Chinese Martial Arts

Categorized in Chinese Martial Arts Martial Arts, Country of Origin Tags: China

Chinese Martial Arts | What is Kung Fu | Chinese Martial Arts Training | History of Chinese Martial arts | Kung Fu Origin and History | Shaolin Kung Fu | Styles of Chinese Martial Arts | The Term of Kung fu | The Term of Wushu | Yin and Yang

Chinese martial arts describes the enormous variety of martial arts styles originating in China. Kung fu and wushu are popular terms that have become synonymous with Chinese martial arts. However, the Chinese terms kung fu (Chinese: 功夫 pinyin: gongfu) and wushu (Traditional Chinese: 武術; Simplified Chinese: 武术) have very distinct connotations.

Each term can describe different martial arts traditions and can also be used in a context without referencing martial arts. Colloquially, kung fu (or gong fu) alludes to any individual accomplishment or cultivated skill. In contrast, wushu is a more precise term that refers to general martial activities.

The term wushu has also become the name for a modern sport similar to gymnastics involving the performance of adapted Chinese bare-handed and weapons forms (tàolù 套路) judged to a set of contemporary aesthetic criteria for points.

The hundreds of different styles and schools of Chinese martial arts (中國武術) are collectively called Kung Fu (功夫), Wushu (武術), Kuoshu (國術), or Ch’uan Fa (拳法), depending on the persons or groups doing so. The following list is by no means exhaustive.

Chinese Martial Arts Alphabetical listing:

• Bafaquan – Eight Methods
• Baguazhang – Eight Trigrams Palm
• Bajiquan – Eight Extremes Fist
• Bak Mei – White Eyebrow
• Black Tiger Kung Fu
• Chaquan – Cha Fist
• Changquan – Long Fist
• Chuo Jiao – Poking Feet
• Chow Gar – Southern Praying Mantis
• Choy Gar – Rat Kung Fu
• Choi Lei Fut
• Dachengquan – Great Achievement Boxing
• Ditangquan – Ground-Prone Fist, Ground Tumbling Boxing
• Do Pi Kung Fu
• Dragon Kung Fu
• Duan Quan – Short Range Boxing
• Emeiquan – O Mei Ch’uan
• Fanziquan – Overturning Fist, Tumbling Boxing
• Feng Shou – Hand of the Wind
• Five Ancestors – Wuzuquan or Ngo Cho Kun
• Five Animals
• Fujian White Crane
• Fu Jow Pai – Tiger Claw System
• Fut Gar – Buddhist Palm
• Gouquan – Dog Fist
• Hong Cha
• Hop Gar
• Houquan – Monkey Fist
• Hung Fut – Hung and Buddha style kung fu
• Hung Gar – Hung Ga or Hung Kuen, Shaolin Style
• I Liq Chuan – Mind Body Art
• Jeet Kune Do – Way of The Intercepting Fist
• Jing Quan Do – a modern synthetic style
• Jow Ga Kung Fu – Jow family style
• Kuntao – Way of the Fist
• Kuen Do – Way of The Fist
• Lau Gar – Lau family style
• Lai Tung Pai- Shaolin Style that mixes long and short fist
• Leopard Kung Fu
• Li (Lee) Family – Li Family or Lee Family Style
• Liu Seong Kuntao – A Chinese art with Indonesian influence
• Liuhebafa Chuan – Six Harmonies, Eight Methods or Water Boxing
• Luohan Quan – Arhat Boxing, Law Horn Kuen
• Mei Hua Quan – Plum Blossom Fist
• Mian Quan – Cotton Boxing
• Mizongyi – Lost Track Fist
• Mok Gar – Mok Family Style
• Nam Pai Chuan
• Nan Quan – Southern Fist
• Northern Praying Mantis
• Northern Shaolin – Bak Sil Lum
• Pai lum – White Dragon, Pai Family Method
• Paochui – Cannon Fist, Sanhaung Paochui
• Piguaquan – Chop-Hitch Fist, Axe-hitch boxing
• Sanda – Free Fighting
• San Soo
• Shaolin Nam Pai Chuan – Southern Shaolin Boxing
• Shen Lung Kung Fu – Modern variations of Southern style.
• Shuai Chiao – Chinese Wrestling
• Shequan – Snake Fist
• Southern Praying Mantis
• Tai Chi Chuan – Supreme Ultimate Boxing
• Tantui – Spring Leg style
• Tien Shan Pai
• Tongbeiquan – Through the Back Fist
• Wing Chun – Forever Spring
• Wing Tsun – realistic system of self-defense.
• Wudangquan
• Xingyiquan – Form Intent Fist
• Yau Kung Mun – Flexible Power Style
• Yingzhaoquan – Eagle Claw Fist
• Yuejiaquan – Yue Family Fist
• Yiquan – Mind Boxing
• Zhuan Shu Kuan – A modern composite style
• Zi Ran Men – Natural Boxing or Fist of Nature
• Zui Quan – Drunken Fist

Chinese martial arts training consists of the following components: basics, forms, applications and weapons; different styles place varying emphasis on each component. In addition, philosophy, ethics and even medical practice are highly regarded by most Chinese martial arts. A complete training system should also provide insight into Chinese attitudes and culture.

Related Information

1. Gouquan Dog Fist
2. Wudangquan
3. The Term of Wushu
4. Ditangquan Ground Prone Fist
5. Changquan Long Fist
6. Nan Quan Southern Fist
7. Emeiquan O Mei Ch’uan
8. Shaolin Nam Pai Chuan
9. Bafaquan Eight Methods
10. Jing Quan Do
11. Luohan Quan
12. Duan Quan Short Range Boxing
13. Chinese Martial Arts Training
14. History of Chinese Martial arts
15. Styles of Chinese Martial Arts