Many people ask this question, even if they may not actually ask aloud to someone else. Is Kung-fu what Bruce Lee did, id it Hung Gar, Wing Chun, Lau Gar, Shaolin? Is it a “Yang thing”? Or, perhaps, someone may already think they know and say, “I do T'ai Chi. This is not Kung-fu and is nothing to do with me.” Then there are some “British Martial Artists” who want to be Kung-fu exponents, but are unsure if they qualify; e.g. should you have to be Chinese to understand Kung-fu, as many Chinese understandably seem to imply? There seems to be much confusion about this subject. Many times in my life of dedicated study of the traditional Chinese Arts, especially Taoist, I have asked these questions and more. Allow me to share with you my considered thoughts upon the subject.

Kung-fu
The steps which lead me on the path to Kung-fu started from a very early age. Earlier than anyone can define logically, for I had no contact with Asian Arts (in this life) when I began to practice them. This was around five years of age, when I ‘shadow boxed’ in a style which I now know as Snake & Crane methods (at the heart of original taijiquan). These personal and very private practices confused and defeated school bullies with almost consummate ease, but not entirely escaping the odd bruise! Later in life I was to discover my true path and have since then applied almost forty years (to 2005) in serious and dedicated study, trying to sort the wheat from the chaff, or should I say, rice from the husk.

Let us get one thing straight, it is not Kung-fu but Ch'uan-shu (Fist skills) we are referring to here; sometimes referred to as Ch'uan-fa (Fist methods). The term 'Kung-fu' simply means “a person of trained skills”, or in another context, “a person training to attain higher skills”. Ch'uan-shu comes under the banner of Kuoshu (Chinese National Arts), not modern Wu Shu. Modern Wu Shu (or Wushu) is a “modernised and showcased” product of the modern mainland Chinese government. It was originally a broad term for Military or Martial Arts and Wu Shu loosely translated means, “Skill to stop a spear”, which places it firmly in the military league of combat skills. Although later it came to refer to Chinese Opera skills as well as well as other aspects, like Shaolin Monastery Ch'uan-shu; this in itself being a very diverse range of boxing skills and not much like its original form these days. Ch'uan-shu is the non-political descriptive name which covers all aspects of Chinese pugilism. Kuoshu, although rarely used outside of Taiwanese associations these days, covers all those Ch'uan-shu styles who's principles adhere to the heart of the true Chinese people. It is associated with no nonsense fighting styles which do not hide under any pretence but also hold much education in philosophy, politics without prejudice, overall health and fitness skills and least of all Chinese culture. Kuoshu is usually an umbrella title which covers the study of up to five Arts; Ch’uan-shu, Nei Kung Shu, Caligraphy/Writing, Art and Coking (inc. Herbs and Five Element Theory Foods for health).

So, what is 'Ch'uan-shu'?
As said earlier, it loosely translates as [Chinese] 'fist skills'. This simple but adequate description also hides a multitude of principles which are beyond the comprehension of anyone who has not studied the ‘Arts’ for between at least ten and twenty-odd years or who has fortunate access to a very knowledgeable and open Master of the Chinese Arts. Although this bold statement may irritate some, there is indeed good foundation for being so positive. Even the most natural young genius of Ch'uan-shu may ‘feel’ the inborn spirit of Ch'uan-shu, as I did when younger, but there are human characteristics involved here which seem to control the path we walk and stop all but a very rare few from finding out our innermost purpose, or revealing the ‘map’ of our lives until we are a good deal older and experienced in certain human events. Even though we may practice Ch'uan-shu and know what it is we must do (walk the path), we may not necessarily appreciate why the path is there, who has trodden it before or even what the path is made of. To use an appropriate analogy: Many people tend to complain about the slippery mud or choking dust on the well worn path, yet few appreciate the stance work, constant awareness needed, fortitude and endurance to get to the end.

Ch'uan-shu is a science. Let us call it an ‘Chinese Humanoligy’. It involves Psychology, physiology, physics, the science of human anatomical movement (body mechanics) and many more socio-scientific subjects. As a long term teacher many of the intricately woven aspects become obvious, if not crystal clear, after many, many new students have passed through the class. Quite often there is a distinguishing difference between the teacher and the students. With the teacher his or her training was something which s/he just had to do, come hell or high water. With many students it is more often something they would like to do or often had a yearning for; when work or other things, seemingly, got in the way; their excuse anyway. The point that I am making here is that of need rather than want. A good practitioner of Ch'uan-shu who has a need to discover the innermost workings of their chosen style will often overcome difficulties that would have others saying their quest was impossible.

