What is Classical Kung Fu?

Discussion in 'Kung Fu' started by martyeisen, May 19, 2012.

  1. martyeisen

    martyeisen Banned Banned

    This article is addressed to beginning students and to those interested in enlarging their knowledge of Kung Fu.

    The series of questions hopefully will stimulate students to carefully investigate the schools they intend to join, define classical Kung Fu and help differentiate between external and internal systems. Some of the concepts are difficult to explain since they are physical as well mental and must be experienced.

    What is Kung Fu?

    The literal meaning of Kung Fu is "hard task". In ancient times the monasteries in China were the repositories of knowledge. The hard task was to masterself-defense, Chinese medicine, philosophy, music, painting and calligraphy. Today most commercial clubs only emphasize self-defense or sporting competitions.

    In this modern world of specialization it seems unbelievable that one person can master so many diverse disciplines. However, the ancient Chinese philosophers were generalists rather than specialists. They discovered that these apparently diverse disciplines have a common basis, Taoist philosophy. Nevertheless, Kung Fu was considered a lifetime study.

    What is a Master?

    A Master is a hereditary title designating a person who knows a whole system. Although a Master is a highly skilled martial artist, a highly skilled martial is not necessarily a Master. Each classical system has only one Master (sometimes called a Grandmaster). When he retires, he appoints a new Master.

    There are very few Masters alive today. Some of the systems are very old and many of the techniques and forms have been lost because the Master died before passing them on.

    Sometimes a Master died before designating a successor and many students claimed to be the Master and they alone knew the "true system". Even if a Master was appointed, other students claimed to be the Master since their teacher was not alive to dispute their claims.

    How can you tell who is the true Master?

    This is difficult especially for a beginning student. These fakes are highly skilled con artists who prey on students' ignorance and psychological weaknesses. Their tools are extreme friendliness, excessive praise and flattery, pretending to care for their students and feeling their pain. They use meaningless Chinese phrases to make weak, useless techniques seem powerful and exotic. The following criteria can help distinguish a Master from a phoney.


    In classical Kung Fu the student must imitate the teacher and learn certain forms. Therefore, two "Masters" cannot have very few forms or techniques in common and move differently.

    Sometimes they are movies or videos of the former Master. If a Master's hands do not resemble the former Master hands, for example it looks like he is doing a hard style when the system is soft, then he must be a fake.


    The Master appoints a successor who is a highly skilled martial artist. A student with knowledge of any martial art would be able to tell if the "Master" had a strong stance etc. A person who looks like a beginner cannot be a Master.

    Another trick of "Masters" is to pull out photos of them with their teacher. These photos were obtained by paying hundreds of dollars to the teacher, pretending that they were a friend of a friend of the teacher or having a friend shoot a picture at a demonstration or seminar. Many of these photographs do not show the "Master" practicing with his teacher but friendly horseplay. Such photographs are then passed off as serious self defense moves.

    Who can teach a particular system of Kung Fu?

    Only a student who has the permission of the Master of that system. His school is usually a branch of Master's school. Today anyone can pretend to teach.

    How many different styles of Kung Fu are there?

    There are about 300 styles. The styles are based on mammals, birds, insects, mythical creatures, colors, spirits, philosophies, and combinations of these categories. There are also family Kung Fu systems which are passed on to the descendants.

    Is there a grading system in classical Kung Fu?

    Not usually; however, in some classical schools the students are divided into categories, such as student and disciple.

    Many commercial schools make up their own ranking system and award different colored belts or sashes. There are some organizations in China who make up their own forms, based on classical forms, and have a belt-ranking system.

    How can you tell if a Kung Fu system is legitimate?

    The teacher should be able to trace the Masters back to the founder.
    Contact the Master of the system to find out if the student has his permission to teach. Sometimes it is difficult to determine if the head of the organization, even if it is large, is a Master.
    Some systems have their forms recorded in books or videos. For example, the Chen Tai Chi form has been recorded. If a teacher's movements don't resemble the recorded form, he is not a Master.

    Learn the difference between an external and internal system so you can tell if the teacher is teaching according to the correct principles.
    If a number of different styles are taught as a single system, be on your guard. This usually indicates that the teacher has never learned a single system thoroughly.

    Any good system has techniques for dealing with all possible types of attack(short to long range; armed and unarmed). Many times the systems taught are incompatible (e.g. Shaolin and Tai Chi). They are based on opposing philosophies and muscle action.

    Be suspicious if free (uncontrolled) fighting is introduced in a relatively short time. If you have not mastered any techniques of the system, what are you doing?

    Promotions after a fixed time period are fraudulent. Each person's ability is different.

    Weapons should not be taught to beginners. Beginning students do not have a strong stance, cannot maintain the proper distance from an opponent and cannot transmit a great deal of power to their hands. All of these skills are required to use a weapon properly.

