Kung Fu

Kung Fu is a Chinese martial art that is both a spiritual and a physical discipline. Training is quite extensive as all parts of the body and mind get a thorough work-out. Strength is built in low stances and powerful blocks, some blocks so powerful they can break the arm of the attacker doing the punching.

This martial art is for those who are mentally and physically strong and patient. Many techniques require deep meditation, forms of posture, stances, joint rotations and flexibility.

Many of the styles resemble movements of animals, like snakes or cranes. It can be traced back to the Zhou dynasty (approximately 1200 BC). Chinese legend has it that the Yellow Emperor established the earliest methods of war tactics, as he was a military general.

Throughout China there are many styles. Since people rarely traveled far from home various style were developed and diversity evolved in many areas. In southern China punching or boxing style were most common while in the north kicking and leg work were emphasized.

Of course, anyone my age or older will remember the TV series “Kung Fu” with David Carradine. Jet Li is a practitioner of Wu Shu which emphasizes fluid motion and Jackie Chan studied in Hong Kong and has mastered the “five animal styles” which were highlighted in the film “Shaolin Wooden Men”

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