| Since kung fu is more than 1,000 years old, there | | | | kung fu masters use a mixture of these two |
| are hundreds of styles of kung fu. Old styles are | | | | styles. |
| mixed to create new styles. Then there are | | | | Then there are distinctions of styles, like internal |
| many families of styles. Kung fu styles also | | | | and external styles. Here, internal styles |
| change from region to region, as kung fu reflects | | | | emphasize the non-tangible elements like |
| a way of living. | | | | meditation, body control, perception and mind |
| The kung fu styles can be divided into soft and | | | | control. These styles are also known as mystical |
| hard styles. Soft styles mean diverting | | | | styles. Internal styles are part of soft styles. |
| momentum to unbalance an opponent. They are | | | | External styles use body mechanics and force. |
| used to bring opponents into striking range. These | | | | Weight, strength and positioning are used to gain |
| styles use less physical force and more internal | | | | the advantage. External styles are hard styles. |
| energy and skills. Hard styles direct the energy | | | | As a kung fu master learns from his surroundings, |
| outward. These are used to strike with the force. | | | | there are many styles which are adopted from |
| Kung fu can also be divided by the form of | | | | the behavior of the animals. The famous example |
| movements. This subtle distinction classifies kung | | | | of this is monkey style, which is adopted from |
| fu styles as circular and linear. As the name | | | | the behavior of monkeys. |
| depicts, circular styles use around and aside | | | | Finally there is no end to the discussion on kung fu |
| movements in relation to the opponents. Linear | | | | styles. A kung fu master learns from the |
| styles use direct, straight-line movements. Most | | | | environment and himself, or makes his own style. |