China
From Karate, Kungfu, Wrestling, Mixed Fighting Information Source
In the past two millennia of the development of Chinese martial arts, commonly known as Kung Fu, hundreds of styles have been created and further developed by martial arts practitioners to adapt to a changing world. Although diversity exists within the field, common themes of styles and ideas lead to the formation of general categories within the subject. Recurring themes include:
- styles which mimic the movements of animals;
- martial arts that have sprung out of a certain philosophy or shcool of thought;
- styles that were created to harness the power of qi;
- martial arts that focus on developing a higher level of competition.
Chinese martial arts can be divided into different categories. They can be categorized as internal or external styles, or whether they originated north or south of the Yangtze River. The former focuses on the forms and kinds of training that a practitioner exercises, while the latter can be called categorization according to geography, namely the Northern and the Southern styles.
It is noted that the main perceived difference between northern and southern styles is that the northern styles tend to emphasize kicks, jumps and generally fluid and rapid movement, while the southern styles focus more on strong arm and hand techniques, and stable, immovable stances and footwork.
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Internal and External
External styles focus on the use of muscle power, while internal styles emphasize the use of body mechanics and qi to generate power so that there is less emphasis on muscle power. An external style uses force against force for defense and strength and physical abilities for attack. In external styles, a block is used to deflect an incoming strike by meeting it either head on, or at a 90 degree angle. An internal style does not use force against force, but rather deflects the incoming blow away from its target and uses body mechanics and qi for offense.
The internal styles tend to emphasize skill over power. However, they should not be thought of as "soft" as in being less violent towards an enemy: most internal styles focus on striking, the same as most external styles. The three styles universally acknowledged as "internal" are Tai Chi Chuan, Baguazhang, and Xingyiquan. Other styles often considered "internal" include Bak Fu Pai, Feng Shou, Liu He Bafa, Yi Quan, and quite a few others as well.
Northern and Southern
Northern Styles
Northern styles of Chinese martial arts feature a deeply extended stance that is followed by fluid but strong strikes. This branch of martial art is said to emphasize kicking as its main striking technique. However, northern styles of Kung Fu can be easily recognized by their flowing and graceful moves coupled with acrobatic feats.
Southern Styles
Chinese martial arts that belong to the southern styles branch are characerized by direct and powerful fighting techniques. They emphasize use of the hands and use less complicated maneuvers compared to the northern styles. Short-range power, centerline strategy and sticking and deflecting techniques are the focus of this branch.
History
The Chinese were the first to catalog and develop the fighting arts to a higher level beyond mere fighting strategies. Martial arts became a mental discipline and a vehicle for enlightenment and it was through this belief that the "mind supreme" arose. Thus, many styles of Kung Fu revolved around the ideas of metaphysics and nature and ancient martial artists often developed their fighting techniques by observing the world around them. Animals, birds, and insects provided the basis for many systems of Kung Fu developed in the past. Other influential factors were the beliefs of Chinese philosophy and religion.
The evolution of Chinese martial arts began when a Buddhist monk from India named Bodhidharma (also known as Ta Mo) spent time in residence at the Henan Shaolin Temple in China nearly 1,500 years ago. During his stay, he taught the Chinese monks a pattern of exercises and self-defence techniques designed to improve their overall health, which had suffered from lack of physical activity. These movements are said to have merged with other self-defense tactics studied in the Shaolin Temple, thus creating a comprehensive system of fighting known as Shaolin Kung Fu.
Although many details of the Shaolin art are not clear, records indicate that monks of the Temple proved themselves formidable fighters in many historic battles. Down through the centuries, the Shaolin Monks became renowned for their skill in boxing. However, a notable aspect of Shaolin Kung Fu was augmented to the technical skill - humility, prudence, patience, and dedication became equally important in the Shaolin way of life.
For centuries, the secrets of Shaolin Kung Fu remained hidden within the Temple. When the Manchus conquered China in the 17th Century, officials and supporters of the defeated Ming dynasty sought refuge at the Henan Shaolin Temple. Fearful of a possible uprising, the Manchu government launched several attacks on the Temple. During the final attack, legend says that the Shaolin Monastery was burned to the ground. Monks and boxers who survived this raid, however, established new lives in the outside world, and in so doing, propagated the Shaolin arts throughout the four corners of China.
List of Chinese Martial Arts
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