The ancient martial art of kung fu offers intense exercise, a means of self-defense, and excellent training in concentration, coordination and agility. However, the high-intensity combat training can also lead to injuries, particularly among beginners who haven't mastered proper forms -- the basic postures used in kung fu.
As with any style of sparring, you'll only get so far by walking into a kung fu competition and applying your basic strikes essentially at random. Instead, you should use specific techniques that can upset your opponent, maximi...
Like its parent style of Uechi Ryu, Shohei Ryu is essentially an Okinawan or Japanese interpretation of the Chinese kung fu style of Pangainoon, which is a combination of the crane, dragon and tiger kung fu styles.
Although the original five animals of kung fu practice don't include a spider, you can see motions that mimic a spider's attributes in a variety of techniques from this ancient fighting art.
However, one of the most commonly accepted stories describes fighting styles that developed from watching animals battle in the wild. In some modern kung fu techniques, you can see the rooted movement, quick striking and seemin...
Kung fu is not a single, unified martial art. The term refers to hundreds of different styles practiced in China for thousands of years. Although the history of kung fu is wrapped in an obscuring layer of political interference...
Many kung fu techniques taught today are identical to those taught at kung fu's inception many centuries ago at the Shaolin monastery in China. However, a difference in intent marks some old school techniques. Modern kung fu st...
Their ability to penetrate enemy defenses made them superior assassins. Modern practitioners study the ancient practices for inspiration but also incorporate the physical fitness elements and fighting techniques of other martia...
The Shaolin monks have existed for centuries, but they have not always been martial artists. When a Buddhist priest named Tamo joined the temple in about 540 A.D., he noticed the monks were in poor physical condition. Tamo taug...
Kung fu grappling focuses on placing extra strain on your opponent to dislocate joints, strain tendons and trigger pressure points. Chin-Na was designed to incapacitate an opponent but refrain from doing permanent damage such a...
Unlike Brazilian jujutsu or wrestling, northern kung fu doesn't focus on ground fighting techniques. Like most other kung fu styles, it is a "stand-up art," meaning those practicing it fight from a standing position. Ground fig...
The term kung fu describes literally hundreds of styles of Chinese martial arts, each with its own aspect that set it apart from other variations. Monkey kung fu techniques are based on the motions of monkeys in the wild, typif...
Basic techniques include kicks, punches and stances, but styles vary, depending on the emphasis toward attack and defense. The windmill technique, an elaborate and graceful move, is not for the beginner.
Blocking a solid kick with your shin or a punch with your forearm can cause severe discomfort and even injury, as many martial artists can attest. Iron body kung fu training is said to toughen skin and bone as well as deaden yo...
The fighting method has gone through many changes and adaptations and has come to be known by the name Northern Shaolin Kung Fu. The style emphasizes traditional methods of kung fu taken from the original temple boxing heritage...
The Chinese martial arts collectively known as kung-fu developed advanced techniques for using the staff, typically 5 to 6 feet long, as a weapon and as a tool for improving the self. Kung-fu fighters study advanced striking an...
The term "snake-style" comes from the five animal styles in kung-fu named for their different approaches to combat fighting techniques. The snake represents knowledge, wisdom, and experience. To be a "snake stylist" and practic...
Kung fu was developed in China by monks who developed self-defense techniques based on the actions of animals. The term kung fu refers to nearly every martial art of Chinese origin. In addition to the five basic animal styles -...
Many Kung Fu styles feature weapons such as a broad sword. While exact maneuvers may vary according to style, Kung Fu sword techniques involve various forms of thrusting, cutting and blocking.
"Kung-fu" is a term that collectively refers to hundreds of martial arts styles of Chinese origin. It relies on strength, speed, agility, focus and mental clarity. It also makes use of qi, a form of vital energy that kung-fu pr...
Kung fu is an ancient martial art that originated in China. It evolved from techniques used by monks at the Shaolin Temple, who developed it by watching animals fight, according to the Shaolin Nam Pai Chuan Kung Fu school. Old ...
Although stick fighting isn't part of all traditional kung fu systems, it does make an appearance in some. Also, martial arts historian Dave Coffman notes that many modern schools have added stick techniques in response to loca...
Many kung fu styles base their techniques on the movements of animals. These animals include the snake, dragon, crane, leopard and tiger, among others. According to the Shaolin Kung Fu Academy, a tiger stylist “leaps into...
The panther is one of the five animal styles found in Shaolin kung fu, the other four being tiger, crane, dragon and snake. Panther style techniques include hand and elbow strikes as well as low kicks. This style of kung fu als...
The strikes, blocks and techniques of kung fu require flexibility and strength and can often be strenuous to the body. For aspiring martial artists and kung fu sifus alike, the techniques and combat sequences of kung fu general...
