Kung Fu

Kung-Fu is a Chinese Martial Art
Kung-Fu was developed by the Shaolin monks in the Hainan province around 25 A.D. by imitating the movements of Five Animals.
18 hands of Lo Han was the 1st Kung Fu taught to the a large group of people.
The expression Kung-Fu is in a sense a misnomer. It is a word from the Cantonese dialect which has become popular during the second half of this century, in preference to the Mandarin word Wushu, which means 'Martial Arts'. The literal meaning of the calligraphy for Wushu is 'stop fighting'. Kung-Fu is sometimes spelled 'Gung-Fu' or 'Gong-Fu'. In Japan it took the name Kakutei-Jutsu. The Mandarin word for Kung-fu is Quan-Fa. Kung-fu was popularized mainly because of the Bruce Lee films released in the 1960s and early 1970s and the television series 'Kung-fu' starring David Carradine. A correct understanding of Kung-fu requires lifelong study combined with a wide knowledge of Chinese culture, history and customs. Styles of Kung-Fu fighting vary enormously, from those which resemble Karate to those which imitate the antics of a Drunken Monkey; from the soft and flowing actions of Taiji Quan to the acrobatic feats of the Chinese gymnasts. Styles using weapons are no less varied. At one end of the scale there is the grace and strength of the classical two-edged sword, and at the other the rapid and pragmatic techniques of fighting with a bench! Most Kung-fu styles trace their origins to the Shaolin. The most important division of styles is the division into hard, external styles and soft, internal styles.
Taijiquan developed as one branch of Kung-Fu. Although it's unlikely that this martial art is the creation of any one person, Legends say Chang San Feng developed Taijiquan after studying Chi Kong healing techniques and martial arts in the Shaolin Temple from Buddhist Monks, and from followers in the Wudang mountains. Another legend says he watched a fight between a snake and a crane, and was inspired to combine martial arts with the theory of Yin and Yang. Some writings attributed to Chang San Feng make up a part of the "Tai Chi Classics,".
The body must move as a single unit at one with the breath, Chi and spirit
The rooting of the feet, the strength of the legs, and the power of the waist all manifest in the hands.
The whole body is connected moving as one. Our movement is guided by our intention.
Taijiquan is like the great river rolling on unceasingly.

Tai-Chi Chuan
One of the three major internal or soft arts of Kung-Fu. Tai-Chi consists of slow series of movements that reduces tension, slows down the breath, clears the mind. There are several styles of Tai-Chi: Yang, Chen, Sun and Wu, All based on the twenty Four step Bejing Form.
The student of Tai-Chi is taught to move correctly, to sink his energy and control his Chi Power. There are three principles of Tai-Chi the essence of life, the vital energy flowing through the body and the spiritual power.
The object of Tai-Chi is to unite the mind and body in a state of complete harmony.
Many scholars now credit the creation of Taijiquan to Chen Wang Ting in the 17th Century. He is known for combining martial arts with Chi Kong breathing exercises and the cultivation of inner energy, or Chi. The Chen Family style was passed on as Taijiquan and broke into several family styles that exist to this day. There are five major styles - Chen, Yang, Wu (Jian Quan), Wu/Hao, and Sun. The modern Chen style was popularized by Chen Fake (1887-1957), who brought the family style to Beijing where he had many students. The Yang Family style was developed by Yang Lu Chan (1799-1872), who modified the Chen style he learned from Chen Chang Xing.

Yang became famous for his martial arts skills and eventually went to Beijing, where he became the Instructor of the Royal Guard.


Yang taught his techniques to his son and grandson who went on to teach others. However, it is a simplified adaptation of this style developed by Yang Cheng Fu (1883-1936) known as the New Yang style that ultimately became the most popular form of Taijiquan. The next popular style is the Wu (Jian Quan) style, which developed from Yang style and was popularized by Wu Jian Quan (1870-1942) after being passed down through the Wu line. The other major styles are Wu/Hao style (developed from a different branch of Chen style), and Sun style taught by Sun Lu Tang (1861-1932), which combined Wu/Hao style with the other internal martial arts of Ba Gua and Xing Yi. There are also several "minor" styles, and variations of the five major schools.

Training
To be accepted by the Shaolin so that you could start training, you first must have waited for days outside the Temple until a monk would let you in. Then you would Clean the temple, washing the floors and cleaning for years until you were given the task to Make the food and wash the clothes. Then after all that you would take care of the temple repairs and help the monks. After years of this you would have proven that you were dedicated and committed enough to start the Shaolin training.

The Test of Courage:
The test of Courage was given to the Shaolin monks that were ready to leave the temple having mastered all the Kung-Fu skills. This was a pass or die test of skill. In order for the monk to prove that he was a Master of Kung-Fu , he had to make his way through a maze of dangerous obstacles and traps. If the monk failed the test he would die.
If the monk got to the end of the maze he would have to go through a gate blocked by a urn filled with hot coals. To get through the door he would have to lift this hot urn with his bare arms. The red hot urn had a dragon on both sides branding the arms of the monk. This mark of the twin dragons signified to everyone that he was a fighting priest of Shaolin and a master of Kung-Fu.