History

The roots of martial arts go back for centuries, even in the absence of written records,

but we would like to give you some information to expand your knowledge about its origins.

Kung Fu

Firstly, the word "kung fu" simply means "skill" or "ability". It does not have any

specific meaning pertaining to the martial arts. Today, the term "Wushu" is the actual

word used for Chinese Martial Arts in China. The word "kung fu" was first used by a

westerner in th 17th century. A Jesuit Missionary named Pere Amoit wrote in his

journals about a strange exercises he witnessed and wrote it down as "Cong Fou".

The term "kuo-shu" was popular in China, to describe their brand of the martial

arts, until about 1930. This term has now been adopted by the Taiwanese government

to describe martial arts and other sports. But in the western world, KUNG FU sticks.

The exact origins and dates of Kung Fu's formation will forever be disputed and

argued over. It is argued that it was founded as early as the 16th century B.C.

and as late as 220 B.C. One thing is quite obvious, it has fluorished over the

centuries and has some sort of root in every single fighting style in existance

today. Kung Fu is so large, diverse, and complex that it would take a number of

books filled with history, styles, and applications to understand the vastness of it.

In ancient times, a talented Chinese boxer would travel from province to province

looking for the best techniques and teachers, although each and every one specialized

with some sort of specific "style". That boxer would commonly take that best techniques

from different styles and produce a new style of Kung Fu.

The Shaolin "Styles" Origins

There are three popular theories on the original early evolution of the monks

famous fighting style. The first is Ta-mo, or Bodhidharma, brought combat applications

to the monks from his travels in India and through China and his meditations in a famous

cave for nine years.. The second is that two monks named Sung-Chou and Hwei-Kuang

preceeded Ta-mo with their combat insight by several years. The third and most plausible

theory is that not one person had a defining hand in the Shaolin styles, but a number of

factors and experiences by many people contributed to the monks combat art over the years.

The Shaolin Temple

A Chinese Buddhist monastery located in the Sung Shan Mountains, Hunan Province. The

Temple is named after the surrounding "small forest" of trees. It was built by Emporer

Hsiao-Wen in the 5th century. This was to pay homage to the Indian Monk, Bodhiruchi. Later,

the emperor Tai-Chung recognized the huge force the Monks had become and pleaded for their

help in his battle against Wang-She Chung, who wanted to establish a seperate dynasty.

The Shaolin soldiers defeated Wang and in return, was given more land and supplies. This

was not the only battles the Monks fought for the emporer. They were used to defeat

Japanese invaders, fight the "Red Turbans", and so on. The soldier monks grew to over

5000 at their peak. Their skill in battle and their devotion to a cause eventually made

the ruling class in China wary however. Over the course of time, they were feared and

oppressed to keep the warrior monks from ever having the ability to destroy the ruling

dynasty.

Monks learned barehand and weapon combat techniques, Chi Kung, and horsemanship skills.

They were most notable for combining the best of the hard and soft elements of combat.

Kung Fu / Wushu Styles

Below are some of the styles which have come to be in Chinese martial arts of the last

2000 years. They can be put into a few different categories. There are so many, we will

continueally be updating this page, adding more and more as time permits. They could be

classified as the following, with many more smaller sub-sets, though Kung Fu is so

extensive it it can easily become quite complex to define and classify the different

styles:

Northern or Southern

Hard or Soft

Combat, Sport, or Health

Linear or Circular

Some Chinese Styles

Ch'a Ch'uan - An ancient martial art, considered northern style. It was developed in the

14th century by Chinese Muslims, characterized by long high leaps and lots of movement.

Ch'o Chiao - A Northern Chinese style originating in Gao-Yang County. It is characterized

by high kicking techniques.

Chow-Gar - A style of Kung Fu from Southern China, founded by Chow Lung and derived it

from Chow Gar and Pa Kua.

Choy Li Fut - A Southern style originating from the Shaolin Temple characterized by many

circular hand techniques.

Drunken Style - A system of fighting where actions appear to be sloppy and unstable and

then fast and precise. It is patterned after the typical motions of a drunkard,

masking the true fighting technique.

