Kung Fu is really a chinese approach of self-defense involving fluid, circular movement of hands and legs. Kung Fu consists of the several martial arts practiced in China. Kung Fu also referred to as Gong Fu by the Mandarins Chinese is actually a broad term employed to describe all martial arts of Chinese origin. It indicates "merit master" or "one who is highly skilled". Kung Fu does only mean to practice the Chinese martial arts but also to practice the physique and mind
HISTORY
Kung Fu schools found its origin from an Indian Monk called Tat Moh, also called Boddhidharma in the year 527 AD monastry in China called Shaolin. Seeing that the Monks that occupy it where quite weak both mentally and physically to use the intensive meditation towards the path of enlightenment or asturee approaches of Buddhism decided to devise a set of excercise for the Monks. He developed a set of 18 movement exercise that are known as the 18 hands excercise. This Techniques where further developed and became called Chuan or shaolin Wushu ( also known as sil lum Kung Fu. Though martial art historians stresses that Kung Fu didn't start from the shaolin temple but only became prominent in the shaolin temple and also that Kung Fu was practice in China long before the arrival of Boddhidharma.
Styles OR Techniques
In the course of the Ching Dynasty (1260 - 1368), years soon after the death of Boddhidharma, a Chinese Monk and two renowned boxers from the shanshi province, created a new pattern or tactics of kung Fu on the aim of improving the art produced five style known as the 5 Animal Style which are the Tiger, Dragon, Panther, Crane and Snake styles. Over the years, there has been a lot of development of distinct types of Kung Fu and advances in art dating from 527 AD.
The invasion of China within the Ching Dynasty by the manchu led to the destruction of several temple which includes shaolin forcing the monks to move to diverse regions on China were their styles and techniques modified Kung Fu thus bringing rise to the variety of style. Some example of theses styles are Wing Chun, Tai Chi, Hung gar, Monkey style, Eagle claw, Nothern and Southern style and so forth.
The Northern (or Mandarins) style of Kung Fu schools is different from the Southern (or Cantonese) form of Kung Fu. The Southern types features low stance, kicks and robust hand methods, whilst the Northern Kung Fu features stylish, hard pattern acrobatics and leg work.
Finally, most of the styles of Kung Fu schools are classified as religious like the shaolin Kung Fu, Internal and External, Geographical etc. Kung Fu being one of the oldest forms of martial arts displays forms of hard and soft movement and internal and external power. Since the seperation of master and student, diverse types of Kung Fu was developed which spreads to different parts of the world and are now practiced usually in different countries. This styles and techniques of self defense developed in China is called Kung Fu. For more information go here kung fu lessons
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