical: Gymnastics.
Philosophical Training: Buddhism.

If this is your primary martial art form, then the following other forms can be learned in shorter time: Taizu Quan (4 Years), Tang Lang/Mantis (4 Years), Tan Tui (5 Years), or Tibetan White Crane (6 Years).

LEVEL ADVANCEMENT BONUSES
1st: +2 to Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact, +2 to Strike.
2nd: +2 to Parry and Dodge.
3rd: +10 to Chi, Select One from Martial Art Powers, Body Hardening Exercises, or Specialty Katas (including Chi Katas).
4th: +1 Attack, +1 to Leap (Add 4ft. to Leap Distance).
5th: Critical Strike on a Natural 19-20, +1 to Damage.
6th: +1 to Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact.
7th: +5 to Chi, Select One from Martial Art Powers, Body Hardening Exercises, or Specialty Katas (including Chi Katas).
8th: +2 to Leap (Add 6ft. to Leap Distance).
9th: +1 Attack, +1 to Strike.
10th: +1 to Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact, +1 to Damage.
11th: +1 to Parry, Select One from Martial Art Powers, Body Hardening Exercises, or Specialty Katas (including Chi Katas).
12th: +5 to Chi, +1 to Dodge.
13th: +1 to Leap (Add 4ft. to Leap Distance).
14th: +1 Attack, +1 to Damage.
15th: +1 to Strike, Select One from Chi Mastery, Martial Art Powers, Body Hardening Exercises, or Specialty Katas (including Chi Katas).

Why Study Northern Shaolin?
One of the most prominent of the Shaolin Kung Fu styles, Northern Shaolin is one of the most flexible and comprehensive systems of Shaolin. Containing everything from animal forms, to weapons, to Iron Body and martial Qigong, Northern Shaolin has minimal weaknesses, and is easily a well-rounded art.