About Kung Fu
10 Things You Need To Know About Chinese Kung Fu Kung Fu, also known as Chinese martial arts, is a perfect combination of exercise, practical self-defense, self-discipline and it has seen a massive upsurge in interest in the world in recent years. Now let’s take a look at some things that you need to know about Kung Fu.
chinese kung fu master sun lutang
1. Kung Fu is Chinese martial arts that utilizes kicks, blocks, and both open and closed hand strikes. It was formerly cultivated for self-defense, but now a form of body-building and fitness practices.
2. Chinese Kung Fu was originated more than 6,000 years ago for the need for self-defense, hunting techniques and military training in ancient China.
3. The term Kung Fu or ‘Gong Fu’ in Chinese means “work hard.” So Kung Fu learners need to work hard on training to develop skills.
4. Chinese Kung Fu is usually practiced with bare hands, while sometimes with some simple weapons such as swords, knives and spear, etc.
5. A Kung Fu learner should follow a master or join a training school to learn Kung Fu systematically. The common training includes the basic skills, routines, weapons handling and others.
6. Some westerners think that all Chinese people are Kung Fu masters. That’s not true, real kungfu masters are rare at any times. In China in the past there were many Kung Fu masters but very few of them would accept students.
7. Those well-known Chinese Kung Fu masters include Bruce Lee, founder of Jeet Kune Do, Yip Man, a Wing Chun master, Wong Fei-hung, a master in Hung Gar Boxing, Zhang Sanfeng, the originator of Tai Chi, etc.
8. There are lots of distinct types of Kung Fu styles in the country. The most influential styles include Shaolin Kung Fu, Tai Chi, Intention Boxing, Eight-Diagram Palm, Southern Fist, Wing Chun and Qigong.
9. Since 1970s, Kung Fu became known to the world through Kung Fu movies by Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Jet Li, etc. The most famous Kung Fu films include Fists of Fury, Way of the Dragon, Shaolin Temple, Drunken Master, Ip Man, Crouching Tiger and Hidden Dragon etc.
10. Chinese Kung Fu novels, also known as Wuxia, are very popular in Asia. Notable writers like Jin Yong, Liang Yusheng and Gu Long have many popular Wuxia works.
Top 10 Chinese Kung Fu Styles Kung Fu is one of the most well-known traditional Chinese cultures. It was first introduced abroad by Chinese-American Kung Fu master Bruce Lee. His Kung Fu movies made Chinese Kung Fu sweep across the world. Kung Fu has many systems and styles such as Shaolin Temple and Tai Chi and below are top 10 famous Chinese Kung Fu styles.
1. Shaolin Kung Fu 少林功夫
shaolin kung fuShaolin Kung Fu is well known both at home and abroad. It originated from the Shaolin Temple on Mount Songshan, Dengfeng County, Henan Province. It integates the wisdom of Zen Buddhism into Chinese Kungfu and formed various kinds of sub-styles. The monks Its basic skills mainly include tumbling, jumping, rolling and others. In recent years westerners are becoming more and more interested in learning it.
2. Tai Chi Quan 太极拳
taijiquanTai Chi only has a history of several hundred years, yet it has been practiced widely by the public in many parts of China.
Tai Chi absorbs the advantages of different marital arts, integrates Yin-yang theory traditional Chinese medicine and other ideas, creating a set of marital art. Practicers move their bodies slowly and gently to develop one’s internal power.
3. Wing Chun Quan 咏春拳
wing chun quanWing Chun is one of the strongest, most direct Kung fu styles. Wing Chun originated in the early 1700s at the Shaolin Temple and was then was widely spread by Bruce Lee’s Wing Chun teacher, Yip Man. The main principle of Wing Chun is “simplicity.” The less complex the techniques are, the more effective they will become.
4. Baguazhang 八卦掌
BaguazhangBaguazhang is a soft and internal style martial art. The creation of Baguazhang, as a formalized martial art, is credited to Dong Haichuan during the early 19th century. Baguazhang attaches importance to the interplay between mind and outside movements and is often characterized by slow and flowing movements.
5. Xing Yi Quan 形意拳
xing yi quan
Xingyiquan is one of the oldest Internal Martial Arts styles, the other two are Tai Chi and Baguangzhang. Xingyiquan pays more attention on internal power, with loose movements but clear intention. It features aggressive movements, eplosive power and unpredictable fighting skills.
6. Choy Lai Fut 蔡李佛
Choy Lai FutChoy Li Fut is a kind of Chinese martial art founded by Chen Heng from Guangdong province in the 1830s. The system compromises the merits of different martial arts techniques, forming his own Kung Fu style. Choy Li Fut stresses on relaxed, internal power instead of muscular force.
