East Of England Martial Arts Centre

Kung Fu
"The man who's hands are controlled, who's feet are controlled, who's words are controlled
whose mind is self possessed has found perfect peace." The Dhammapada

Sifu
Club info
Ching Chuan
Chien Chuan
Stances
Forms

Kung Fu
Chi
Yin and Yang
Reading
Chinese Terms
Translation Tool

Class Schedule
Humour
Home

Kung fu In The Beginning

Kung Fu or ( Gung Fu ) is perhaps the foundation of all East Asian fighting systems, some authorities date its beginnings back to 3000 B.C., others claim it was brought to China from India along with Zen Buddhism by a man named Bodhidharma around 500 B.C.
After his epic trek across the Himalayas he arrived at the Song Shan Shaolin monastery in the province of Hunan, with him he brought an exercise system designed to help his monks with their work and meditation.
What ever the origin, there is little argument that the Shaolin temple in China was the centre of martial arts development for hundreds of years. It was from this temple that Kung Fu spread throughout Southeast Asia and also branched into the Korean, Japanese, Okinawan, Thai, Vietnamese, Phillipino and Indonesian styles that we know today.
The term Kung Fu is generally given to Martial arts of Chinese origin, however this is a gross misinterpretation, as Kung Fu actually means; ability, strength, skill or hard work. The Term was then misused in the west and then accepted in the East to mean the practice of Chinese martial arts and is also known as Gung Fu in Cantonese. (hence the name of the web site)
Much of what was learned about martial arts was passed down from master to pupil, via word of mouth only and was very secretive. The ancient Kung Fu masters did not readily reveal their knowledge; only the most devoted students were able to learn the true skills of their master. The student would under go a sequence of tests to check their sincerity and devotion. This method ensured that the student would be a suitable replacement for their master and that the secret fighting skills would prevail. Unfortunately if a suitable student could not be found the knowledge would often die with the master. gung fu kung fu
Religion played an important part in the development of Kung Fu, one particular branch of Buddhism called Chan had a profound effect. Followers of Chan or Zen as it became known in Japan believe that the core of all mental power comes from tan t'ien, which is a point 2 1/2" below the navel. In the System of Kung Fu, this is believed to be the place where 'Chi' energy gathers.
(See Chi for more information)

There was also a Taoist Influence on the ascendancy of Chinese martial arts and a fundamental teaching of the Taoist is that there is natural harmony in all things in the universe to each power there is an equal power. This is known as Yin and Yang without an understanding of Yin and Yang it impossible to understand the basis of Kung Fu and the soft and hard styles.

Kung Fu itself has fragmented incredibly, with as many as 1500 styles practiced, and defining even the most popular styles would be too large of an undertaking to be practical. The common element between the styles is that they emphasize circular hand techniques and a flowing, rhythmic fighting style. In most styles, all kicks are aimed at the lower part of the body because Kung Fu artists believe that high kicks take too long to execute and leave the practitioner open to counter attack.

Kung Fu history continued

gung fu kung fu gung fu kung fu gung fu kung fu gung fu kung fu gung fu kung fu gung fu kung fu gung fu kung fu