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.
Last Sunday, April 21, Fóshān 佛山 launched ‘Kung Fu Corner’ 功夫角, a program of martial arts activities that promises exhibitions every Saturday from now until the end of the year. We had the honour of being invited with the school of Master Leong Wai Wing 梁偉永.
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The plum blossom is a recurring symbol within the Choy Li Fut 蔡李佛 style of Kung Fu. For the Chinese, this flower represents the ideal virtues of the nation, and has been object of admiration and representation in all kinds of arts for many centuries, from painting to poetry.
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It is said that, at the time of the northern Sòng dynasty 北宋, the struggle between a praying mantis and a cicada inspired a famous fighter named Wáng Láng 王郎 to create a new Kung Fu style: Táng Láng Quán 螳螂拳 or Northern Mantis Boxing.
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Zhàn Zhuāng 站桩 is a static exercise of Chinese origin aimed at strengthening health, which can be used as well for martial training. But, how remaining in absolute stillness can be considered a pshysical exercise?
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