Q: What is kung fu?
A: In short, kung fu refers to any style or system of traditional Chinese martial arts (CMA).
More precisely, the expression kung fu is composed of the two Chinese words ‘kung’, meaning ‘hard work’, and ‘fu’, meaning ‘time’. Although ‘kung fu’ has become universally accepted to mean ‘Chinese martial arts’, it could be applied to any art or skill that takes a lifetime to master.
To the ancient Chinese, the practice and mastery of the skills that lead to a better way of life and make one a better person could all be described as ‘kung fu’. The use of kung fu to describe fighting arts is a relatively recent twentieth century usage. Other Chinese words that refer to fighting arts are chuan fa, meaning ‘boxing’ or ‘fist skills’, and wushu, meaning ‘military arts’.
In this sense, while ‘kung fu’ continues to mean the practice and study of Chinese martial arts, it also more accurately means a lifetime of practice to mastery, training, or discipline.
Q: What is the difference between kung fu and karate?
A: Kung fu refers to Chinese martial arts; karate is a Japanese sport imported from the martial arts of Okinawa, an island just south of Japan. Both practices are similar, and both could be effective methods of self-defense. It is an over-simplification to say they are Chinese or Japanese versions of the same thing. Although there are many similarities, and in some cases there are styles which share common historical precedents, the arts of kung fu and karate have many differences.
Q: Does this school use colored belts?
A: Karate uniforms (gi) and the colored belt ranking system are Japanese traditions that don’t really have a place in kung fu, although many modern kunf fu schools use them. While the Japanese systems use anywhere from five to ten colored belts and up to twenty levels of rank, traditional kung fu schools have basically two ranks: teacher and student. A kung fu teacher is called ‘sifu’. ‘Sensei’ is Japanese.
Q: Do I need to purchase equipment and uniforms?
A: At this time, no uniforms are required for new students. Any contact sparring equipment is the complete responsibility of the student. New students will not be required to spar. No student will be allowed to participate in full-contact sparring without a complete set of up-to-date sparring gear. Weapons training will be available only to advanced students. School fees are the only expense required to attend classes. All you need is loose comfortable clothing, athletic shoes, a towel, and a bottle of water.
Q: What is the purpose of practicing kung fu?
A: Kung fu methods were originally developed by ancient Chinese militaries thousands of years before the invention of firearms. In the vast and isolated regions of ancient China, centralized law enforcement was unheard of, and centralized government existed in name only. Bullies, bandits, and gangsters flourished virtually uncontended. Wealthy families with educated court officials and poorer families with soldiers returned from war eventually spawned families and clans who practiced (often secretively) early forms of kung fu. These ‘family styles’ were often the only thing that protected a village from outlaws.
In the modern age, the best way to defend yourself is to learn to carry and shoot a gun. As Sam Colt said, it is “the great equalizer”. A gun, however, will not confer to you physical fitness, mental fortitude, or spiritual development. After much hard training in kung fu, expect to increase your health, well-being, strength of will, and generally positive outlook on life. Kung fu practice provides a method of personal development that offers a lifetime of opportunities to grow and improve oneself. The skills you learn from kung fu training are always available to you, even when your weapon is not.
Your gun is useless until someone points theirs at you. The progressive and daily benefits of consistent kung fu practice are immeasurable.
Peaceful Mountain Way Kung Fu
