| More on Chinese Kung Fu | | | | broadsword, staff, kwan do, butterfly knives and |
| Kung Fu a generic label used to describe the martial | | | | three section staff. It's estimated that there are |
| arts that come from China. Chinese kung fu is not | | | | over 200 styles of kung fu. Compare that to Karate |
| only about fighting but about self discipline, self | | | | or Judo. However, this isn't always a good thing. It |
| respect, humbleness and patience. What makes the | | | | causes much argument and confusion in the kung fu |
| Chinese martial arts unique is the use of meditation | | | | community. You see everyone studying a system |
| as part of their art. Also the many weapons they | | | | believes their system is the best and was the original |
| have to master is another unique benefit of kung fu. | | | | style. The good thing about this is that there should |
| Kung fu really took off in China when they added | | | | be a style to suit every body type out there. |
| mind training to their workouts. They were the first | | | | Chinese kung fu is a deeply-rooted part of the |
| to combine mental exercises with physical. The | | | | country's 5000-year-old civilization. This art is as much |
| results were the most effective martial arts system | | | | of the culture of China as is tea. It's said that Chinese |
| around. When the figured out how to train the mind | | | | Kung Fu is the oldest method of combat training |
| correctly they were able to push the body way | | | | from which all other styles and methods derived. In |
| beyond its normal limits. One form of meditation they | | | | the late 6th century, Chinese Kung Fu is thought to |
| used was Chan meditation. | | | | have been introduced to the Okinawan people as |
| Chan or Zen was introduced to the Shaolin monks by | | | | Karate. Chinese Kung Fu is arguably one of the oldest |
| an Indian priest by the name of Bodhidharma. | | | | styles of martial arts. Their knowledge was passed |
| Bodhidharma would catch the monks falling asleep | | | | down and preserved in forms or sets. |
| while in meditation. In order to help them with their | | | | A good martial arts system combines the mind and |
| meditation he introduced breathing exercises for | | | | the body. As well as practical self defense. The |
| health, meditation, self-development, and | | | | movements are combined in the styles sets or |
| self-defense. Chinese monks still live and practice | | | | forms. These forms are like living dictionaries of all |
| Chan meditation as well as Shaolin Kung Fu. | | | | the movements. This is how the old masters would |
| Kung fu has more variety of movements, systems, | | | | pass down their arts to the next generations. As |
| weapons and traditions compared to most of the | | | | complex as most martial arts systems are the |
| other martial arts. There are soft and hard types of | | | | Chinese kung fu systems can take a lifetime to |
| martial arts in china. Both styles include the use of | | | | master and understand. |
| weapons. Some of the weapons include the | | | | |