7. Bajiquan 八极拳
bajiquanBajiquan originated Hui Minority Kung Fu of the Cangzhou county, HeiBei province. Contrary to Tai Chi, Bajiquan features explosive, short-range power techniques, and is closely related with the military system. Many bodyguards who protect politicians practise Bajiquan.
8. Praying Mantis 北螳螂拳
Northern Praying MantisPraying Mantis was created by Wang Lang during the late Ming and early Qing periods. It mimics the actions of a mantis with two hands like hooks. It emphasizes hand play and footwork as well as speed and agility.
9. Nan Quan 南拳
NanquanNan Quan, also known as the Nanfang Quan, is the combination of Southern Shaolin boxing and other southern boxing techniques such as Hung Gar, Mok Gar, and Choy Li Fut. Nan Quan stresses on simple actions, changing and short-range hand plays and steady footwork.
10. Chang Quan 长拳
changquanChang Quan is a family of external martial arts styles which combines many Chinese martial art styles. It emphasizes fully extended kicks and striking techniques. Chang Quan was formed in recent years and is often displayed in various Martial Art Contests.
5 reasons to study Gongfu (Kung Fu) The word Gongfu literally means achievement (gong) and man (fu). In order to master the art of Gungfu, students must devote significant amounts of time and “work hard”, which is the literal translation of the word. Also, Gongfu is known as Wushu, which translates to Wu (military) and shu (discipline). Listed below are a few of the reasons to learn Gongfu.
1. Self Defense
Men, women and children each can face uniquely dangerous situations in their lives. A man may be confronted by a thief with a knife in a parking lot, a woman may be targeted by a rapist after a yoga class, or a child may be approached by a pedophile while walking home from school. If men, women and children know the specific Gongfu techniques to defend themselves in these situations, they can escape unharmed. Spouses and parents can rest assured that their loved ones are protected in whatever situation they face.
2. Physical Conditioning
Regular practice of Gongfu will keep your body in peak physical shape. It will improve your stamina, strength and increase flexibility. According to the Tooele County Health Department, martial arts have been documented to burn up to 350 calories per hour. Bruce Lee’s chiseled his physique through hours of Gong Fu practice. Strong physical conditioning will unquestionably improve your quality of life and boost your confidence.
3. Controlled Breathing
Meditation can be an integral component incorporated into Gongfu. By practicing meditation, you learn to focus on the present, clear your mind and control your breath. Having a clear and present mind hones your ability to concentrate on specific Gongfu movements. Controlled breathing can also be applied to different martial arts techniques. For example, one martial arts instructor recommends inhaling when performing passive movements such as a block, and exhaling when performing proactive movements such as punching and kicking.
4. Competition
In recent years, Mixed Martial Arts fights have become popular throughout the world. Dan Hardy a mixed martial artist from the United Kingdom trained with Shaolin monks in Henan province to prepare for one of his fights; he said the intense training by the Shaolin monks required him to practice 12 hours a day for six days a week, pushing him to his physical and mental breaking point.
Check out this link for more regarding Dan’s experience training with Shaolin Monks.
5. Performance
Talented martial artists that know Gongfu may use their skills in a theatrical sense. In Beijing’s Red Theater, martial artists perform in the play The Legend of Kung Fu. The story revolves around a young monk that aspires to be a Kung Fu Master one day.
Top 10 Chinese Kung Fu Actors Kung Fu, also known as Chinese martial arts, has been an important part of Chinese culture for thousands of years. This culture also cultivated a lot of internationally-known Kung Fu actors, Now let us see who are the 10 best Chinese Kung Fu actors ever?
1. Bruce Lee 李小龙
Born in 1940, the year of the dragon in Chinese zodiac, Bryce Lee is the first actor that enables foreigners to have a direct understanding of Chinese martial arts. It can be said that he himself is an immortal Kung Fu legend. His famous Kung Fu films you should see include Shanghai Affairs, Fist Of Fury, etc.
2. Jackie Chan 成龙
Jackie Chan is one of the world’s most well-known action star. He shows audience various fighting styles with different weapons and stunts. He had starred in many action films , Drunken Master, Snake in Eagle’s Shadow, Rush Hour series, Police Story are his most Kung Fu movies.
3. Jet Li 李连杰
Born in Beijing in 1963, Jet Li began studying Chinese martial arts as early as the age of 8. Li once won the championship for six consecutive years during the National Wushu Contest. His famous Kung Fu films include The Mummy: Tomb of The Dragon Emperor, The Warlords, Fearless and Hero.
4. Donnie Yen 甄子丹
Donnie Yen was born in Guangdong province, China in 1963. He won the gold medal at the World Martial Arts Championship. With excellent martial arts skills, he is called by the major media as “The Strongest of the Universe.” He starred in major films such as Dragon Tiger Gate, Geri situation.
