This is reflected in the description of the ideal stance for wing chun wushu: strong but elastic, rooted but with give. The essence of this style is that when the opponent attacks, the blow should be absorbed and neutralized. The Wing Chun is a relatively modern school of kung fu, having evolved in the 18th century. Since it doesn’t require as much strength as other kung fu styles and requires flexibility and agility, the crane style is popular as a self-defense technique for women. The crane style focuses on evading the most powerful attacks and then quickly attacking the exposed weak areas of the foe. It imitates various avian self-defense techniques, such as pecking (achieved through fingertips), or flapping the wings, supported by strong, deep-rooted stances. This fighting style concentrates on close-quarter combat, although it also teaches numerous long-range techniques. To Hurt, to Evade, to Penetrate, to Intercept. The four main principles of the white crane are: This is considered to be the most beautiful of all the kung fu styles. Like most southern kung fu styles, the dragon style focuses on the upper body, avoiding kicks and jumps in favor of punches and open-palm striking techniques. This style focuses on forearms as a primary offensive and defensive instrument this is a specialty only observed in the dragon style. The dragon style focuses on powerful, quick, short-range attacks, rather than sweeping, long-range motions. As a result of this, powerful thrusting power can be released. Its specialty is the floating and the sinking movements with the shoulders lowered and the elbows bent. The dragon style encompasses a combination of hard as well as soft techniques (blocking an attack or deflecting/evading an attack). Thus, the kung fu style based on the dragon is considered to be one of the most powerful styles, both physically and spiritually. The dragon was closely associated with male fertility. The dragon is revered in the Chinese culture as a powerful but benevolent creature worthy of worship. Yu-jeung traveled the Northern parts of China to study the various styles taught in the region, and assimilated them into a unified kung fu style, Northern Shaolin.ĭespite the name, the Northern Shaolin style differs from the southern Shaolin school of kung fu, which emphasizes on punches, open-hand strikes etc. The Northern kung fu style was created by Gu Yu-jeung. It emphasizes on kicking, leaping and whirling blocks based on wide, open stances.
It is an aggressive style, believing that attack is the best form of defense.
The present system, however, specializes in long-range fighting rather than grappling. Many aspects of Shaolin Kung Fu spread throughout China, undergoing many adaptations and revisions. The term ‘wushu’, on the other hand, comes from the word wu, meaning ‘military’ and shu, meaning ‘skill’ or ‘discipline’. ‘Kung fu’ simply means ‘an achievement attained through hard work’, and can be used to describe achievements completely unrelated to martial arts.
The actual Chinese term for ‘martial arts’ is Wushu. The term ‘kung fu’ is an erroneous moniker given to Chinese martial arts. Kung fu is not only a physical exercise, but also a spiritual one, owing to its teaching of the manipulation of chi, the life force. The next major contribution in the history of the Chinese martial arts can be attributed to the establishment of the Shaolin temple and contributions made by the Ch’an (Chinese equivalent of Zen) Buddhism. It was only in the 5th-6th century BC - during the rule of the Han Dynasty - that definite records of combat strategies and techniques (empty-handed and weapon-oriented) were printed. The origins of Chinese martial arts, erroneously known in the West as Kung Fu are said to lie three thousand years ago in ancient China, where personal combat was considered to be a form of science.