Its is generally accepted that the birthplace of Kung fu was in northern China around 520 AD. Recent findings offer the distinct possibility that a primitive martial art form reached the East via the Fertile Crescent in Mesopotamia, to be later developed in India and China. Or possibly much earlier: for instance, there is a Babylonian plaque held in the British Museum dating back 5,000 years or more, which depicts figures using systematized blocking and countering techniques.

The Wandering Monk
Most of the Kung Fu practiced today is said to have originated in the Shaolin Monastery on Songshan Mountain, Honan province, in northern China.
It was introduced there by a wandering Indian monk named Bodhidharma, also known as Ta-Mo.
Bodhidharma was the son of King Sugundha of India. As befitted the son of royalty, in his youth Bodhidharma was well versed in the martial arts of his homeland, and was a much respected member of a warrior caste. In his middle years Bodhidharma for some reason now lost to us renounced his birthright, took up the robes of priesthood and set off on a life in pursuit of truth and knowledge. History records that some years later Bodhidharma surfaced in Honan province, having crossed the seemingly impenetrable barrier of the Himalayas on foot. He came to a monastery named Shaolin where he found the monks in an emaciated state. According to legend, Bodhidharma introduced the monks to a series of exercises in an effort to get them fit and well. The 18 exercises he taught them were for conditioning the body and developing the mind. These theraputic movements are popularly believed to be the forerunners of Shaolin temple boxing, known as the "Eighteen Hands of Lo-Han"
Bodhidharma also brought Buddhist teaching and philosophies to these monks. It is believed that the Shaolin temple was the birth of the Ch'an philosophies,popularly known in the West as Zen.