Kung Fu or Gong Fu or Gung Fu (功夫) is a Chinese term often used in the west to refer to Chinese martial arts. Its original meaning is somewhat different, referring to one's expertise in any skill achieved through hard work and practice, not necessarily martial.
In its original meaning, Kung Fu can refer to any skill. Gong Fu (功夫) is a compound of two words, combining 功 (Gong) meaning "achievement" or "merit", and 夫 (Fu) which translates into "human", so that a literal rendering would be "human achievement".
Originally, to practice kung fu did not just mean to practice Chinese martial arts. Instead, it referred to the process of one's training - the strengthening of the body and the mind, the learning and the perfection of one's skills - rather than to what was being trained. It refers to excellence achieved through long practice in any endeavour. You can say that a person's kung fu is good in cooking, or that someone has kung fu in calligraphy; saying that a person possesses kung fu in an area implies skill in that area, which they have worked hard to develop. Someone with "bad kung fu" simply has not put enough time and effort into training, or seems to lack the motivation to do so.
Kung Fu refers to all Chinese martial arts. There are four main pillars in Chinese Martial arts. Each art can be classified as internal (soft) or external (hard) art.
1. 太极 Taichi or Taiji (internal)
2. 八卦 Bagua (internal)
3. 少林 Shaolin (external)
4. 形意 Xingyi (internal)
This does not mean only train internal or external. All Chinese martial arts train both internal and external. e.g Tai Chi is internal art (soft) instead of using force against force, Tai Chi redirect forces. Internal art also known as Qigong or Chigong.
A common saying concerning basic training in Chinese martial arts is as follows:
内外相合，外重手眼身法步，内修心神意气力。
This can be translated as:
Train both Internal and External. External training includes the hands, the eyes, the body and stances. Internal training includes the heart, the mind, the spirit and strength.
Each pillar has many branches and styles. E.g Wing Chun, Hung Gar, Praying Mantis, White Crane and etc… they all originated from Shaolin. As well as many Japanese and Korean martial arts.
At Kung Fu Fitness we teach a wide range of Chinese Martial Arts, that’s why we call Kung Fu Fitness!
In addition we also offer Burmese Martial Arts. Combat Bando and Yoga.
Self Defence + Yoga = Kung Fu Fitness . co .uk
In its original meaning, Kung Fu can refer to any skill. Gong Fu (功夫) is a compound of two words, combining 功 (Gong) meaning "achievement" or "merit", and 夫 (Fu) which translates into "human", so that a literal rendering would be "human achievement".
Originally, to practice kung fu did not just mean to practice Chinese martial arts. Instead, it referred to the process of one's training - the strengthening of the body and the mind, the learning and the perfection of one's skills - rather than to what was being trained. It refers to excellence achieved through long practice in any endeavour. You can say that a person's kung fu is good in cooking, or that someone has kung fu in calligraphy; saying that a person possesses kung fu in an area implies skill in that area, which they have worked hard to develop. Someone with "bad kung fu" simply has not put enough time and effort into training, or seems to lack the motivation to do so.
Kung Fu refers to all Chinese martial arts. There are four main pillars in Chinese Martial arts. Each art can be classified as internal (soft) or external (hard) art.
1. 太极 Taichi or Taiji (internal)
2. 八卦 Bagua (internal)
3. 少林 Shaolin (external)
4. 形意 Xingyi (internal)
This does not mean only train internal or external. All Chinese martial arts train both internal and external. e.g Tai Chi is internal art (soft) instead of using force against force, Tai Chi redirect forces. Internal art also known as Qigong or Chigong.
A common saying concerning basic training in Chinese martial arts is as follows:
内外相合，外重手眼身法步，内修心神意气力。
This can be translated as:
Train both Internal and External. External training includes the hands, the eyes, the body and stances. Internal training includes the heart, the mind, the spirit and strength.
Each pillar has many branches and styles. E.g Wing Chun, Hung Gar, Praying Mantis, White Crane and etc… they all originated from Shaolin. As well as many Japanese and Korean martial arts.
At Kung Fu Fitness we teach a wide range of Chinese Martial Arts, that’s why we call Kung Fu Fitness!
In addition we also offer Burmese Martial Arts. Combat Bando and Yoga.
Self Defence + Yoga = Kung Fu Fitness . co .uk
