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Wushu / Gongfu
(Contributors: Nick Doan - nickd@meaddata.com,
Alex Jackl - ajackl@avs.com)
Intro:
This is an almost impossible category. This label is attached
to almost any martial art that comes from China. It is the generic
name for literally hundreds of individual Chinese fighting arts.
In reality we should have an entry for each individual Gongfu
style we are interested in, but this would fill entire volumes.
However, we will do our best.
Origin: China
History:
This is extremely controversial. Most of what appears here is
a summary of what has been learned from Sifu Benny Meng.
There are vague references of a King in China some thousands
of years ago who trained his men in techniques of hand-to-hand
combat to use in fighting against invading barbarians.
The first real references of an organized system of martial arts
came from a man named General Chin Na. He taught a form of combat
to his soldiers which most people believe developed into what
is modern day Chin-Na.
The first written record we have of Chinese martial arts is from
a Taoist acupuncturist from the 5th century. He describes combat
designed along the lines of an animal's movements and style.
Legend has it that a Bhuddist monk named Bohdiharma, also called
Damo, came acROSS the Tibetan Mountains to China. The Emperor
of China at the time was much impressed with the man, and gave
him a temple located in Henan - the famed Sui Lim Monastery (Shaolin
Monastery). Damo found that the monks there, while searching for
spiritual enlightenment, had neglected their physical bodies.
He taught them some exercises and drills that they adapted into
fighting forms. This became the famous Shaolin Gongfu system.
"Gongfu" means "skill and effort". It is used to describe anything
that a person nees to spend time training in and becoming skillful
in. (A chef can have good "gongfu".) The Chinese term that translates
into "military art" is "Wushu" Gongfu.
As all martial arts, Wushu in its early stages of development
was practiced primarily for self-defense and for aquiring basic
needs. As time progressed, innumerable people tempered and processed
Wushu in different ways. By China's Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911),
Wushu had formed its basic patterns.
Intense military conflicts served as catalysts for the development
of Wushu. During China's Xia, Shang, and Zhou periods (2000BC
to 771BC), Wushu matured and formed complete systems of offense
and defense, with the emergence of bronze weapons in quantity.
During the period of Warring States (770BC to 221BC), the heads
of states and government advocated Wushu in their armies and kept
Wushu masters for their own puposes.
Military Wushu developed more systematically during the Tang
and Song dynaties (618 to 1279) and exhibitions of Wushu arts
were held in the armies as morale boosters and military exercises.
In the Ming and Qing dynasties, the general development of Wushu
was at its height. Military Wushu became more practical and meticulous
and was systematically classified and summarized . General Qi
Jiguang of the Ming Dynasty delved into Wushu study and wrote
"A New Essay on Wushu Arts", which became an important book in
China's military literature.
The latter half of the 20th century has seen a great upswing
in the interest of Gongfu world wide. The introduction of Gongfu
to the Western world has seen to it that its development and popularity
will continue to grow.
Description:
Styles of Gongfu encompass both soft and hard, internal and external
techniques. They include grappling, striking, nerve-attack and
much weapons training.
The Shaolin styles encompass both Northern and Southern styles,
and therefore are the basis of the following outline.
I Shaolin Wushu styles
A. External Styles (Hard, Physical)
1. Northern
-a. Northern Shaolin
-b. Chang Quan (Long Fist)
-c. Praying Mantis
-d. Eagle Claw
-e. Monkey
-f. Drunken, et al
2. Southern
-a. Southern Shaolin
-b. Wing Chun
-c. Five Animal System (Dragon, Snake, Tiger, Leopard, Crane)
-d. Tiger and Crane Systems, et al
B. Internal Styles (Soft, Mental/Spiritual)
1. Taijiquan
2. Others (Bagua, Xingyi, et al)
Training:
II Shaolin Wushu Methods
A. Hard or External Styles
-1. Stresses training and strengthening of the joints, bones,
and muscles
-2. Requires rigorous body conditioning
-3. Consists of positioning and movement of the limbs and body,
correct technique, muscular strength, speed, etc.
B. Soft or Internal Styles
-1. Stresses development of internal organs where "Qi" is produced
-2. Allows one to develop mental capability to call upon this
"Qi"
- 3. Concerned with breathing, poise, and tone of the core body
structures
C. Long or Northern Styles
-1. Stresses Flexibility, quickness, agility, and balance similar
to the attributes of a trained and well-conditioned gymnast
-2. Uses many kicks along with hand techniques
-3. Legs specialize in long-range tactics
D. Short or Southern
-1. Stresses close-range tactics, power, and stability
-2. Uses mostly hand techniques
Gongfu almost always seems to incorporate forms and routines.
They emphasize solo practice as well as group practice. (They
even have forms for two or more people). They train in multiple
types of weapons. There is also a great emphasis on sparring in
the harder styles, and sensitivity training in the soft styles.
Sub-Styles: see above
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