Eagle Claw - A style of Kung Fu with acrobatic movements emulating an eagle.

Grandmaster Liu Fa Mang is most notable for its rise in popularity.

Fong Ngan - Known as the Phoenix Eye. It encorporates many hand techniques and no

formal stances. It originates in the Hopu Province.

Hop Gar - It was the official style of the Manchu Emporer, also known as Lama Kung Fu.

Designed by a Tibetan Priest named Dai-Dot, it originally only used 8 fists, 8 steps,

8 fingers, and eight kicks. Passed from priest to priest it has developed into four

subdivisions.

Hsing-I - literally translated means "mind form". It is a system found in Northern

China, originating in the San-Shih Province. It contains short, basic movements.

Hung-Chia - A southern Chinese Style that uses many hand techniques and low stances.

The system uses the movements of animals for attacks. It is said to be originated by

either Fong-Tsai (a monk who escaped a bloody masacre at the hands of the Chinese army)

, Ng-Mui, or Mui-Hin.

Ke-Chia - A Southern form of Chinese Kung Fu that uses three styles. The name literally

means "guest family" because the originators were not from the place it was developed in.

Kung-Ki-Ch'uan - Northern style originating in Chang County of the Hopei Province. It

is a very rare style consisting of low horse stances and is considered extremely

difficult to grasp.

Li Gar - A Southern style, characterized by slapping and poking motions.

Lo-Han-Ch'uan - Literally meaning "the Buddha style", it has both Northern and

Southern variations. It cosely resembles Chang Chuan.

Modern Wushu - After 1955, the Peoples Republic of China introduced martial arts

application in competition. (see Wushu)

Monkey Style - One of the most colorful of all martial arts styles, it was developed

by Kou Tze in the early 19th century while he was in prison. During this time he

observed the habits of monkeys and eventually made 5 different facets of monkey style.

Pa-Kua - One of the 3 main internal branches of Chinese Boxing. Its origins are unknown,

only that an unknown taoist taught a man named Tung Hai-Chuan in Kiangsu Province for

a number of years. Tung used this knowledge to defeat Kuo Yun-Shen, from the Hsing-I

style. The two earned eachothers respect and to this day, the two styles are

intertwined because of it. It is made of circling postures based on animal movements.

Praying Mantis - A kung Fu system developed in the 17th century in Southern China.

It uses punches, clawing, and grabbing attacks. There are a number of smaller

sub-styles within this style.

Shuai Chiao - A Chinese form of wrestling that dates back to 700 b.c.

Tai Chi Chuan - A Northern style, concerned with harnessing chi energy. There are

a number of different stories about its true origin, too many to list. Its

movements are slow and fluid.

White Crane - Movements are based on the crane and ape, combining long and short

hand techniques.

Wing Chun - A Southern style originating from the Shaolin Temple. They comprised a

style that would teach a most efficient fighting method in the least amount of time

to defeat the Manchu soldiers. Before the system was completed, the soldiers attacked

and a nun named Ng Mui, a temple elder, escaped with the fighting knowledge. She

finalized the movements which rely heavily on a centerline attack using fists and

trapping your opponenets attacks simultaneously.

Wushu - Meaning "national art" or "martial art", it was adopted as the official name

for martial arts in China during the 1950s, although the term "wushu" had been used

since 1928. A new renewed interest led to the formation of a national committee to

review all Chinese martial art styles and combined them into a new, socially

acceptable form. The leadership's political structure gave rise to a new form of

martial art. Wu shu (modern wushu) is now taught at all physical culture institutes

and many primary schools of education.

The forms of wushu are as follows:

Ba Ji - strikes, holds, blocks.

Di Tang - tumbling attacks and defense.

Nan Chuan - Southern style, using many upper body motions.

Fan Zi - short routines

Tung Bi - Northern style consisting of 5 basic motions.

Xing Yi - uses many animal characteristics.

Chang Chuan - Northern style characterized by acrobatic motions.