Kung Fu
Kung Fu (pinyin: Gōng-fu, 功夫Chinese) literally means 'hard work', 'learned skill', or 'mastery through applicationtimeeffort',is often used forenormous varietymartial arts nativeChina. The widely accepted idea aboutnumberdistinct stylesWu ShuChinathat therecurrently more than 1000.
The word "wushu"sometimes used asrough synonymkungfu. Wushuoften called "modern" or "bad kung fu" whenspeaker meansperformance sport promoted by modern China (People's RepublicChina). However,word "wushu" haslonghonorable history inworldChinese letters. It isumbrella term that names all skillstechniques usedhandhand combat.
Chinese martial arts can be classifiedmany ways. One divisionthat made between "Internal style""External style." The most famous internal style issmooth constant-flowing Tai Ji Quan, which translatesGreat Ultimate Fist,examplesexternal stylesWing Chun, which emphasizes short-range punchesblocks, Shaolin Quanattacks ranging fromquick, explosive,powerful, tohigh-kicking aerial maneuvers which resemble thoseKorean Tae Kwon Do.
Chinese martial arts theory often emphasizesuse of"Qi" (氣, lifebreath), internal styles paying more attentionthis dimension ofmartial arts than doexternal styles. Qi isinner energy that flows throughbody. The restorationproper balanceflowqi inhuman bodysaidbebasisacupuncture.
One's Qi energy can be improvedstrengthenedregular practicevarious physicalmental exercises known as Qigong. Kinaesthetic studiesthis energycommon,tendprovide proof that while Qi exists, itnotsupernatural force, butinsteadmanifestation ofthe overall control ofmental, nervous, endocrine, breathing, muscular,other dynamics ofhuman body.
Many Chinese (and, consequently, Japanese) martial arts claimhave originated ultimately fromteachingsBodhidharma atShaolin Buddhist monastery. Researchers regardclaim that all componentsChinese martial arts derive from Bodhidharmaconsiderable skepticism, since history records earlier sourcessome techniquesschools, butShaolin Temple, located inHenan province nearbycityDeng Feng, has hadcenturiestraditionfosteringmartial arts due togathering theremartial artistswidely differing techniques from all over China. Today itstill one oflargest gatheringWushu schoolsChina,hundredsschoolsover 20,000 practicioners inarea. Much has happened at Shaolin aslate, andtourism has changedforever. It has definitely contributed topopularityChinese martial arts, but many dislike its current state, saying that it's not whatusedbe. No one can argue against that, butfact remains thatisplace that gives many peoplechancedevote their livesChinese martial arts, andplace where tourists can go watch them train, or paytrain themselves forshort periodtime, forbetter orworse.
In modern times Chinese martial arts have spawnedpopular genrefilms. The filmsBruce Lee were instrumental ininitial burstChinese martial art's popularity inWest,lately, actors such as Jet LiJackie Chan have appearedmany Western films. This typemartial art filmsoften referredas "Kung Fu movies" (see Martial arts film, Wu Xia film). A cult television series ofearly 1970s called Kung Fu starred David Carradinealso servedpopularizemartial art on television.
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