Kung Fu
Kung fu or Wushu are systems of martial arts that originated within China. Kung fu is the common English term for Chinese martial arts, though in China the term wushu is used. Wushu translates to ‘war arts’ where as kung fu roughly translates to ‘time & energy’. The meaning of Kung Fu refers to the method it takes to master an art form. This being ‘time’ something that can be achieved only through years of study and ‘energy’ something that requires great effort from the participant. Furthermore it is something that cannot be completely taught but must experienced and understood through practice.
Kung Fu is not one specific style of martial arts but a term to incorporate them all. Some styles focus on different tactics kicking, boxing, throws, joint locks, and wrestling while others focus on different philosophies of combat. These styles sprang up throughout China in different armies, villages and monasteries. Most notably was the Shaolin Temple which became famous for the skill of its martial monks. Throughout history there have been 1000’s of styles, however, the ones practiced today have been tested and proven by time.
Hung Gar
Hung Gar is a southern kung fu style which is known for its vicious fighting applications and the physical strength of its practitioners. The style is built around 5 different philosophies of martial arts categorized by the five animal forms. Each animal develops the practitioners‘ body through different strength, speed and agility exercises. Each animal studied is also a meditation on different fighting tactics from aggressive to defensive, from hand techniques to foot work and kicking. This is more of a hard form external styles.
LongFist
LongFist is a northern kung fu style created by General Yui Fei used in training his soldiers. The movements are large and circular utilizing speed, relaxation, and correct body alignments. LongFist is broken into 10 sections each pertaining to a different fighting concepts; linear boxing, hammer fists and uppercuts, eagle claw(grabbing), sweeps and trips, joint locks, tumbling, kicking, attack and evade, plum flower striking, and jump kicks. This gives the practitioner a foundation in these fighting concepts. Advanced Longfist includes eagle claw and preying mantis.
Tai Chi
Tai Chi Chuan is a meditation practice, a healing art, and a martial art. The systems benefits are endless the longer it is practiced the more complicated it becomes.
It’s journey begins with the slow fluid movements of the 108 Yang Style Tia Chi form. Then through the form 16 nie gung (internal principles) are added into a practitioners awareness. Each can be studied depending on the goals of the practitioner and be understood on deeper and deeper levels.
Chi Gung / Bagua Zhang / Xing Yi Chuan / Yi Chuan
Though Tai Chi is the most famous of the internal (or meditative) styles of kung fu it is not the only. Learning and practicing one can increase the overall understanding of all the internal arts since form is what creates the style and the higher level of internal practice is formlessness. All styles are taught around the 16 nei gung and therefor allow the practitioner to work with them in a different ways, under a different light.
Chi Gung is an excellent form of healing and energy exercises which increases a persons overall health. It is not usually considered a martial art though some sets and exercises can greatly benefit a martial artist (i.e. iron shirt chi gung, muscle changing chi gung). Most people look at exercise in 3 different ways: strength training, flexibility, and cardiovascular. Chi Gung is a great 4 aspect for better health, stress relief and longevity.
Bagua Zhang or Eight Trigrams Palm is an advanced internal kung fu system. Its main form of practice is circle walking, a meditative practice used to increase the body’s efficiency and energy or chi. Spiraling, twisting, and endless possibilities of movement slow the aging process making Bagua Zhang renowned for the longevity of its practitioners. The style is also known for its training in self defense against multiple opponents.
Xing Yi Chuan or Intent Form Boxing is sometimes considered a brother art to Bagua Zhang. Xing Yi Chuan is revered for its straight forward and powerful striking instead of Baguas’ evasive and quick movements. Through the style is a built in system of balancing the internal energy within the internal organs called the 5 Element Creation Cycle. The understanding of this theory is manipulated in the 5 Element Destructive Cycle for combat. Furthermore the practice of each element Metal, Water, Wood, Fire, and Earth develop the body specifically for fighting. This martial system is limited to only a handful of movements but through a deep understanding and diligent practice they can become very powerful.
Yi Chuan is considered the most potent practice of the internal martial arts. The style or rather practice is a part of all other internal styles. Yi Chuan is the practice of standing meditation and push hands. Stillness allows a practitioner to study their own internal connections. Through standing the body finds its natural state where energy flow is unblocked, the nervous and muscular systems relax, and the breathing deepens. Eventually this practice leads to an awareness of all daily activities walking, sleeping, sitting. Stillness practice also teaches a practitioner how to develop and use fa jing or explosive force. Only when the body, mind, and breath are relaxed and integrated can this type of force be created.