Style Factors
 This is where the public, and even some Ch'uan-shu practitioners, get muddled or confused. There are hundreds of styles of Chinese Ch'uan-shu. These can be roughly divided into categories:

• External - using physical strength more than skill of the mind and internal energy.
• Internal - training the mind and internal energy as a main theme.
• Shaolin - using Buddhist principles throughout many 'animal' styles and other methods.
• Wu Tang - Taoist philosophy driven and usually internal. Includes health aspects.
• Family Styles - could contain any elements or mixture based on personal preferences.
• Wu Shu - Modern variants tend to blend Martial arts, such as Long Fist, with gymnastic abilities and stylised movements; includes Chinese Opera or Chinese Circus. Some of this is being taught as "traditional" by adding a few applications but no real traditional depth.
• Competition - Modern. The Communist government prefers non-traditional and competition styles are developed for 'form' (visual image) rather than practical. Points awarded for positioning, not practical ability or expression.
• Offshoots - such skills as Chin Na (Seizing & Throwing), often practiced separately. Derived from other Arts, possibly Gor Te and Chiu Chu-shu (ancient predecessor of Jiu Jitsu). Found also in more modern day Taijiquan, Bagua, Shaolin, etc, etc.

Quite often the styles are so pronounced that an instructor from one style will barely be able to understand another style just by looking at the training in progress or by observing the Forms (Kata, Sets; strings of techniques which teach flow and fighting stamina). The principles can be hidden, to a degree, to such a degree in some internal styles that a stylist used to more basic moves may consider it 'Flowery Hands'; a Chinese saying meaning, 'decorative' rather than practical. A practical example of this may be found in Sun Style Taijiquan where a qigong (ch'i kung) movement known as 'Open and Close Hands' seems to be just a qigong movement, however, this has got practical applications against someone grabbing you around the waist from behind. In my experience there is no such thing as Flowery hands!

Many of the earlier styles of Chinese Ch'uan-shu derived from watching animals play or fight, their movements and their natures being translated into human aspects: e.g. Snake, with supple twisting and coiling actions, sudden strikes and the ability to envelop its prey as well as use 'both ends at once'. The category list above gives you some idea. There are far too many complex combinations to go into fully.

New Style, Old Style?
There are a ignorant and abusive section of the western public out there who take it upon themselves to criticise other people when they have very little knowledge themselves. Naming no names, there are those who stupidly believe that anyone who creates or develops a system of Chinese Martial Arts is a fraud or fake, or they start childish name calling, like "self styled master" in a derogatory or derisory manner, etc. Pathetic as it seems, sadly it is true. These people are too ignorant to realise that all styles, old or new, were created or developed by someone. Shih-fu Soo developed Li Family Arts, Shih-fu Chen the Chen Family Arts, Shih-fu Yang the Yang Style of T'ai Chi Ch'uan, General Yueh created Hsing-I Boxing, and many more men and a few women developed all of the other styles that are known and loved worldwide today. One of the latest of the best known is Shih-fu Sun Lu-Tang: his family system has been accepted by all the Chinese authorities as No.5 in the line of major (known) Taijiquan styles; Sun Style is a development of Hsing-I Ch'uan, Pa Kua Ch'uan and Wu/Hao T'ai Chi Ch'uan, with other influences. So, was Shih-fu Sun, or are these men to be insulted by ignoramuses and called "Self-styled Masters"?

New style or old, it is not the age of the style which is important but what it teaches. In that respect, some students just can not be taught, as they never learn to open their minds to anything but plod blindly on bumping into this style, that style and the other style, never understanding any of it other than at surface value. Ch'uan-shu is not just the domain of the Chinese, half-Chinese or even American-Chinese! It is the domain of any person who has the intelligence to see what the core principles are and can then learn, develop, demonstrate and teach those principles. So whether you choose new or old is completely irelevant. What counts is what you can obtain from that style or system.

Summary
So 'Kung-fu' is in fact Ch'uan-shu with a wide variety of influences which are unique to China and her intellectual inventors. These magnificent Arts can offer the individual so much in the way of health, fitness, spiritual development and even the understanding of natural principles, not to mention effective self-defence which may be almost unpredictable and holding varying degrees of impact; according to skill levels and original practices. When a Chinese person says, 'Show me your kung-fu', they are requesting a demonstration of some of your acquired skills.. or maybe a fight, so that they can compare skills or possibly gain kudos by beating you; if you beat them they may ask to be trained by you; very pragmatic.

Which ever way you look at it the Chinese Arts are full of potential and with a little careful sifting you could find a good teacher who not only knows about the roots of Ch'uan-shu but can also explain theory, technique and philosophy as well as being able to demonstrate and perform the techniques with skill. That's Kung-fu.

©Copyright Shih-fu Mike Symonds. All rights reserved. Notice: This article is copyright of the author and may not be reproduced or distributed in any form whatsoever although it can be read in situ for training purposes it may not be copied or used as own, in part or full.