Kung Fu

Chinese Martial arts

Definitions:

Kung Fu: Means a skill in anything, including cooking or painting. It was taken by westerners to mean someone who was adept at fighting after observing daoist monks. It is also called Wu Shu and is the modern Chinese term for martial arts, although it is more of an exercise and dance in communist china.

Sifu: Master or teacher.

Long arm: Using the full extent of the arm

Short arm: Using part of the arm, usually using the rest of the body to be the power behind the punch.

Hard: Powerful/ Fast

Soft: Flowing/ Slow

External Power: Focuses on outward power, without the buildup of chi.

Internal Power: Focuses on internal power, building up chi.

History

Chinese martial arts Pre date the Shang dynasty. The art of hand to hand combat became very practical and necessary in the warring states period. It was a time that called for assassins and mercenaries as the separate states vied for power. This time, as well as being a time for developing philosophies, became a time of perfecting the body. Rulers required escorts and protection at all times, bringing forth those who were very proficient in and studied martial arts.

This came to an end when Emperor Chin prohibited the practice of martial arts by citizens and prohibited the citizens from carrying weapons.

The next emperor, Liu Pang, also known as Gaozu, an escort and prominent martial artist, brought the study of martial arts back to china. It is said he was escorting a band of prisoners, set them free and took over, becoming the first Han emperor.

During this time period Hua-tuo, a physician, made a series of exercises modeled after five animals. The tiger, deer, monkey, bird, and bear became the precursors to the later five animals of shaolin kung-fu.

Bodhidharma brought Buddhism to China. When he saw that the monks were not keeping themselves fit and healthy, because they were not exercising properly, he taught the monks how to keep their bodies physically fit, and to be prepared to defend their monasteries. Being a non-violent religion, the Buddhist monks did not engage in fighting unless necessary, but did give sanctuary to refugees. These refugees took the exercises and combined them with the already established Chinese martial art. The fighting styles that came from that were taught by these fighters disguised as monks. Thus the Shaolin Style was born.

During the Tang dynasty, the martial arts flourished, as well as the perfection of weapons out of necessity. The government used the resources and expertise in the temples to protect the surrounding towns. This helped the government fight off invasions from all sides, especially from the north.

The first emperor of the Song dynasty, Zhao Kuangyin was also a martial artist that used a three sectioned staff. He also created the chang quan ( long fist) martial arts system. It is the grandfather of most modern styles. In southern Song, General Yue Fei, took spear techniques and changed them into empty fist techniques, something that can be found in most styles.

Philosophy of most systems of Kung Fu: Straightforward, honest and morally correct. Teaches self-control and to use Kung Fu properly. Most styles also use a combination of Confucian, Daoist, and Buddhist philosophies to govern their styles.

Two systems: Northern and Southern

Southern System

It is characterized by complex body maneuvers and an emphasis on leg techniques. It is straight forward and focuses on power.

Styles:

Hung Gar: Developed in the Shaolin temple of Fukien. Have wide, low stances. Slow training, which makes it popular to learn. And slow, but powerful strikes. It is very internal, using the buildup of chi to turn the body into a fortress. It uses weapons.

Wing Chun: Believed to be founded by a woman. Have high stances. Utilizes short aggressive attacks to the opponents core (think Bruce Lee). Is purely a self-defense style, with no fancy moves or forms. Uses little weapons. Interesting Fact: The practitioners of this style would build up their wrist sensitivity, by rubbing against other students wrists while walking in a circle, attempting to predict the other student's moves, then use this sensitivity on an opponent to predict moves.

Tibetan White Crane: Very exclusive style, and are only taught to those deemed worthy to learn. It is a long arm style, with shifting footwork. Using momentum from the opponent’s attacks, the arm is powered by the waist, hips and back like a missile being launched. There is no recoil.

White Eyebrow: Created by Bak Mei a revolutionary during the ching dynasty. So called because of the creators white eyebrows. Short hand style. Being soft and flexible until contact is made and then the energy is released. Targets pressure points.

Special Southern Technique: Southern Praying Mantis. Or Jew Gar Taught to the royal family in the Ming dynasty. It is also called the machine gun technique, because it utilizes short fast and powerful punches.

Northern Style: It is characterized by intricate body maneuvers and an emphasis on hand techniques. It is circular and softer.

Northern Praying Mantis: Originated in East Shan-Tung province by Wong Long. Quick monkey like footwork, while utilizing arm and hand strength. Combined many systems into one.

Monkey or Tai Sing: Kao Tze was the founder. He was a prisoner in a prison where one exit was guarded by fierce monkeys. Many tried to escape through the monkeys, but would be defeated. So Kao Tze simply observed the monkeys and developed a martial art style. There were five monkeys he observed: The drunken monkey- Appears incompetent and fun. Elusive with low stances and fast attacks. The Stone Monkey- Uses pure physical force. The lost monkey- Tricky deceiving, uses light footwork, and is unpredictable. The standing monkey- More conventional, long arm technique. Seldom uses rolls or low stances. The wooden monkey- Aggressive with controlled attacks. It is a very deadly style. Neither monkey style is the right one, they each are for different body types. To be taught the monkey style, one must become a monkey in spirit.

Eagle Claw: Another very exclusive style. Uses pressure points, joint locks and similar techniques to control, immobilize or even kill the opponent. There are 108 points of attack. Of these, 36 are secret, and lethal. The 72 are just pressure point attacks. Relies on speed and concentrated power of attack, like the eagle for which is is modelled.

Hsing-I: Very simple and straightforward. It is a very internal style. It uses the five elements ( earth, metal, water, wood, fire) to illustrate how to strengthen the body and twelve animals (dragon, tiger, falcon, snake, bear, tai bird, lizard, swallow, eagle) for form. Uses some weapons.

Pa Kwa- Means eight directions. Characterized by the curved steps, and open handed or concentrated strikes. It has a soft stage of training, where one learns the internal style. Then later a hard stage where one learns the external style. Both hands are used equally, and so double weapons are used in this style

Tai Chi- Uses Ying and Yang in combat. Or in other words it is slow and flows and then changes to a hard and fast strike. Like Pa Kwa, there are two stages to learning, a soft then a hard. This way of teaching helps the student remain relaxed throughout the entire training process, because being too tense causes a disadvantage.

Five Shaolin animals

Dragon- Uses a combination of hard and soft techniques. Characterized by a grabbing claw hand technique.

Tiger- Has the strongest influence in Kung Fu. The techniques are hard and fast, creating a very powerful style. It is characterized by a tearing claw hand technique.

Snake- Is a soft style and is used to cultivate the inner energy or chi. A successful practitioner will be a very relaxed fighter, striking once, releasing all of the built up energy.

Crane- Like the snake it is a soft style, with the purpose of building up chi. Unlike the snake, it is circular, utilizing both short and long attacks.

Leopard- This is a very external style. The use of balance, agility, speed, combined with power, leaves no time to build up energy within. It is characterized by the leopard fist.

Shaolin weapons: Shaolin Fork Tri Point Sword Staff Iron Pen Broad Sword Butterfly Swords Long Handle Broadsword Three Sectioned Staff Straight Sword Spear Fan Dart Crescent Swords