5. Sammo Hung 洪金宝
Sammo Hung, born in 1952, is known for his work in many martial arts and action films in Hong Kong. He has been a fight choreographer for many stars such as Jackie Chan, King Hu, and John Woo. He also starred in lots of Kung Fu films like Ip Man, Tai Chi Hero, Kung Fu Hustle and The Game of Death.
6. Chiu Man-Cheuk 赵文卓
Chiu Man-Cheuk is a Chinese actor and martial artist. He is best known for playing the role of Chinese folk hero Wong Fei-hung in the film Once Upon a Time in China .
7. Yuen Biao 元彪
Yuen Biao is a Hong Kong actor and martial artist. He is good at acrobatics and Chinese Kung Fu and has worked on more than 80 movies as actor, stuntman or action director. He starred in movies such as The Prodigal Son and Jackie Chan’s Project A.
8. Michelle Yeoh 杨紫琼
Michelle Yeoh, born on 6 August 1963. is well-known in the world for her roles in the 1997 James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies as Wai Lin, and the Academy Award-winning Chinese-language martial arts film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
9. Jacky Wu 吴京
Wu Jing, born on April 3, 1974, sometimes known as Jacky Wu, is a Chinese martial artist, actor and director. His most famous films include the 1996 film Tai Chi Boxer and 2006 film Fatal Contact.
10. Chin Siu Ho 钱小豪
Chin Siu Ho, born in 1963, is a famous Hong Kong actor and Kung Fu artist. He is most well-known for acting together with Jet Li in The Tai-Chi Master and Fist of Legend.
Top 8 Chinese Kung Fu masters in Minguo era The Minguo era refers to the period from 1912 to 1949 in mainland China. This period witnessed the prime of Chinese Kung Fu masters. Here is a list of 8 most famous Chinese Kung Fu masters of that time:
1. Yip Man
Yip Man (1893 –1972), also spelled as Ip Man, was a well-known Wing Chun master. He taught the Wing Chun in Hong Kong in the 1950s. He was the first person to open a Wing Chun school to the masses and his effort also brought Wing Chun to its eminence today. He also nurtured the famous martial artists including Bruce Lee. He passed away in 1972 and was praised as “Grandmaster” by his disciples.
2. Li Shuwen Li Shuwen (1862-1934) is famous for his superb martial arts skill. He was born in Cangzhou city, which is known as “Hometown of Martial Arts”. It was said that he was never defeated in his life. He was good at Bajiquan, Piguazhang and spear. Due to his excellent boxing and spear technique, he got the reputation of “never need to strike twice” and “the God of the Spear.”
3. Shang Yunxiang Shang Yunxiang (1864 -1937) is martial artist, Xingyiquan master and founder of Shang style Xingyiquan. He first learnt Xingyiquan skill from Li Cunyi and later Guo Yunshen. He was thin and weak and was less than 1.6 meters tall, however, his fame spread all over the martial art world for his “Half Step Bengquan” , “Qi Full of Belly” , “Big Spear” and excellent combat ability. He was hired by Li Lianying, the Head Eunuch of Qing Dynasty, to guard his courtyard, worked as a Biaotou (headman of a biaoju) in Beijing and Baoding.
4. Sun Lutang Sun Lutang (1860-1933) was a renowned martial artist during Late Qing Dynasty and early Mingguo era. He was Xingyiquan, Baguazhang, Taichiquan master, and the founder of Sun style Taijiquan. He has also published many books on the theory of different martial styles he learnt.
5. Li Jinglin Li Jinglin (1885-1931) was both a martial art master and a army general during the Chinese warlord era. He learnt Wudang Sword from Song Weiyi and later obtained Taichiquan from Yang Luchan. These two marital art styles helped him develop skillful sword technique and got the nickname of “China’s First Sword.”
6. Zhang Ce Zhang Ce (1866-1934) was a well-known Tongbeiquan master. He created his own style Tongbeiquan named Taiji&Wuxing Tongbeiquan. He obtained great fame from his many victories in real fightings, hence got the nickname of “Bei Sheng”, or “Sage of Tongbei”.
7. Du Xinwu Du Xinwu (1869 -1953) was a Chinese martial artist who developed his own internal style Kung Fu – Ziranmen, also known as Natural Boxing. It is a Northern internal style Kung Fu taught together with Qigong breathing techniques. When studied in Japan, Du Xinwu defeated Japanese sumo and got the name of “God-legs”. He served as Sun Yat-sen’s bodyguard and protected him in important events.
8 Wang Ziping Wang Ziping (1881–1973) was a Muslim practitioner of Chinese Martial Arts from Cangzhou – “Hometown of Chinese Martial Arts.” He has been practicing martial art since child and was good at Chaquan and Taichi. Wang won fights against Russian, American, German, and Japanese martial artists. He was also the vice chairman of the Chinese Wushu Association.
