KUNG FU
GONG FU - WUSHU - GUANFA - KOUSHU - GUNG FU
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Kung Fu, Wushu, Guanfa, Koushu and Gung Fu are blanket terms used today to represent all styles of Chinese Martial Arts and Weapons Study. There are literally several hundred of Chinese fighting styles that can vary greatly from each other, and each one with its own unique techniques and applications.
This vast array of martial styles includes arts with all aspects of combat including striking, kicking, chin na, grappling, body toughening, throwing, and weapons. |
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During the late twentieth century the term Kung Fu became synonymous with Chinese Martial Arts largely due to movies and other media. In dictionaries today Kung Fu may be defined as: any of various Chinese martial arts and related disciplines that are practiced especially for self-defense, exercise, and spiritual growth. The original term prior to this had a much greater and more encompassing meaning as it refers to any study, learning, or practice that requires patience, energy, and time to complete, martial or otherwise. Likewise the term Sifu (Shifu) which today commonly represents an Instructor or Master of Chinese Martial Arts, once more broadly meant Master, Teacher, or Specialist in any field.
MARTIAL CATAGORIES
The many styles of Chinese Martial Arts can be grouped together by various categories or families.
The first of which is Intent or Purpose. Even one Martial Art, of any kind, can be taught in one of several ways.
Spiritual Growth: Styles of Kung Fu today are often taught for spiritual growth, internalization, meditation, and health with little to no regard for true combat applications. Though still often referred to as martial arts or by the name they once had for combat, these "martial arts" are really not.
Theater & Performance: Many people associate the term of Kung Fu or Wushu with forms, choreography, performance, and the acrobatics they see in modern Wushu. Performers are nothing new in China as there are records of sword dancers that predate the first Chinese empire. These entertainers are found among the terracotta army alongside musicians, dancers, and acrobats. Flashy and elaborate choreographed moves may look good on film but have little to do with combat.
Self Defense: There a many schools today that stress Self Defense alongside the health benefits of Kung Fu. By nature Self Defense is usually minimal in physical contact or heavy martial development and more suited to teach average people basic techniques to give them a chance in violent encounters.
Contact Sports: Kung Fu for contact sports can be light, medium, or heavy with competitions held around most the world today. Sports focus solely on techniques that can be safely applied in competition usually ending with more points, a knock out, pin, or pain submission. These techniques are a very small part of Chinese Kung Fu and look near identical to any other contact sport.
Feudal Combat: Traditional battlefield weapons training and martial arts as trained by military men and officers for use on the battlefield. These arts are well proven prior to firearms and include empty hand styles such as H'sing-I and Pakua (which both have variants today practiced for the afore mentioned purposes, lacking true martial training). These arts are trained traditionally with a vast array of weapons and are designed to teach the mastery of all types of battlefield weaponry.
Modern Combat: Traditional Battlefield martial arts that were used in combat for centuries are sometimes taught in a smaller modern version such as the simplified H'sing-I (Xingyi) taught to Chinese officers of the Second Sino Japanese War (WWII), which removed the traditional battlefield weapons such as sword and spear. These styles focus on supporting modern combat and are similar to or the precursors for the hand to hand combat training taught in the military today. Kung Fu techniques have made their way into S.C.A.R.s and other special forces training around the world as some of most effective martial systems.
The first of which is Intent or Purpose. Even one Martial Art, of any kind, can be taught in one of several ways.
Spiritual Growth: Styles of Kung Fu today are often taught for spiritual growth, internalization, meditation, and health with little to no regard for true combat applications. Though still often referred to as martial arts or by the name they once had for combat, these "martial arts" are really not.
Theater & Performance: Many people associate the term of Kung Fu or Wushu with forms, choreography, performance, and the acrobatics they see in modern Wushu. Performers are nothing new in China as there are records of sword dancers that predate the first Chinese empire. These entertainers are found among the terracotta army alongside musicians, dancers, and acrobats. Flashy and elaborate choreographed moves may look good on film but have little to do with combat.
Self Defense: There a many schools today that stress Self Defense alongside the health benefits of Kung Fu. By nature Self Defense is usually minimal in physical contact or heavy martial development and more suited to teach average people basic techniques to give them a chance in violent encounters.
Contact Sports: Kung Fu for contact sports can be light, medium, or heavy with competitions held around most the world today. Sports focus solely on techniques that can be safely applied in competition usually ending with more points, a knock out, pin, or pain submission. These techniques are a very small part of Chinese Kung Fu and look near identical to any other contact sport.
