Kung fu is an ancient art that spans time back to before there was records of things written down. The depth that is this martial art is steeped in the history of kung fu. No matter whether the basis is fact or myth, all of it makes this a sacred and interesting practice.
The first ones to practice this style were not battling on a field but were fighting for their lives not to be the prey of the animal predators stalking them. These animals had defense and offensive moves that made them strong and able to overtake men so the men began to pay attention to what made them so stealth.
Taking those powers and strengths into consideration man utilized them to not only defeat the animal predator but to bring into the arsenal to use in battle against man.
The stylizing of kung fu came from many different aspects and opinions but the first basis was to be like the animals that had learned how to survive. Taking the insects like praying mantis and combining movements and strikes with animals like tigers, panthers, bears they found a combination that began to work for them. The amazing adaptability of animals joined with the intelligence of man created a practice that did more than simply bring physical presence but allowed man to thrive.
Dot Mor or Bodhidarma was a Buddist monk that revolutionized the way the practice was built. Finding an important aspect of internal and external this monk began to relate your power emanating from within with your chi. The chi is the central life force and a particularly strong force that can be used to send your punches, strikes and attacks with even more direct power. The concept of meditation that monks find so strong was brought into the study of kung fu and using your breath with your chi was a wonderful way to grow the velocity of your hits.
The practice of Jiao Di was the first type of this martial art. Brought to life by the Yellow Emperor he developed the way of fighting where a horn was attached to a helmet and then two men fought each other. This was not just simple physical domination as this Yellow Emperor was a man of learning. He studied astronomy and medicine and incorporated the art of intelligence into a usually typical physical match up.
As the practice moved through the country and the people began to develop new belief systems the practice of Kung fu changed as well. The emergence of Taoism brought a new belief to the heart of the arts creating change. The Taoist version of ying and yang meant there is a need to balance the opposites of hard and soft. The emergence of the chi or energy at the core of who we are as beings defined the practice even further. Those who practiced trying to harness or channel their chi into their strikes and kicks found a new power. All these philosophies the landscape and enhanced the kung fu practice.
With the amazing culture and time span of China it is no doubt that the practice and history of kung fu would be a dedicated work in progress. As the time and people changed the art of what they did changed too. This brought a more vital and deeper type of martial art to the people. It also validated the power of the mind and body with both these aspects being directly empowered in kung fu.
This article was written for you by Dustin Fennell and Martial Arts Equipment Direct. Stop by and check out our excellent product selection of Macho, ProForce, and Adidas protective gear and don’t forget to check out the BlueDyna Vinyl Shin Protector for the crazy low price of $12.77. Thanks for checking us out.