what are chinese martial arts?

Answer 1

Basically, Chinese Martial Arts are the fighting arts from that particular area of the world. There are many styles. There are hard styles that are dependent on mostly physical strength. Hard/soft styles that combine hard movements, strikes and soft redirecting deflections. Soft styles, that look deceptively like dancing and hand waving. The CMAs are various combinations of these(internal/external; hard/soft) as well as regionally influenced(northern/ southern) styles

Kung Fu, which can loosely be translated as 'skilled person"or in prettier words "skill that transcends mere surface beauty" can be used to describe anything that is done with great skill and dedication. It is the term that westerners associate with Chinese Martial Arts. Wu Shu is the term that mean Martial Arts and is the term used in China to describe this national sport. Only a a few of these fighting arts are known in the West such as Shaolin Kung Fu which is based on Chan Buddhism and Tai Chi Chuan. There are other systems such as Wu Tang, Emei Baghuazhang, Xingyiquan, Wing Chung, to name a few. Many styles are family oriented and secret and not all of them are based on a spiritual philosophies. The secrecy makes sense if your survival depended on special and unique fighting techniques. As you can see, the subject matter of CMAs is very deep and interesting. The study of anyone of these is a lifetime journey.

Answer 2

All martial art styles contribute something unique. Be leary of those who put down a style it shows lack of sincerity, self control and respect which are some of the most important factors of being a martial artist. If you are looking for a specific type as you have said "chinese" you might want to check out Shaolin Kempo Karate. What ever style you do decide to chose make sure you call Better Business Bureau and Attorney General of Consumer Affairs to check out their reputation. Best of luck in whatever style you decide.

Answer 3

I only know they usually include the word Wushu. Sorry I dig Japanese and Endonesian martial arts. I have yet to learn about chinese martial arts. Good luck.

Answer 4

Martial Arts that originated out of China. Such as the many kung fu styles of the Shaolin monks.

L.Ramirez


http://www.pacificwingchunassociation.com

Answer 5

there r many stlyes of kung fu that belongs to chinese martial systems. Most r adopter from one form or another. Ther r so many that u couldn't possibly know even the names of them. Families invents their systems. It continues to improve and evolve. Therefore new names for the new style.

Answer 6

They are martial arts from China, they are generally referred to as Kung Fu.

Answer 7

collectively, the Chinese Martial Arts disciplines are known as Kung Fu which is a generalized name for them all.

there are at least 18 different disciplines of Kung Fu, 20 if you count Bruce Lee's Hybrid Martial Art Jeet Kune Do as a type of Kung Fu, as well as Wushu.

the 18 mentioned above are here: Bagua, Drunken Boxing, Eagle Claw, Five Animals (Dragon, Snake, Crane, Tiger, and Panther), Hsing I, Hung Gar, Lau Gar, Monkey, Praying Mantis, White Crane, Wing Chun and Tai Chi Chuan.

several are themed by their characteristics that relate to the movements of animals: Eagle Claw, Five Animals: Dragon, Snake, Crane, Tiger, and Panther, Monkey, Praying Mantis, White Crane. while others were created by Families like the Chinese folk hero Wong Fei Hung and his family who passed down such disciplines as Hung Gar & Lau Gar, or Choy Lae Fut which were taken from other disciplines and incorporated as one essentially different discipline.

How these disciplines came about? Bodhidharma, a visiting Indian Buddhist monk, visited a monastery, and was'nt happy about finding that some of the monks would fall asleep during their meditation period. Deciding that they needed more physical stamina, he introduced them to a system of exercises that later developed into the modern Shaolin style.

the Shaolin monks before Bodhidharma's visitation and well after this time harbored retired or injured soldiers who taught the monks self-defense techniques that they had learned during military training in return.

Near the 7th century CE, the Shaolin monks, in order to protect themselves from bandits and criminals, began to organize what they had learned into the Shaolin style. Tang Dynasty in the 6th-7th century AD.

it is divided along many lines internal and external being one of the most divisible differences; internal meaning learning how to move as smoothly or fluidly as possible Tai Chi), and external meaning using your full ability to to strike an with as much force as possible through focus and the use of the body's physical mechanics (popularized by Jeet Kune Do)

But also it has geographical and unthemed basis to the disciplines (exapmles northern vs southern, and Wing Chun vs Wushu, or Long Fist)

but essentially, 90% of the Martial Arts today originated from China, or has some basis or influence from a Chinese discipline.

Answer 8

Kung Fu is the oldest true Chinese martial art. I took Taekwondo, which is Korean. :) It rocks, too.

Answer 9

This is a very broad question and covers quite alot. Because of this I have included a link that actually spans a few webpages for you to read:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_martial_arts

Hope this answers your question.

Answer 10

there is kung fu, which uses or imitates animal movements...
there is wu shu which means martial art