Traditional Chinese Martial Arts are a set of very old combat and defense systems that have significantly influenced the rest of martial styles of the world. Formerly referred to as Wǔ Shù* 武術 (“martial arts”) or Guó Shù 國術 (“national arts”), today they are popularly known as Kung Fu 功夫**.
The difference between a martial art and a contact sport is that the martial arts, in addition to constituting a physical training as personal defense systems, also have a strong mental, philosophical and/or spiritual component, and a code of conduct or ethics. The student of martial arts not only learns defense techniques, but is also involved in a process of personal development that affects all areas of his life, making him grow and improve as a person.
Let’s not forget that the Shǎolín 少林 martial arts were means of achieving spiritual realization for the monks.
Notes:
* Nowadays the term Wǔ Shù usually refers to modern Wushu as a competitive sport, rather than as a martial art.
** Although the Chinese word 功夫 can be transcribed as Gōng Fū or as Kung Fu, we will refer with the first term to the skill or mastery that can be developed by both a martial artist and a potter, and with the second to the set of styles and systems of Chinese Martial Arts. Thus, Tài Jí Quán 太極拳 or Tai Chi is also a Kung Fu style.
Recent studies show that the practice of martial arts among children and young people is associated with a reduction in the incidence of school bullying. But, how is it possible that the teaching of a martial art which, at first glance, seems related to violence can in fact reduce it and help prevent bullying in schools?
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Upon the death of Chan Jiu-Chi 陳耀墀, his most outstanding disciples continued transmitting the Choy Li Fut 蔡李佛 Kungfu system. This entry is dedicated to two of his descendants in the lineage: our Sigung 師公, Pun Fan 潘芬, and our Sifu 師父, Pun Seon Seoi 潘順遂.
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Martial arts should reflect, at least in part, the reality of the violence in the society and historical moment in which they were created. In this article, we examine the concept of self-defense in the legal framework of the Qīng 清 dynasty, as well as other aspects that influenced the emergence and development of Choy Li Fut 蔡李佛 and other southern Kungfu styles from China.
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Choy Li Fut 蔡李佛 is a martial art originating in the province of Guǎngdōng 廣東 in southern China, whose legendary origins can be traced back to the Shàolín 少林 temple. In this article we see what its most important characteristics are, as well as the different elements of which it is composed.
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After Cheong Jim 張炎, Chan Ngau Sing 陳吽盛 took charge of the Hung Sing 鴻勝 school and continued cementing the its reputation, making it one of the most membered martial arts institutions in the Fóshān 佛山.
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Chan Jiu-Chi 陳耀墀 was a scholar, poet, herb doctor and master of Choy Li Fut 蔡李佛 and, although it is said that he stood out in all those areas, no doubt his fame in the field of Kung Fu surpassed the others very much.
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At the end of the 19th century, Choy Li Fut 蔡李佛 was booming in southern China. There was at that time a legendary wrestler, called Tam Sam 譚三, who is considered the founder of one of the main branches of the style.
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Cheong Jim 張炎 is known for being the founder of the Hung Sing 鴻勝 branch of Choy Li Fut 蔡李佛 in Fóshān 佛山, and one of the best fighters of his time. His story has been transmitted orally and the popular narrative is mixed with legend.
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We follow the story of the heirs of Chan Heung 陳享, founder of the Choy Li Fut 蔡李佛 Kung Fu system, in times of the spreading and diversification of the style, when many schools were established.
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Choy Li Fut 蔡李佛 popular folklore associates it with the Tàipíng Rebellion 太平天國, secret societies, and other revolutionary movements that fought to overthrow the Qīng 清 dynasty. But is there any historical truth in this, or is it just a legend?
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