Although currently no Chinese martial arts system boasts of making use of muscle strength, in ancient times, physical strength was more valued as an attribute of any man of arms. As a way to show this strength, competitions such as “cauldron lifting” (扛鼎 kāngdǐng) were organized, which we will talk about on this occasion.
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Although some have intended to see in the biānshí 砭石 (polished and sharp needle-like stones) the proof that acupuncture was already practiced in Neolithic times, the primitive methods of puncture with stones lacked a theoretical corpus that described the circulation of internal energy (qì 氣) through channels and meridians (jīng luò 經络) and puncture at specific points (shùxué 俞穴), a theoretical corpus that would not develop until much later.
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Hong Kong cinema has undoubtedly influenced the current Western view of Chinese martial arts, a romantic view in which Kung Fu training is motivated by high values. But is this a vision adjusted to reality? Has there been a similar view of martial arts in China before the modern era?
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The Thirty-Six Stratagems (三十六計 Sānshíliù Jì) is a book that collects the knowledge of the Chinese people about warfare, listing a series of strategies or tricks to impose themselves in a war conflict, which any military leader and strategist should know.
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Countless times we refuse to face our fear and avoid the situations we are afraid of. We may never be able to get rid of it completely, but we can learn to live with it, without letting it condition us.
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The “ten essential points” of Tàijíquán (太極拳十要 Tàijíquán shí yào) are a series of key principles for the practice of this martial art. They were dictated orally by Master Yáng Chéngfǔ 楊澄甫 and recorded by his disciple Chén Wēimíng 陳微明.
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The jiàn 劍 or double-edged straight sword appeared in China two thousand seven hundred years ago. However, over time its use would be abandoned on the battlefield and became a symbolic and ritual weapon, which would end up being associated with scholarship and the upper class.
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Because of the way it conditions the practice and learning of martial arts, we believe that approach is at least as important as the method itself. We should stimulate reflection on certain aspects of Kung Fu training and teaching today, to encourage a healthy attitude towards practice.
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Today, Chinese martial arts are often divided between external styles (外家 wàijiā) and internal styles (內家 nèijiā). However, this division is not accepted by all practitioners and, if we contemplate how these concepts originated, we can realize that the classification has little practical basis.
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Yáng Lùchán 楊露禪 was a master of Tàijíquán 太極拳 and one of the greatest martial artists of his time. He is considered the founder of the Yáng style of Tàijíquán 楊氏太極拳 and was an essential figure in the popularization of this martial art.
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