What Does Training in Kung Fu Include Kung Fu is a Chinese umbrella term used to describe a study, practice or learning process

that takes time, energy and patience to complete. The original meaning of the term differs greatly from what the West has been associating with Kung Fu. There are a lot of misconceptions in the west as to what the term Kung Fu means. Images give by the media have also added to the misconception. While the original Chinese term may be used for any skill martial or not ac!uired through patience and hard work, the west would use it to refer to the Chinese martial arts form Wushu. Towards the end of the twentieth century, the Chinese community too, took to accepting Kung Fu as a term associated with Chinese martial arts. The Chinese martial arts Kung Fu In this conte"t, Kung Fu refers to different styles of fighting that developed in China in the course of several centuries. #ased on the common traits shared by individual fighting techni!ues, the fighting styles are divided into different families or schools. $istinguishing traits of fighting techni!ues may include several things like legends, training methods, physical e"ercises or body movements etc. In its broadest sense, Kung Fu is divided into two categories internal and e"ternal. Internal style refers to the style of Kung Fu that focuses on an individual%s life force or natural energy, called &i. '"ternal Kung Fu is focused more on the body and aims at improving cardiovascular fitness and muscle strength. Kung Fu training Training in Kung Fu covers several aspects like ethics, medicine, philosophy as well as an insight into the Chinese culture, apart from basic physical training in combat. Typically, all Kung Fu training routines include the following four basic components ( ). The basics: The basics form the foundation of the training and include e"ercises to condition the body and mind. #asic stretching, meditating, striking, throwing, *umping and stances etc. form the basic training. +. Forms: Forms are a set of fi"ed movements often combined to create a single set of continuous movements for practice. Form training makes up for an important part of Kung Fu training and is used to build up the trainee%s fle"ibility, speed, stamina, internal ,&i- and e"ternal strength, and improve balance and coordination. Forms are typically of two types. ./olo forms0 used for the training of individual practitioners and .sparring forms0 which are not only used to familiari1e beginners with the basic moves but can also be used in schools as performance pieces. 2. Application training: 3pplication training is focused on practical training for real life combat situations. /everal combat drills are performed by the trainee to understand how to react to real life combat situations. 4. Training in weapons: Weapons training focuses on drills for coordination and conditioning of the body. This forms the last component of the Kung Fu training routine and is undertaken only

when the student has mastered the first three components of training. Weapons training draws from the fundamental theory that a weapon must be considered an e"tension of the body itself and not a separate entity. Today, Kung Fu has become a staple component of action films in the West. There was ,in fact, a T5 series called .Kung Fu0 that aired on a ma*or 6./. Television network during the )789s. The popularity of Kung Fu has only grown since. Bene its o Kung-Fu Impro!ed ph"sical health: It is believed that Kung Fu is one of the best aerobic e"ercise regimes ever devised by man, and not without good reason. The physical conditioning offered by Kung Fu tremendously boosts fle"ibility, strength, de"terity and endurance. Impro!ed Awareness o one#s surroundings: Kung Fu teaches its students to study the forms of nature and to mimic them in order to gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and our bodies and the capabilities of our bodies. This develops a heightened sense of awareness of one;s environment and lets one be better e!uipped to tackle day(to(day situations effectively. Impro!ed $ental Focus: Improved concentration, tran!uility of the mind and a general state of calm are vital to leading a healthy and rewarding life. Kung Fu teaches us the value of patience, of calm and peace, and of achieving harmony between the body and the mind and the usage of this harmony to effectively defend oneself from threat.

Check out our Kung Fu schools and services listing on go+Karate to learn more about or train in this e"tremely popular Chinese martial arts.