The Roots of Chinese KungFu
(Martial Arts)

The Chinese people in their effort for survival developed Chinese KungFu through the centuries. Its roots lie in ancient society, though, at that time, it was a far cry from the artistic sport that it is today.

In the distant past, man used clubs and sticks in his struggle against wild animals and in search for food. A rudimentary skill in weaponry was developed and then the need for skill in arms was further motivated by inter-tribal warfare. These conditions led to the continuing development of sophisticated weapons whose use required more skill, although hand-to-hand fighting was still essential to combat.

As man became more skillful in hunting and warfare, he also gradually developed dance for entertainment and relaxation. Early records suggest that dance was often the imitation of various animal movements, hence the Monkey Dance, the Bear Dance, the Bird Dance, and so on. The Book of History, refer to them as 'the dances of hundred animals'. In addition, rudimentary sports appeared, such as Dance with Shield and Battle-Axe and Butting with Horns, both military exercises. The Dance with Shield and Axe, which was a martial dance depicting battle and training troops, demonstrate the early relationship between dance and fighting skill. Butting with Horns was competitive wrestling practiced by the soldiers. This sport was said to have been a training method before battle by the armies of the legendary ChiYou tribe of eastern China. The soldiers wore horns on their heads as a symbol of courage, and then butted each other during the contest.

These exercises were early forms of KungFu.

The Styles of Chinese KungFu

It is difficult to assess just how many styles are practiced today. There are more than 100 schools and many individual styles within each of these schools.

Yongchun Quan (Wing Chun) or Eternal Youth Boxing originated in Fujian Province, later spreading south to Guangdong, Macao and Hong Kong. Yongchun Quan is just one of a number of styles under the general term, Nan Quan, the Southern School of Boxing, a vigorous and aggressive school popular south of the Yangtze River.

Of the many styles of Nan Quan (Southern School of Boxing), the most well known are: -

• Hongjia Quan – Hong School of Boxing
• Liujia Quan – Liu School of Boxing
• Caijia Quan – Cai School of Boxing
• Lijis Quan – Li School of Boxing
• Mojia Quan – Mo School of Boxing
• Huheshuangxing – Tiger and Crane Boxing
• YongChun Quan – Wing Chun or Eternal Youth Boxing
• Xiajia Quan – Knight Boxing
• Hakka Quan – Hakka Boxing
• Fojia Quan – Buddhist Boxing
• Baimei Quan – White Eyebrow Boxing
• Ru Quan – Confucian Boxing
• Nanji Quan – Southern Skill Boxing
• Kunlun Quan – Kunlun Boxing
• Kongmen Quan – House of Kong Boxing
• Lianshou Quan – Hand-exercising Boxing
• Diaojia Jiao – Diao School of Teaching
• Yuejia Jiao – Yue School of Teaching
• Songjia Jiao – Song School of Teaching

This large group of schools covers wide variety of styles. To take the province of Guangdong as an example, there are more than 350 different bare-hand routines, and over 100 armed routines, belonging to different schools.

Bei Quan, the Northern School of boxing is a generic term for those schools in the provinces north of the Yangtze River. Characterized by speed and strength, the Northern School emphasizes variations of kicking and footwork, hence the common saying "Southern fists, Northern legs." The major styles of the Northern School are

• Shaolin Quan – Shaolin Boxing
• Fanzi Quan – Wheeling Boxing
• Zha Quan – Zha School of Boxing
• Hwa Quan – Essence Boxing
• Hong Quan – Hong School of Boxing
• Tongbi Quan – Full-Arm Boxing
• Mizong Quan – Maze Boxing
• Liuhe Quan – Six-Harmony Boxing
• Tan Tui – Springing Legs
• Chuojiao – Jabbing Feet
• Baji Quan – Eight-Ultimate Boxing
• Taizu Chang Quan – Great Ancestor Extended Boxing
• Mian Quan – Silk Floss Boxing

There are also the popular Taiji Quan and Chang Quan, the energetic Xingyi Quan (Imitation Boxing), the flowing Bagua Quan, the vivid Hou Quan (Monkey Boxing) and Zui Quan (Drunken Boxing), the acrobatic Ditang Quan (Trumbling Boxing), and more. Each has its own characteristic skills.

This myriad of forms is the result of the major schools evolving into regional styles according to developments by individual masters. Some styles have simple routines with basic skills and exercises for beginners as well as other more complicated routines for experienced practitioners. For instance, Taiji Quan is divided into five major schools

• The Yang,
• Chen
• Wu
• Woo
• Sun

These schools further include a variety of forms. For instance, the Chen school includes an Old Routine, a New routine and the Zhaobao routine. The Yang school includes the Greater routine and the Lesser routine.

With so many categories, schools and styles, there is a clear need for systemization in order to organize competitions, and promote KungFu. In competitions today styles come under seven categories.

• The free-style Chang Quan Group – These are routines devised since the founding of New China. Based on the traditional Chang Quan School, these routines consist of fixed postures with unified standards and teaching material. Characterized by expansive and agile movements, they are suitable for children.

• The Taiji Quan Group – Including all the traditional and new styles. Suitable for most people, these postures are useful in treating illness and strengthening the constitution.

• The Nan Quan Group – The movement of these southern styles are powerful and energetic, with variations of striking methods by the arms, and explosive shouts accompanying the movement.

• The Xingyi-Bagua Group – Characterized by stable, well-rooted movements and simple forms. Movements are led with the mind, emphasizing the inner and outer unity of mind, form and strength.

• The Tongbi-Pigua Group – Styles characterized by open and ample movements, striking far and long, bearing down on the opponent in fast, concentrated bursts.

• The Imitation – Ditang Group – A vivid, lively style with much leaping and rolling in imitation of various animals.

• The miscellaneous group – Incorporating the various traditional northern styles. They are fast, with agile, fluctuating movements, interweaving motion and stillness, and short and long thrusts.

back to top