Introduction
Wu Shu Kung Fu is not a style of martial art. It is a general term in Chinese for all martial arts. The term translates literally as Martial Art Skills.
The philosophies of Chinese martial arts are like the races of the Chinese people, there are so many different ones and each have their own way of doing things. But regardless of the differences, the common theme is that it takes body, limbs and mind to do it. Thus the Chinese martial arts all have related movements.
For the Chinese, martial arts derive from three sources; first it is handed down from generation to generation, second it is taught by a spirit in ones dreams, and third it is mimicking animal, bird and insect techniques. The Chinese Art of War by Sun Tee is a book that practitioners of Chinese martial arts can adopt as a guide. The Book of Changes, the “I Ching” and the “Tao Te Ching” of eighty-one poems are additional texts that help in the understanding of Chinese culture.
Originally developed by ancient clans, the arts were taught only to members within those clans, but over time those methods were absorbed into modern systems of Chinese martial arts.
Today, the Chinese martial art styles are termed Shaolin and Wu Dang. Shaolin, a monastery founded by the Indian priest Bodhidharma Da Mo in the fifth century AD, developed and practiced a system that became popular. Later, during the Ching dynasty (1644 to 1911 AD) another system arose called Wu Dang.
The principle of all systems is to promote skills and good health using body and limbs to fend off unexpected attack. The importance of posture, balance and coordination are emphasized in all Chinese martial art training. Shaolin martial arts can generally be termed the Southern and Northern systems, and both these systems include Internal and External practice.
The Southern system emphasizes a stable stance whereas the Northern system tends to be more mobile with kicks and leaps. Internal practice is the concentration of the mind and External practice is the focus on body posture and the control of energy exertion.
In the nineteenth century, the majority of Chinese immigrant workers to America came from Southern China and the martial arts that they brought with them was therefore the Southern Shaolin method. Not until after the Second World War did some Northern Shaolin methods get introduced into the United States.
Many Chinese martial arts practitioners make the mistake of thinking there is a difference between being hard and being soft. Seasoned practitioners will tell you that both “hard and soft” must be adopted into the practice of Wu Shu Kung Fu simultaneously, described as steel wrapped cotton and cotton wrapped steel.
All Chinese martial arts emphasize rooting one self, into being grounded and then to move swiftly without losing that stability. Today, unfortunately, many practitioners sacrifice the stability of rooting and hasten to the more flowery movements without learning the structure that is the essence of Chinese martial art. There’s an old Chinese way of describing those who follow a trend of “more is better”, which is “far kuen sow toi” and translates as “flowery fist and brocaded legs”, a term we rarely hear anymore.
(From “Sifu“, by James Wing Woo)
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Wing Woo Gar style of Kung Fu
Wing Woo Gar is a synthesis of many different Chinese martial arts. Influences include Hung Gar, Choy Li Fut, Lien Wan Kuen, Eagle Claw, Northern Shaolin and internal Chinese boxing styles such as Tai Chi, Ba Gua and Xing Yi. The training is a detailed exploration of physics, energy, anatomy, dynamic principles and mechanisms of movement. Emphasis is placed on correct posture, body alignment, rooting, extension and expansion.
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