    The student is taught a new technique only when the Master thinks he is ready and may be required to practice the same technique for years.
    Some non-classical systems have rejected classical forms and have combined techniques from several systems. The rationale is that free fighting is not patterned. By combining the best techniques from several systems it is thought that a superior system is obtained. However, a good classical system already has most of these techniques. If not, the Master can add these, but never eliminates previous forms and techniques which characterize the system.

    What are the difference between a hard (external) and a soft (internal) system?

    Some of the differences are summarized below. Some external styles may possess some of the characteristics of an internal system.

    External style

    Relatively little time is devoted to developing a strong stance as compared to an internal style which emphasizes relaxation.
    Straight line force is used in blocking. Sometimes large circular blocks which require a great deal of force are used.
    Not much attention is paid to developing feeling for interpreting force. Attack and defense depend on fast reflexes, so practioners reach their peak when they are young.
    Force is opposed by force.
    Practice sparring, which is not free style, usually consists of a few moves.
    Techniques rely mainly on external strength. However, inernal power may be emphasized later.
    Muscles are used inefficiently. Many techniques only use the legs or arms. Frequently, extraneous muscles are used. A rigid type of force is produced.

    Internal style

    Balance and a strong stance are developed through relaxation and proper body alignment.
    Small, subtle, circular, efficient movements are used.
    Sensitivity and relaxation are emphasized. Thus, one's skill can be continually improved, even when one is older.
    The opponent's force is used against him.
    Longer two-men sparring forms are practiced. The shorter forms are cyclic and illustrate that fighting is continuous consisting of countering an attack and countering the counter.
    Development of internal power is the chief goal.
    Only necessary muscles are tensed. Power from the body is transferred to the arms and legs in a synergistic manner. Relaxation is emphasized. A flowing, smooth force, like a whip, is produced.
    Qigong is practiced not only for martial applications, but also for health.


    The above description is an attempt to help beginners distinguish between internal and external systems. Internal systems are not just Bagua, Hsingyi and Tai Chi.

    In fact, some of the so-called practioners of internal systems violate the stated principles and are harder than many hard-stylists. Internal systems are not just characterized by claims of chi development, since this is also a part of some external systems.

    Which is easier to master: an external system or an internal system?

    Both are difficult to master. It requires more patience to become proficient in an internal system.

    One must "invest in loss" - that is, be willing to lose contests rather than violate the principles of the internal system.

    The cardinal principle is relaxation. It requires years of practice, frequently in slow motion, to become soft (Yin). The body must be changed from concrete to rubber. Often, the student begins to move too rapidly too soon in applications in order to generate force (Yang) and make a poorly executed technique work. The result is that the forms and techniques are performed in a hard-style manner.

    The constant training training necessaryto master an internal system is illustrated in the following story. A Tai Chi student was determined to defeat his Master at push hands. He practised six hours a day for a long time. He met his teacher and engaged in a push hands' contest.

    The student was easily defeated and complained, "I practised six hours a day!" His Master responded, "I practice 24 hours a day."

    The Master's cryptic comment means that he used the principle of his art in performing his daily tasks. He tried to interact with people in a way which produced as little tension as possible.


    The body and mind are intertwined. Any stress in the mind is reflected in muscular tension and vice versa. This muscular hardness not only leads to defeat, but is also detrimental to your health.

    Can one master an internal and external system simultaneously?

    Not generally, since the muscles are used differently in each system. It isnot the sequences of movements alone that characterize asytem, but also the way in which they are done. The result of studying both tyoes of systems is usually that neither is performed correctly.

    In order to punch or kick powerfully must one study soft-style if one is a hard-stylist and conversely?

    Tremendous power can be generated through proper training in either style.

    Do soft-stylists always block softly?

    Some soft-stylists generally block softly using redirection; others use both hard and soft blocks. However, the power for a hard block is not generated in a hard style manner.


    Which style is more suitable for older people?

    The soft style is more suitable for older people. Some soft-stylists reach their peak when they are well over 60. Theoretically, one could improve forever.

    A soft-stylist mainly depends on relaxation, sensitivity and the ability to turn his opponent's strength against him and not on muscular strength or fast reflexes.

    The hard style is hard on the body. Hard-stylists usually retire young, like gymnasts, or modify their techniques to resemble a soft style.
     
  2. 47MartialMan

    47MartialMan Valued Member

    I enjoyed the article.

    But I have a slight commentary;

    Another trick of "Masters" is to pull out photos of them with their teacher. These photos were obtained by paying hundreds of dollars to the teacher, pretending that they were a friend of a friend of the teacher or having a friend shoot a picture at a demonstration or seminar. Many of these photographs do not show the "Master" practicing with his teacher but friendly horseplay. Such photographs are then passed off as serious self defense moves.

    I disagree with this^^^^. To this day, I do not have photos or videos of ANY of my martial art teachers (any type-style) during a workout.

