About Chinese Kung Fu

 

Though the martial arts have fallen out of favor in the west, they have made a resurgence in popularity in China. In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in kung fu as a means of preserving Chinese culture. In the past few years, there has been an increase in the training of traditional Chinese martial arts by private instructors in China and abroad. As a result, more classes have been opened at local colleges and universities, as well as in schools and gyms throughout the United States. This has resulted in a greater demand for competent Chinese martial artists with a diverse background in many forms of kung fu.

Some teachers focus on various styles of kung fu, such as pure martial arts, wushu, boxing, kung fu stick fighting, bare fist karate, wing chun kung fu, modified weaponry karate, and other specialties. Students typically begin their study of karate by learning the fundamental moves. These include the sitting, standing, and kicking forms.

The goal of learning kung fu is to learn as much about combat as possible while defending oneself against attackers. It takes skill, strength, and endurance to defeat an opponent who is physically superior. Instructors often emphasize correct stance and movement in addition to correct breathing technique. Students must also understand the differences between weapons and how to use them. They will often be instructed in self-defense and basic first aid techniques. Most schools will require students to take an array of tests to ensure that they are physically and mentally fit for continued training.

Self-defense and basic first aid are essential elements of learning any martial arts style, but especially those practiced in China. When approached from a logical standpoint, many aspects of traditional Chinese kung fu are actually helpful in modern-day self-defense. For instance, the concept of 'pi', or the distance between the attack and the defense, is very similar to that used in modern karate. The concepts of pressure points and internal power generation are also very similar.

Many martial arts, including shaolin karate, originally developed as a weapon system. Many kung fu weapons have appeared on television and in popular movies over the years. One of the most famous, in fact, is the makiwara, or wooden sword, which was created by the legendary Shotokan Master Kano. Master Kano's creation was actually a means to an end, to be more precise, to increase hand-to-hand combat efficiency and defense. Though this method eventually fell out of favor, some karate schools still utilize makiwara training today.

Chinese kung fu is unique in that all of its forms are performed with an imitating tool. This tool is called the tai chi drum. This device is unique to Chinese martial arts and almost every style utilizes at least one tai chi drum. In general Chinese kung fu is considered a highly efficient physical exercise system, allowing the practitioner to develop physical strength, balance, speed, and flexibility. Additionally, the development of mental awareness is another important component to this form of exercise.

Today, many people in the United States and other countries are learning this ancient art as a hobby. Many people view Chinese kung fu as a fun and exciting activity that allow them to practice their martial arts skills in a fun environment. For many Chinese people it has become a part of their culture and as a result they are not only using this martial art for self defense purposes, but also as a way to learn how to meditate and focus their minds.