WELCOME TO WUDANG KUNG FU IN LONDON xing yi / tai chi / ba gua
kung fu
KUNG FU T B X
Kung fu in Chinese language, as kung or gong refers to achievement, hard work and fu means skill cultivated through hard work, intensity and effort.
Kung fu is a generic name given to Chinese martial art in English, but martial art in Chinese language is called wu xia - wu shu as well , not only kung fu / gong fu , this word wu xia as wu means martial, military and shu refers to skill, methods.
In contrast to kung fu, wu shu is different, although both term refers to martial art and moreover, wu shu is based on kung fu. In terms of cultural changes of martial art in China, kung fu refers to traditional ( from ancient time ) but, wu shu is modified version of kung fu, that is to say kung fu perspective with more acrobatic elements.
In general martial art refers to many types in different cultures such as ; karate, judo, aikido so on from Japan, taekwondo from Korea, muay thai boxing from Thailand, kali from Philippines, silat from Indonesia, etc
In this content, in reality, kung fu is not only one system or one style, kung fu refers to many styles - systems such as ; tai chi, bagua, hung kuen, mantis, wing chun, xing yi, monkey, baji, white crane, many more. All are very different, even one system of kung fu has many different kinds - styles, for example tai chi as wu dang, chen, yang, wu, sun
In the course of the Chinese history, kung fu had been integrated - blended and being eclectic with knowledge of local places , clans - families, beliefs systems, philosophy, spiritual sects, medical approach, military or from generations to generations masters interpretations, creativity, with all sort of cultural life of Chinese people.
The extensive variety of kung fu styles could be be categorised on the bases of performance attitude as follows ;
1. external : hard systems
such as ; hung kuen, mantis, wing chun,
2. internal : soft systems
such as ; tai chi, bagua, xing yi, drunken as such
Even the combination of both as external - internal kung fu is possible, drunken kung fu styles is one of this kind.
In fact, this classifications is arbitrary, south or north and external or internal simply means green apple or red apple, at the end of the day apple is an apple.
Briefly, no need to be puzzled, there is no dilemma, this categorising is to provide details, make a clear cut perception, for a better vision , understanding.
All kung fu styles aim to the same end with different methods, techniques and theory - principles, even all have a lot of common elements as well.
All styles, internal or external kung fu forms, are not only martial / self defence nature. all kung fu form implies physical exercise, chi kung, relaxation, breathing, music, dance, philosophy, beliefs - spirituality.
Briefly many cultural elements could be part of kung fu , in simple words , it might be expressed as martial plus art within the variety of Chinese culture.
In addition to education of physical body, kung fu aims to educate the mental state, to teach breathing and relaxation as well, so that it is to provide, calmness, peacefulness, self confidence and some other positive things.
Briefly, the cultivation of mental state and the physical body state is being coordinated with martial and art perspectives. this means kung fu is not only military, although its origin was, but also kung fu is a cultural phenomena
In this regard, kung fu tbx, as wudang san feng natural kung fu refers to the education in tai chi / ba gua / xing yi / chi kung .