Kung Fu

Ying Zhao Fan Zi, Mizong Luohan, and the Connection with Jing Wu

Jing Wu Tiyuhui, (Elite Martial Athletic Association), in Shanghai, is more commonly known as the Jing Wu Athletic Association and as Ching Mo in Cantonese. It was founded in 1909 to develop fitness and lift the morale of the Chinese people, and to promote and advance traditional Chinese martial arts. Huo Yuanjia is traditionally regarded as the founder…

Shaolin Gong Fu: China’s Most Famous Martial Art

Perhaps the most famous of all Asian martial arts is the style popularly known as Shaolin Gong Fu (Siu Lum Kung Fu in Cantonese), which was propagated at the legendary Shaolin Temple located in Henan Province in Northern China. Much of what is true about the history of Shaolin Gong Fu has been obscured by myths and fables. Legend tells…

Patience, Discipline, and Perseverance in Gong Fu

At our Wushu Gwoon (martial arts school), students will see the words Patience, Discipline, and Perseverance written above the mirrored wall. What do these words really mean, and what is their significance? To understand the meaning of a word, it is always best to seek out the word’s origin. Patience derives from the Latin word…

What is a Form in Chinese Martial Arts?

Forms or routines, known as Tao Lu (套路) in Chinese (Kata in Japanese and Pumsae in Korean), are an essential aspect of training in traditional Chinese martial arts. A form is composed of different stances, footwork patterns, blocking movements, evasive actions, and striking and kicking techniques. They represent the real fighting experience of the masters…

Fists in the South, Legs in the North (南拳北腿) Nan Quan Bei Tui

Nan Quan Bei Tui, or Fists in the South, Legs in the North, is an old Chinese martial arts adage. Traditionally the Huang He (黄河), or Yellow River, was considered the demarcation line between the Northern and Southern Schools of Gong Fu. Overall, there is some truth that Southern styles are known more for their…

Why do you wear shoes in Kung Fu?

Chinese martial arts have a history that spans four millennia. They originated as rudimentary fighting skills for survival and evolved into highly sophisticated methods of combat. These methods developed in an outdoor environment, either for use on the battlefield in mass warfare or for individual combat. In both cases, some sort of footwear was necessary….