Owing its lineage to the numerous regional and provincial fighting styles, Kung Fu involves a large curriculum of unarmed and weapons fighting techniques that require a high degree of physical fitness and stamina to execute suc...
While pole fighting emphasizes the 6-foot pinyin gun, the art also includes martial techniques that utilize slender, blunt, hand-held weapons such as canes, walking sticks, wooden swords and batons. With the right equipment and...
The wooden dummy training apparatus that is a staple of the Wing Chun Kung Fu style, is used to develop arm and leg coordination, footwork, timing, flow and distance control. All techniques that are used in the Wing Chun style ...
Kung fu was developed by the Shaolin Monks, who created a series of blocks, attacks grabs and kicks, as an effective means of self defense. The constant practice and physical workout necessary to master these disciplines also h...
Kung fu, like all martial arts systems, consists of a set of basic strikes combined to make practice forms and self-defense techniques. Some systems, such as aikido, focus on locks and grappling. Others, like tang soo do, prima...
Strikes, blocks, grapples, footwork and kicks are all major parts of martial arts. Kicks provide a great attack for multiple reasons. Kicks can cross more distance than a punch allowing you to attack from further away. They can...
Like its namesake, Tiger Claw uses a relentless, brutal attacking style designed to shock the opponents and cause major bodily harm. Fu Jai Pow artists have tremendous arm and hand strength as a result of their training and str...
Using a combination of punches, kicks, strikes and takedowns, kung fu San Soo is a free-form martial art. While many San Soo techniques are basic and easy to perform, the sequence and delivery of each attack are effectively com...
Kung fu styles are said to have arisen from observing animals fighting in the wild. Although nobody ever watched a dragon fight in the wild, Dragons play such a central role in Chinese mythology that dragon style techniques aro...
San Shou kung fu is a hand-to-hand fighting art and combat sport that uses kung fu and wushu techniques. While the rules of San Shou sports fights are similar to kickboxing, official San Shou competitions take place on an octag...
Wushu, often referred to as kung fu, incorporates a multitude of traditional Chinese martial arts. Developed over a number of centuries, wushu techniques use a variety of punches, strikes, blocks, stances, take downs, joint loc...
However, Wing Chun Kung Fu stylists extensively practice dealing with attackers who are right up in your face. Wing Chun Online states that this kung fu style originated in China's Ching dynasty more than 275 years ago. Its cre...
The term kung fu can be used to describe any Chinese martial art. There are literally hundreds of kung fu fighting arts, with each requiring its own unique skills and techniques. One such style is Shaolin kung fu. Developed by ...
Contrary to Western boxing, the Asian martial arts used many strikes with hands that were unclenched. While these were referred to as "open hand" techniques in the Japanese arts, many Chinese kung fu masters referred to these a...
Legend has it that this martial art was created by a woman to defeat much larger attackers. Wing Tsun focuses on using the correct body mechanics to defeat opponents. Wing Tsun students practice direct, efficient techniques whi...
Known interchangeably as gung fu and wushu, kung fu represents a wide variety of fighting styles and techniques developed in China. While there are a number of varying curriculum based on geography, location and lineage, many c...
Kung fu is the name given to describe a number of ancient Chinese fighting systems. Different styles of kung fu are divided into categories, called families or schools, which are grounded in divergent doctrines, mythologies and...
Originally a kung fu student of various Chinese martial arts, he developed his own system, which he began calling Kenpo karate despite its kung fu origins, in 1949. The techniques of Kenpo were derived from Chow's kung fu backg...
Based on speed, aggressiveness and surprise attacks, Leopard-style techniques focus on elbow and knee strikes, low kicks and the use of the "Leopard Fist."
Black Tiger Kung Fu was developed in the northern Chinese province of Shandong. It is known for its low wide stances, acrobatic/twisting kicks and unique fist positions. The fist positions call for the thumb to be curled in the...
Eagle Claw kung fu is a fierce style used in both northern and southern styles of kung fu. Eagle Claw is similar to Tiger Claw in how you hold the main hand position that the style is named for. The Eagle Claw is effective for ...
Praying Mantis kung fu, or Tanglangquan, is derived from Shaolin kung fu. Praying Mantis uses Lohan kung fu as its base, but is made up of 18 components from different styles, including Monkey style, wrestling and Taiju Long Fi...
This is a commonly used stance in kung fu and tai chi forms, but is not a practical technique for fighting in kung fu except by advanced practitioners. Crane style techniques that are more often seen in fighting are the white c...
Dragon style kung fu employs minimal strength against greater force. It is known for its threading and swerving techniques, according to Wong Kiew Kit's book, "The Art of Shaolin Kung Fu: The Secrets of Kung Fu for Self-Defense...
Tiger style is known for being ferocious and powerful, according to "The Art of Shaolin Kung Fu" by Wong Kiew Kit. Tiger Claw is an internal style that draws on an individual's "jing" or essence. This internal power is necessar...