Feudal Combat: Traditional battlefield weapons training and martial arts as trained by military men and officers for use on the battlefield. These arts are well proven prior to firearms and include empty hand styles such as H'sing-I and Pakua (which both have variants today practiced for the afore mentioned purposes, lacking true martial training). These arts are trained traditionally with a vast array of weapons and are designed to teach the mastery of all types of battlefield weaponry.
Modern Combat: Traditional Battlefield martial arts that were used in combat for centuries are sometimes taught in a smaller modern version such as the simplified H'sing-I (Xingyi) taught to Chinese officers of the Second Sino Japanese War (WWII), which removed the traditional battlefield weapons such as sword and spear. These styles focus on supporting modern combat and are similar to or the precursors for the hand to hand combat training taught in the military today. Kung Fu techniques have made their way into S.C.A.R.s and other special forces training around the world as some of most effective martial systems.
Imperial Combat Arts begins students with Modern Combat Training using the ability of the natural body, like all modern military martial arts. This is trained alongside Knife, Gun, and Club as the most likely weapons students will use and face. Advanced Students and Instructors move into specialized martial arts that require extensive toughening and advanced body dynamics. This is trained along side full Melee Weapons training and the highest levels of tactical firearms and survival.
INTERNAL VS EXTERNAL
Another division many people make is the difference between Internal and External Martial Arts. Internal or "soft" martial arts focus on relaxed power, awareness of the spirit, mind, breath, and the use of relaxed leverage. External or "hard" martial arts are generally characterized as arts that focus on improving muscle, cardiovascular fitness, and overall physical strength. At Imperial Combat Arts we master a balance of both. Enter Page> Internal vs External
内外相合，外重手眼身法步，内修心神意氣力
"Train both Internal and External. External training includes the hands, the eyes, the body and stances. Internal training includes the heart, the spirit, the mind, breathing and strength." - Chinese Proverb
"Train both Internal and External. External training includes the hands, the eyes, the body and stances. Internal training includes the heart, the spirit, the mind, breathing and strength." - Chinese Proverb
All of the styles an weapons taught at Imperial Combat Arts could be considered a form of Kung Fu with the exception of Modern Firearms, Wilderness Skills, and perhaps Manchurian Archery.
DOES KUNG FU WORK IN A FIGHT?
Chinese Martial Arts have been proven in combat for thousands of years and have been the precursor for, or incorporated into, many other martial arts and modern military combatives. Kung Fu contains all aspects of martial arts including punches, kicks, grappling, wrestling, ground-fighting, joint locks, chin na, throws, and all types of melee weapons. Kung Fu is an umbrella term for several hundred distinct Chinese Martial Arts and not a style in itself. Like all traditional combat martial arts, different schools have different focuses with some today focused more on sport, spiritual development, or performance, and are no longer taught as combat systems.
IMPERIAL WU TANG
These legendary military arts were trained by Officers and the Imperial Guard since 960 c.e., with over a millennium of war in their refinement. Wu Tang means essentially "Military Training" and is a mastery of all manner of weapons, as well as forming the body into a weapon itself. These Arts of War are based on fighting multiple opponents using weapons, and then when unarmed, apply these same weapon techniques with highly toughened legs, arms, and hands. Enter Page> Wu Tang
TAOIST 8 ANIMALS
These highly lethal and legendary fighting styles are for a true elite class of martial artist, and require years of toughening and training to master. Each animal style is itself a complete martial art with its own history, weapons, strikes, chin na, and signature hand toughening, brought together into one combat system over 300 years ago. Imperial Combat Arts teaches the legendary arts of Tiger, Panther, Leopard, Boar, Eagle, Crane, Mantis, and Snake Kung Fu. Enter Page> Eight Animals
MELEE WEAPON MASTERY
Imperial Combat Arts has direct lineage to the ancient battlefields of China and teaches master levels of traditional and modern weapons. Melee weapons are used in almost every life and death fight short of firearms, from the knife & baton to any improvised objects. This part of training is often neglected from other martial arts and yet is perhaps the most important to study. Fully immersive weapon training is vastly different from basic Kung Fu. Enter Page ⚔ Weapon Mastery
COMBAT CHIN NA
Combat Chin Na is a non-sport, life & death study with intense focus on fighting multiple armed opponents in all areas of Joint Locks and Grappling, both standing and on the ground. This study includes striking and weapons, and uses devastating gripping, gouging, and tearing techniques designed for battle.
Chin means literally "to seize or trap" and Na means "to lock or break. Chinese Chin Na consists of many highly effective and long proven combat techniques. Enter Page> Chin Na
Chin means literally "to seize or trap" and Na means "to lock or break. Chinese Chin Na consists of many highly effective and long proven combat techniques. Enter Page> Chin Na