Kung Fu and Wushu

Kung Fu, in western languages, normally refers to Chinese martial art. In the Chinese language the present official term for martial art is wushu. However, due to various reasons, one of the most important of which is that the present Chinese government wishes to promote wushu as a sport rather than a fighting art, the term 'wushu' when used in the West often connotes a demonstrative form, whereas the term 'Kung Fu' suggests a combative art.

Internal and External

There are many styles or schools of Kung Fu. Traditionally these numerous styles are divided into two major groups, namely internal Kung Fu and external Kung Fu. The three well known internal Kung Fu styles are Taijiquan (Tai Chi Chuan), Baguazhang (Pakua Palm), and Xingyiquan (Hsing Yi Kung Fu). External Kung Fu includes Shaolin Kung Fu and all its derived styles.

It is important to bear in mind that this division into internal and external Kung Fu is arbitrary and provisional. Actually there are more internal aspects in Shaolin Kung Fu than in all the three famous internal styles put together!

Internal Aspects of Shaolin

This may appear to be a wild claim to some people, but if we take the time to examine the internal arts taught in Taijiquan, Baguazhang and Xingyiquan, we shall discover that all these arts are also found in Shaolin Kung Fu.

For example, meditation to develop mind, gentle movements to engender energy flow, and 'zhang-zhuang' (stance training) to develop internal force, which are crucial training methods in all these three internal schools of Kung Fu, are also found in Shaolin Kung Fu. On the other hand, some internal Shaolin arts like 'one-finger Zen' and 'tiger claw', are not found in the internal schools.

External Form of Taijiquan

Then, why is Shaolin Kung Fu usually referred to as external, while Taijiquan, Baguazhang and Xingyiquan are referred to as internal?

The reason for calling Taijiquan, Baguazhang and Xingyiquan internal is quite straight-forward. All these arts emphasize internal training like visualization, internal energy flow and zhang-zhuang, and pay little attention to external training like leg stretching, hitting sand-bags and lifting weights.

If you practise Taijiquan, Baguazhang and Xingyiquan, but have little or no experience in visualization, internal energy flow and zhang-zhuang, then you probably have been practising only their external forms.

Shaolin Kung Fu is generally referred to as external because most of the people who practise it usually exhibit only the external Shaolin arts. Because Shaolin Kung Fu is so extensive, and its internal aspects are usually taught only after the students have been familiar with its external forms, not many people have the chance or patience to progress to this internal level of Shaolin Kung Fu.

Northern and Southern Shaolin

Besides the parental Shaolin Kung Fu, there are many styles derived from it. Broadly, it may be classified into Northern Shaolin and Southern Shaolin.

Northern Shaolin, which includes styles like Huaquan, Chaquan, Praying Mantis and Eagle Claw, emphasizes long-reaching strikes and kicking attacks.

Southern Shaolin, which includes Hoong Ka, Wing Choon, White Crane and Choy-Li-Fatt, emphasizes close combat and hand techniques.

Importance of Self-Defence

Irrespective of whatever style you practise, you must be able to defend yourself if you practise Kung Fu; otherwise your training becomes meaningless, because the term 'Kung Fu' means martial art.

But Kung Fu, unlike many other martial arts, is generally non-aggressive and non-brutal although it is very effective for combat. Some Kung Fu exponents may be aggressive. In my opinion this is due to the attitude and policy of their respective instructors, rather than to the art itself.

The Highest Achievement

If we examine the philosophy of the various styles of Kung Fu, we can find that they generally emphasize tolerance, respect for elders, righteousness and love for life. Such a philosophy is in contrast to that of some martial arts which advocate hurting or even killing the opponent at all cost, including the inevitability of hurting oneself in the process.

In great Kung Fu styles like Shaolin Kung Fu and Taijiquan, the highest aim is beyond mere fighting; it is achieving the highest attainment any person can wish to have, i.e. spiritual fulfilment, called by different names according to one's culture and religious belief, such as enlightenment, merging with the great void, return to God's kingdom, and union with the Supreme Reality.