Kung Fu Fighting

An Ancient Art

China has one of the longest traditions of martial arts in the world, and is synonymous with the art of Kung Fu. An umbrella term for hundreds of styles, Kung Fu is one of the most varied martial arts practiced anywhere.
It is often thought that Kung Fu literally translates as ‘martial art’, but the phrase actually applies to any skill which has been acquired through much time and effort. The proper term for martial art is ‘Wushu’, which these days is more commonly associated with the modern fighting form of martial arts of the same name, practiced now in China.

The beginnings of Kung Fu can be traced back more than three thousand years. Unsurprisingly, its roots are in self-defense, hunting and warfare. Hand-to-hand and weapons combat practice were important components in the training of ancient Chinese soldiers, but it was a group of monks who would really immortalize the practice.

The infamous Shaolin Temple in Henan Province was where the Indian Buddhist monk Bodhidharma (Ta-Mo in Chinese) spent nine years around 527AD working on his teachings. Originally practicing martial arts as a way to protect the temple from attack, Bodhidharma transformed the practice, integrating it into the Buddhist religion. He believed that the monks needed to have a healthy body and a healthy mind, and he taught them how to channel their Qi - their vital energy or life force - through meditation and exercise.

Fighting Fit

Although Bodhidharma revolutionized and formalized the form, the Shaolin Kung Fu we know today is the result of centuries of refinement. The distinctive fighting styles that are practiced today developed over many centuries. The fighting form which he introduced became more elaborate as newcomers with different martial art skills joined the temple and shared their knowledge.

Many of the forms used imitate the actions of animals (for example, tiger, panther, monkey, snake, or bear), birds (such as eagle, crane, or chicken), or insects (the praying mantis). It was believed that the best way to learn fighting techniques was by studying and imitating animals which had learned to survive in harsh environments. The pouncing of the tiger and eagle's strong claws were imitated, and the attacking motions of the crane's beak and wings were copied. Kung Fu is also practiced using weapons, which are considered an extension of the body. During their training, students now learn how to use an assortment of weapons, such as the spear, sword, axe, whip or mace.

Polar Opposites

Kung Fu can be categorized into southern and northern styles, separated by the Yangtze River. The northern style tends to emphasize fast and powerful kicks and high jumps, while the southern style focuses more on arm and hand technique and fast footwork. The martial arts can be categorized according to many other criteria, including the ‘internal’ and ‘external’ martial arts. ‘Internal’ arts focus on awareness of mind, spirit and Qi and are performed slowly and in flowing movements and are often used to deflect, not to attack. ‘External’ arts are characterized by fast and explosive movements and a focus on physical strength and agility.

During training for the different schools of Kung Fu, students start by learning about harnessing the Qi and practice strengthening their muscles through repetitive movements. They go on to learn stances, which are structural postures which depend on different foot positioning, weight distribution and body alignment. Forms, a series of predetermined movements which are combined into one flowing set and are practiced through sparring sessions are taught to advanced students. Some Kung Fu systems also encourage meditation.

Open Access

The study of Kung Fu was historically reserved for the elite, but it became more widely accessible in the 1920s and ‘30s when many martial artists were encouraged to openly teach their art. The government even established an academy, bringing the various independent Kung Fu schools under one roof. Provincial and national competitions were established and in 1936, at the Berlin Olympics, a group of Chinese martial artists demonstrated their art to an international audience for the first time.

The teaching of traditional Kung Fu was curbed during the Chinese Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), during which a more performance-orientated and aesthetically pleasing approach was encouraged. Many traditionalists lament the loss of the original discipline, but in recent years, effort has been made to regain the lost knowledge and to rejuvenate the art of Kung Fu.

In the West, Kung Fu has come to our attention through martial arts films which exploded onto our screens in the 1970s. The films of Bruce Lee, Jet Li and Jackie Chan have been instrumental in popularizing Chinese martial arts and their influence can be seen in movies such as The Matrix and Kill Bill. It has even trickled down to kids’ films, with Kung Fu Panda being a massive hit. Thanks to this, many Chinese martial arts schools have sprung up around the world and the traditions of Kung Fu will, with some luck and a lot of practice, be preserved.  

Images by Derek Winchester. All rights reserved.

Written by Sonia Zhuravlyova 

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