China is home to a wide variety of martial arts. Each type has its unique characteristics, making them interesting to learn and practice. Chinese martial arts, or Kung Fu, is a collective term for a variety of martial arts styles and traditions practiced in China. The different styles of Chinese martial arts can be divided into two categories: external and internal. Each style has its own unique elements, so its important to understand how each one works before choosing which to pursue. Lets take a closer look at the differences between the external and internal styles of Kung Fu.
External styles of Chinese Martial Arts
External styles are characterized by their focus on physical strength and power. These styles emphasize power moves such as kicks and punches, as well as blocks and throw. Examples of external styles include Shaolin Kung Fu, Sanda (Chinese kickboxing), Taijiquan (Tai Chi), and Wing Chun. These external styles are popular with beginners because they are relatively easy to learn and do not require a lot of prior experience or training to master them.
Internal styles of Chinese Martial Arts
Internal styles focus more on the bodys energy systems than on physical power. They emphasize slow movements that help build up internal energy, along with breathing techniques that help keep the energy balanced throughout the body. Examples of internal styles include Baguazhang (eight-diagram palm) and Xingyiquan (form-intention fist). Internal styles tend to be more difficult to learn than external ones since they require control over ones breathing, balance, and concentration levels in order to perform correctly.
Kung Fu
Kung Fu (also known as gongfu) is perhaps the most well-known Chinese martial art. This style was developed during the Song Dynasty and has been practiced for centuries since then. Kung fu consists of a variety of hand-to-hand combat techniques such as punches, kicks, throws, sweeps, and joint locks. It also incorporates weapons training such as swords and staffs. Kung fu can be divided into two main categories: northern styles (which emphasize long-range techniques) and southern styles (which focus on short-range techniques).
Shaolin Kung Fu
Shaolin Kung Fu is one of the most widely recognized forms of Chinese martial arts. It is characterized by its hard and soft techniques and emphasizes physical conditioning, which includes strength training, flexibility exercises, and aerobic exercise. The style includes punches, kicks, throws, joint locks, sweeps, strikes with weapons such as swords and staffs, as well as grappling techniques. While it was originally designed for self-defense purposes in ancient China, it has evolved over time into a competitive sport that is now practiced around the world.
Wing Chun Kung Fu
Wing Chun Kung Fu is another popular form of Chinese martial arts that originated in southern China during the 1600s. It focuses on close-range combat tactics such as trapping hands, centerline theory (a theory that states that attacking your opponents centerline will be more effective than attacking any other part), simultaneous attack and defense techniques (known as chain punching), and simple yet effective kicking techniques. Wing Chun also places an emphasis on relaxation while executing movements so that practitioners can react quickly without becoming winded or fatigued.
T’ai Chi Ch’uan
T’ai Chi Ch’uan is often thought of as being more of a meditation practice than a true martial art due to its slow movements and lack of physical contact between opponents. However, it does still utilize many principles from traditional kung fu such as utilizing an opponents force against them rather than directly opposing it with ones own strength. T’ai Chi Ch’uan also emphasizes correct posture and breathing for improved overall health benefits rather than simply mastering specific physical moves for self-defense purposes.
Tai Chi
Tai Chi is another popular style of Chinese martial art that originated in the 12th century during the Song Dynasty. Unlike Kung Fu, Tai Chi does not rely on physical strength or speed; instead, it focuses on using internal energy (or qi). Its movements are slow, circular, and relaxed which makes it ideal for those who are looking for a low-impact form of exercise. Tai chi also emphasizes breathing exercises and meditation which helps practitioners become more aware of their own bodies.
Wushu
Wushu is a modern form of Chinese martial art that combines elements from all other traditional forms like Kung Fu and Tai Chi. It teaches students how to fight with weapons such as broadswords and spears but also includes unarmed combat techniques such as strikes, kicks, throws, sweeps, locks, and grappling moves. Wushu also emphasizes building physical strength through conditioning drills such as sit-ups and pull-ups so that students can develop their skills further.
Chinese martial arts are vast in terms of technique variety; they are also incredibly varied in terms of how they are used depending on their intentfor competition or self-defenseand the different philosophies behind each individual style. From Shaolin Kung fu to Wing Chun Kung Fu to T’ai Chi Ch’uan there are numerous different approaches to learn about when considering these fascinating martial arts styles.