The history of kung fu

When you think of Kung Fu, you probably think of action movies. The good guys are locked in hand-to-hand combat with the bad guys and the hero always wins. But Kung Fu has a long and illustrious history that few people are aware of.

Nearly 4,000 years old, this sacred martial art is steeped in tradition and was originally developed 2674 BC under the rule of Emperor Huang Ti of China. This rudimentary form of the martial arts, then known as Chiou Ti, was an individual combat technique that later evolved into Go-Ti in 2600 BC. Go-Ti focused primarily on wrestling tactics and defensive maneuvers. But it wasn't quite Kung Fu yet.

Confucius, a leader in philosophy known for his teachings in law, life and government, felt that education and contemplation were vitally important for the health of both the individual and the country. He believed that martial arts were important to China for several reasons: education was paramount, respect for one's teacher was vital, protecting one's country was essential and righteousness and benevolence were the most important components to one's life. Martial arts was seen as a means to achieve the discipline and harmony of both mind and body necessary to protect one's country and to reach clear, rational thought, which would lead to righteousness.

Around the same time, Lao Tzu, a Taoist sage, composed the Tao Te Ching (The Power and the Way), which encouraged scholarship, meditation and alchemy. Both Taoism and Confucius's teachings became enmeshed in the arts of Cong Fu and Go-Ti, which by this time were intimately fused. Many Taoist monks became experts in both disciplines and their Cong Fu/Go-Ti system formed the beginnings of what is known today as Kung Fu.

Many different meanings are attributed to the term “Kung Fu,” such as “hard work” and “patient accomplishment.” The latter is probably the closest to the essence of Kung Fu, which requires a great investment of time and energy. In fact, the term “Kung” means “energy” while “Fu” means time in Chinese. So, when a person has mastered a specific skill or ability, that person has “kung fu.” That is also why the term Kung Fu is so closely associated with martial arts – it requires a great deal of time and energy to master.

In 527 AD, Kung Fu was further developed by the teachings of an Indian Buddhist prince named Da Mo who came to preach in the Buddhist Shao Lin Temple, a now widely-known Buddhist monastery. The prince noted that the Shao Lin priests were weak and ill, so he decided to help them recover their strength and forcefulness. According to legend, the prince meditated before a wall for nine years, then wrote two books full of teachings to strengthen both the physical body and the spiritual.

The first book, the Yi Gin Ching, provided a strict exercise regimen known as the “18 Movements of the Arhan Hands,” or “18-Monk Boxing.” The second book, the Shi Sui Ching, was a religious book that explained ways to develop the Buddhist spirit through the use of Chi, or energy. The teachings contained in these books were incorporated into Kung Fu and strongly influenced the martial art's evolution.

Da Mo, who would later be known as the father of Zen Buddhism, also incorporated unique breathing techniques and meditations. He introduced the mystical concept of “empty mind” into Kung Fu, a technique which Buddhist monks employed to empty the mind of all thought in order to achieve enlightenment.

The next major development in Kung Fu was not until 1417 when a Taoist monk named Chang San-fung invented a radical new element called “soft fist” or “internal style.” This technique is far slower and more relaxed that earlier Kung Fu styles, which had focused more on speed, strength and external forces. Instead, Chang San-fung felt that the hard physical exertion of the earlier style was against Taoist philosophy and felt that the emphasis of Kung Fu should be on internal energy and harmony. As Kung Fu evolved, Taoist temples became great centers of Kung Fu teaching.

While this was going on, the Shao Lin temple had gradually been declining and losing influence on the development of Kung Fu. However, in 1530, a Shao Lin temple priest called Chueh Yuan decided it was time to revitalize the art in Shao Lin style. Chueh then invented several animal styles: Dragon, which was designed to cultivate the practitioner's spirit; Tiger, which developed tough bones; Leopard, to enhance strength; Crane, to make sinews stronger; and Snake, which generated more Chi or energy. These forms incorporated both hard and soft Kung Fu techniques.

As Kung Fu became more powerful and regained its former glory, it became tightly bound to politics in China. In 1644, Manchurians invaded China and toppled the Ming Dynasty, replacing it with the Ch'ing Dynasty. Shao Lin temples were soon known as revolutionary hotbeds, so the Manchurians set out to destroy them. When the monks realized they were no match for the sheer numbers of the Manchurians, they fled and spread their knowledge of Kung Fu throughout China. Kung Fu became more diluted as it was spread and hundreds of new styles developed as a result.

The Manchurians continued to hold power in China even through the 1900s. During the Boxer Rebellion of 1900, Kung Fu practitioners joined the struggle against the Manchurians, but the Manchurian army had become ever more sophisticated and defeated any opposition. When it seemed that the Manchurian government was unstoppable, the once-revered practitioners of Kung Fu turned to crime and created mafia-like organizations known as the Triads. During World War II when Japan invaded China, the Triads were given representative power in the government, so they became extremely powerful. As they became more powerful, knowledge of Kung Fu spread even further, this time to the West, and yet more new forms evolved until some were almost unrecognizable as Kung Fu.

In the latter part of the 20th century, during the 1960s, the martial arts world became popular in other parts of the globe. Bruce Lee, famous for his appearance in a huge number of movies, was actually a strong influence on the martial arts and contributed profoundly to Kung Fu by releasing it from its traditional bounds. With less emphasis on specific forms and more training toward mental and physical health, inner growth, harmony and simplicity, Bruce Lee was largely responsible for the latest revolution in martial arts history.

One of his famous quotes, “Absorb what is useful and reject what is useless,” has become one of the most well-used statements in the martial arts world. He learned many different types of martial arts, including styles of Kung Fu, Thai Boxing, Kali, Judo, Ju Jitsu and Aikido. He was also known as an avid fencer, and practiced Western boxing, wresting and French Savate.

One of Bruce Lee's most avid followers, today known as Grandmaster Edward Liang, trained in a variety of traditional methods of Kung Fu in China before immigrating to the United States, which was considered the “hub” of the Kung Fu renaissance. Liang was known for revolutionizing his own form and opened a school in New York City in the mid 1960s. He followed closely the Taoist philosophy and the philosophy taught by Bruce Lee and took his knowledge from a wide variety of styles. His form of Kung Fu later was known as Cobra Kung Fu.

One of Liang's students, Mickey Davidow, became an instructor under Liang in the 1970s and began teaching Kung Fu out of his garage in Johannesburg, South Africa. He developed his own style as well, known as “Fanchento,” which is a non-classical form of Kung Fu that focuses primarily on active, fluid movements and adaptation. This form of Kung Fu also leans heavily upon the philosophical teachings of the martial arts and emphasizes simplicity.

There are many different types of Kung Fu today – almost as many different types as there are teachers. But whether you choose to learn Kung Fu or just watch it on TV, the martial arts in China offer a glimpse into the country's predominant philosophies and politics that is well worth looking at.