Are there really different styles of Kung Fu for different body types?

Answer 1

Not as such....however some styles are better suited to some body types than others.

For example...Monkey style is suited to people with small, flexible frames while Tiger style is better suited to those with a more muscular build and Crane style is suited to those whose body type is long and lean. This doesn't mant that ONLY people with those body types can learn those style, just that they will ahve an easier time with the physicality of them....

Answer 2

There are some rather diverse answers here already! While some of the points I would bring up have already been brought up, I would like to add some additional information.

Since you specifically mention Kung Fu (Chinese Boxing), I will take this as meaning Chinese martial arts. If you take the Chinese people as a whole (gross generalization coming up!), you will notice that the folks living in the northern areas are generally taller and lankier than those in the south who tend to have shorter, stalky-er builds. This being the case, methods and techniques practiced in the north by taller and lankier people in rugged mountainous terrain (cross-stances to advance/retreat, "long fist" systems) will differ from methods and techniques taught in the south where much time is spent near water and boats (deep stances, low stances, etc.). I study Hung Gar since I am of the stalky persuasion.

As others have stated, this is not to imply that only tall people are suited for northern systems and cannot excel in southern systems or vice-versa (or any combination therein), but some moves might not feel as natural as they would otherwise.

Animal systems could favor different body types as well, but the repeated practice of say a tiger system would actually result in the physique, and not necessarily be a determining factor in choosing what might be best suited for a practitioner, as implied by an earlier answer. Animal systems tend to be more based upon attitude, personality, and emotion.

So, long story longer, some systems might seem more natural for specific body types, but anybody can excel in anything with the proper attitude, dedication, and practice.

Answer 3

Of course there are. There is a different style of Kung Fu for every human being. No matter how intensely you train in martial arts, no matter how much a technique is drilled into your head, your body's ability limits how you use it.

I have used this example before: my best friend and I took Kung Fu San Soo at the same time, and trained together for three years. We both received our black belts at the same time, but to watch us work out, you would have no idea that we were taught the same things, Ah Soo, Fut Ga, some Tsoi Li Ho, and Nam Pi. He is a machine gunning street brawler, or an "Ah Soo" fighter. I am more of a Nam Pi stylist, preferring to bypass the first obvious attack, and surprise my opponents with what most people would consider the second or third move.
We both learned the exact same thing, yet we became different stylists. It's human nature.

Answer 4

There are different types of kung-fu. China is a big country with many natural obstacles. This kept most styles localized. If you lived there you were limited to the styles in your geographic area (whether they matched your body type or not, but these people were all in the same area and ate the same diet so I do not think the body types changed that much with in a localized area). Even today we all have many martial arts schools to choose from in our towns and people choose different schools for different reasons.

Answer 5

Everyone knows that the best answer gets ten points, so it is not necessary to put that in the question. No one knows how many styles of Kung-Fu there are. In the late 1960's or early 1970's Black Belt Magazine (when it was still a good magazine) stated that there were and estimated 300 to 400 different Kung Fu Styles. As for you comments about styles being for specific purposes, that would defeat the point of any style. Styles may look like they are for only close in fighting, or long range fighting, But I assure you that they are designed to fight at long or short ranges. Unless you see past the beginner levels you might not see that being true. Weapons are incorporated in some styles, but Weapons are also taught as stand alone arts. As for pressure points, all styles that teach Kata (Forms) have pressure point techniques in them. Unfortunately many students are never taught this level of their style. As a matter of fact many instructors were not taught this themselves. ...

Answer 6

well there are many different styles of kung fu, I am sure some work better for some types than for others

Answer 7

Yes, although anybody can master any style of kung fu if they put their mind to it, particular styles fit better on particular people. There is a style for every body type (short, tall, etc...)

Answer 8

No dude there isn't.

What many people fail to realize about Martial Arts is that there isn't a particular "brand" that is a "best fit" for anyone.

There IS NOT a Martial Art that works for people with SPECIFIC body characteristics (height, weight, body type, gender, etc.)

Nor can anyone tell someone else what discipline is best for Them, because it's a personal choice as to what the person wants or how they're going to achieve whatever goal in life by studying Martial Arts.

Just because a certain discipline has worked for person A because of what physical characteristics they have, or how interesting they've found the discipline, doesn't mean it's going to work or be as appealing to person B

The only way someone's gonna know if a Martial Art is right for them is to find out what they want to get out of studying a Martial Art according to what they find interesting about the discipline or how it can help them to achieve whatever goals they plan to accomplish by studying a Martial Art.

It all comes down to the individual and their own personal choice about what their goals are in studying a Martial Arts discipline, because they all have their own strengths and weaknesses.

There is a Martial Art out there for everyone to learn, they just have to take the initiative to do a little research and find it according to what discipline's are available to them where ever it is they live.

Answer 9

Tub fu for beeg follows.