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