Kung Fu , also known as Chinese boxing, is a combination of the martial arts and methods of health maintenance practice. There are over 100 different styles of Kung Fu. The martial arts style, created by the great physician Hua To of the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-320 A.D.), includes nine kinds of long weapons and nine short ones, known as the "Eighteen Types of Martial Arts." More famous styles include tai-chi-chuan (shadow boxing), Hsing-i, eight trigrams, yung-ch'un, Tantric, and Arhat.
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Kung Fu is generally divided into external and internal. In external Kung Fu, tendons, bones, and skin are exercised; whereas in internal Kung Fu, sprit, qi (air or energy), and mind are exercised. Kung Fu is not only training to achieve a strong body and nimble limbs, but also strengthen internal organs and increase circulation of one's qi or flow of life energy.
Kung Fu is also well known as Shaolin Kung Fu which is divided into the northern and southern styles. The southern style, also known as Shaolin Kung Fu has been popular in China for centuries. Sholin Kung Fu consists of five styles: dragon, tiger, panther, snake, and crane. Such styles are imitate from the attack and defense techniques of different animals and incorporate them into boxing movements. Once one have developed a highly sensitive feel for every situation, one will be able to cope with any outside attack easily.
Although there are differences between modern and traditional styles, the principles and content are essentially the same. The higher level of achievement in Kung Fu, the better is at maintaining good health and living a long life.
Kung Fu now is also taken seriously by the world. The member countries of the International League of Chinese Martial Arts take turns holding a world championship competition every two years. (Source: Traditional Chinese Culture in Taiwan - Kung Fu. Kwang Hwa Publishing Company, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC, October 1992 ).
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There is no shortage of web sites on Kung Fu. Some of them may be noted:
Sifu Adam Hse teaches Northern kung fu styles, weapons, usage and qi-gong
PO Box 1075, Cupertino, CA 95015-1075. Tel.: 650-326-8253
E-mail: mahlethe@adamhsu.com.
Master Tat-Mau Wong teaches Shaolin Temple Kung Fu.
Tat Wong Kickboxing Center
601 Clement Street
San Francisco, CA 94118. Tel.: 415- 876-1122
E-mail: info@tatwong.com
Chinese Kung-Fu Wu-Su Association
West 27th St. New York NY 10001. Tel.: 212-725-0535E-mail: dragon@kungfu-wusu.com