Progressive Martial Arts Blog A Modern Martial Arts Blog

What is Kung Fu?

There is a tremendous amount of confusion around some of the styles or systems of martial arts. In the United States most people throw everything under the term Karate. The average pedestrian would not know the difference between karate, jiu jitsu, kung fu, tae kwon do, judo, etc, etc. With that said, one attempt of this blog will be to clear up some confusion around different martial arts. The first thing to realize is that studying about different martial arts can at times get very confusing with all of the different terminologies and Asian references, however this does not mean that martial arts is something that is mystique and only for the movies! A modern approach to the art and science of martial arts reveals a versatile and beneficial fitness activity that is engaging and fun for adults of all ages and backgrounds.

Today, let's take a look at Kung Fu, the martial art represented in the latest Karate Kid movie, featuring Jackie Chan and Will Smith's son!

Kung Fu, as we call it today, are the fighting arts originally based on the five animals. The original five animals were: dragon, snake, crane, tiger, and leopard. Chinese martial arts, in general terms are comprised of forms, technique, and sequence or patterns. A "form" in the traditional sense is a "posture" of sorts. A "technique" is several postures executed together in a physical motion. Several techniques are the constructed together, making a "tan" (sequence) or kuen (pattern). These are what we call Kata.

The terms "style" and "system" with Chinese Martial Arts also may be misleading in Kung Fu, as in Karate. For instance: If you say to another Chinese Traditionalist, "I study Praying Mantis"...S/he thinks you study the entire SYSTEM of "Praying Mantis" which would be difficult because there are so many different styles...such as "Eight Step," "Six Harmonies," "Wah Lum,"Tai Chi," "Jook Lum," "the Original Seven Stars," the list goes on and on. So, to another practitioner you must indicate which style of Kung-Fu (Gung-Fu) you are talking about. But, to the rest of the world, you can just say Kung-Fu.

There are further seperating factors in Chinese Martial Arts also...Northern/Southern, Internal/External and Hard/Soft. Thus there are many different ways to identify a style or system.

As far as combat effective Gung-Fu goes, well it is really up to who is teachin it to you and how well the application is taught. Some of the more combat effective arts are: Wing Chun (the martial art that Bruce Lee was trained in), Hung Gar, Choi Li Fut, Pai Huo, Hung Fut, Seven Star Mantis, Eight Step Mantis, Jook Lum Mantis & Northern Shaolin Chang Chuan. Some of the most brutal styles/systems are Jow Ga and San Soo.

Chinese Kenpo and Shaolin Kempo have a similar history in that they are forms of Kung Fu. However, in Hawaii, the style Kenpo taught at PMA was integrated with the best techniques from many Okinawan and Filipino systems.

Did you miss the blog post on the Filipino Martial Arts?

http://blog.pmaoakridge.com/uncategorized/the-filipino-martial-arts-part-1/

What about the post on Kenpo?

http://blog.pmaoakridge.com/training/thoughts-on-kenpo-the-way-of-the-fist/