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.
We offer our perspective on some aspects, first, clarifying the relationship between martial arts and violence; second, briefly exposing the differences that exist in the learning and training of a kid and an adult and, finally, exposing what we consider to be the most important benefits that martial arts bring to the child.
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Chinese martial arts have not been classified into styles except for a relatively small part of their history. This stylistic diversification seems to have its origin in the entertainment arts during the Sòng 宋 dynasty.
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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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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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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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