Kung Fu / Wushu
WHAT IS KUNG FU?
Kung fu and wushu are popular term for Chinese martial
arts. However, those arts involve many different styles,
techniques and philosophies; even these two terms themselves
co-notate different things. Colloquially, kung
fu (or gung 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, judged to a set
of contemporary aesthetic criteria for points.
History
From the beginning, on its birth in ancient China,
Chinese martial arts proceeded to incorporate different
philosophies and ideas into its practice - expanding
its purpose from self-defense to health and finally
as method of self cultivation. In return, influence
of martial arts ideals can be found in poetry, fiction
and film. Chinese martial arts is now an integral element
of Chinese culture.
 The
origins of Kung Fu might date back as far as the Shang
Dynasty (sixteenth century B.C.), but most scholars
conclude that it began to develop sometime in the fifth
century B.C. A swordsmans art which became prominent
during the Chou Dynasty (770 B.C. - 221 B.C.) may have
contributed to Kung Fu so might have Pankration, from
times when Alexander the Great took pankratiasts with
him on his conquests (including his journey to India).
In the sixth century A.D., an Indian Buddhist priest
named Bodhidharma (called Pu-Ti-Ta-Mo in China) came
to the Shaolin Ssu (Young Forest Temple), in Chinas
Honan province. The Shaolin temple had been built in
the late fifth century A.D. by emperor Hsiao-Wen to
honor another Indian monk, Bodhiruchi.
The Indian fighting style which Bodhidharma taught there,
blended with combat techniques already known to the
Shaolin priests, became known as wai-chia it eventually
evolved into both Kung Fu and Karate. Kung Fu and unarmed
combat were not confined to the Shaolin monastery the
first martial arts schools in China also began teaching
during the sixth century A.D.
Kung Fu was brought to the U.S. during massive Chinese
immigration during the 1840s, though it was not popularly
taught to non-Chines students until the 1960s.
Styles
 The
maneuvers and styles presented here represent the "external"
aspect of Chinese martial arts. The main internal styles,
such as Pakua and Tai Chi Chuan, are discussed separately
even though technically they fall under the rubric of
"Kung Fu."
Practitioners generally divide Kung Fu substyles into
"northern" styles, which are kick/leg-oriented
(because of the prevalence of horse-riding in northern
China), and "southern" styles, which are punch/hand-oriented
(because of the prevalence of boat-rowing in southern
China).
A Kung Fu teacher is known as a sifu. The hall where he
teaches his students is usually called a kwoon. The traditional
Kung Fu outfit is a silk costume consisting of a long-sleeved
tunic with white cuffs, dang lung fu (loose-fitting trousers
gathered in at the ankles), and colorful sashes worn at
the waist (these do not denote rank). Alternatively, fighters
wear a vest or shirt resembling a T-shirt instead of a
tunic.
/source: wikipedia/
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