The exercises of bohdidharma

[Krisxylove]

So I was reading a martial arts book. In it the writer was writing about the exercises of bohdidharma. How he set up the monks with a plan and exercises to improve their health. Which later was modified and turned into a fighting method aka kung fu. So I was looking at the exercises and they just looked like stretches and warm ups. Then I did some research online, and found the 18 Lohan hand movements. The 18 Lohans looked like stuff everyone is already doing in karate with blocks etc and even kung fu styles too. So I'm wondering if anyone knows the actual legitimate exercises that were taught to shaolin by bohdidharma to improve their health. If anyone can help me I appreciate it. I want to do these exercises to improve My health. Thank you.

This is the version of 18 hands that I practice,

. There are so many different versions of 18 hands, what is legitimate and what isn't I have no idea. But what I can say is that even after my more intermediate forms, and my favorite more dynamic forms, I always keep coming back to 18 hands. There is something special about it like it's in between QiGong and Gong fu. It switches everything on for better practice with my other forms, and I can keep practicing it long after I'm too fatigued from the other forms. It can be practiced very slow and relaxing or very quick and dynamic. I firmly believe that this form has improved my health.