    The fact that actual video cameras were not readily available to the general population back in the 60-70’s (Mostly motion cameras which were a expensive novelty). Additionally, when it was time to workout, it was not time to record.

    Photos were generally taken after a competition event or special work out, if a camera was even thought of to having be brought to the session, way back then.

    As for finding a "true" master or teacher, we have to define "true" or “authentic’. Lineage can be a difficult thing to prove, let alone be the deciding factor if the art is “true”.

    Martial arts, especially TCMA, are shrouded with so much myth or hard to prove data, “true” or “authentic” could be a misnomer as the very term “Gung Fu”, itself


    Choosing a Martial Art;


    http://www.martialartsplanet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=98532

    http://www.usadojo.com/articles/choosing-style.htm

    http://www.nononsenseselfdefense.com/commercialschools.html

    http://www.wikihow.com/Choose-a-Martial-Art

    http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/Moore41.html

    http://www.familyhomesecurity.com/how-to-choose-a-martial-arts-style/

    http://www.fightingarts.com/reading/article.php?id=4
     
  3. 19thlohan

    19thlohan Beast and the Broadsword


    What are you dissagreeing with exactly? The article says phony teachers have used "By Sifu" pictures and posed for action shots to falsely prove their lineage. It doesn't say anything about needing video to prove yourself.




    All true and yet lineage is the only way to know for sure if you are learning authentic such and such style of kung fu from a qualified instructor. With out it your teacher may have learned a few forms and techniques off of a video tape, from seminars, or these days off youtube. Or they may just be making up what they teach you.
     
  4. 47MartialMan

    47MartialMan Valued Member

    But video recording was not actually avaialable to most, even in the early 70's.
    Pictures were easy to snap.
    I am saying, could a picture be non-false?



    Thats the point I'm making.

    If you research lineages, they still have problems and can be a difficult thing to prove.


    The controversy of martial art history and lineage is upon most martial arts.
    As we dig deeper, we find these problems.
    How can anyone truly state they are of a "true" lineage when others outside of that art, look to dissect it?

    To Reiterate;
    Martial arts, especially TCMA, are shrouded with so much myth or hard to prove data, “true” or “authentic” could be a misnomer as the very term “Gung Fu”, itself

    We can look upon examples (not using these in particular or not for bashing) of;

    TKD
    Kempo
    Shaolin/Shaolin Do
    Ninjutsu
    Tong Long
    Vsing Tsun
     
  5. Bruce W Sims

    Bruce W Sims Banned Banned

    There are a few ways to sort things out but a lot of it comes from admitting that there will be no simple answers.

    If we agree that a tradition is a practice that has stood the test of time, we can go back to an early listing of well-known practices and consider which have survived in one way or another to the present day. For instance, in his "Treatise on New Military Training Methods" (Publ 1568) General Qi identified about 16 or so popular Boxing Styles. We can't know what these looked like at the time, but a few have survived to present day, such as Eagle Claw and Long Fist.

    Another way to lokk at the question is not so much WHAT is being done, but the MANNER in which it is done. This is a very cultural hurdle that very few people are willing to jump. Thoughts?

    Best Wishes,

    Bruce
     
  6. KunLong

    KunLong Valued Member

    "Another way to lokk at the question is not so much WHAT is being done, but the MANNER in which it is done. This is a very cultural hurdle that very few people are willing to jump. Thoughts? "

    I am 50 now. When I was 12, you were expected to honor custom and study daoism. If you went in and master said "Today we will learn bed of nails" you tried to get ready for whatever was put to you.

    There was and is great value in tradition, which does not necessarily require lineage?
    I have lineage oh so dear and sweet to me, so I suppose I get to say that gu er (orphans) are not to be underestimated as they have had to hard mine out for their selves and try to meet their own expectation.
    I mean to say that they can find it without a line, even if there are some deeper secrets or traditions some lines keep. Who obtains it is actually the beginning of a line, which can only be judged on it's merits, not pedigree.

    Having said all that I confess that I am wholly uncomfortable outside tradition and pick students in a traditional way. Second generation American tradition. Master learned in Taipei, but I doubt his American students could have been as (whew!) "traditional" as he had to be? He did not suffer fools....just the string of it in the disciples he had.
     
  7. yudhajit saha

    yudhajit saha New Member

    southern praying mantis kung fu

    Hi all,
    I would like to introduce you to a very old system of Southern Praying Mantis that was brought to India by a gentleman named Sifu Chen Kiu.He learnt this system while he was working as a sailor from the cook of the ship,called Yaap Mune who claimed to have been a Monk,this was around 1903 or so.
    Sifu Chen moved to the city of Calcutta,India,which has the only Chinatown,a place called Tangra, probably in the 1920's.The system was then passed on to Sifu K.S.Hsuing who started teaching it in the Pei Moi School to Chinese students only.In 1975,Sifu Hsuing opened the style to all nationalities and taught till his death in the year 2000.He left 3 diciples to carry on the tradition,they are,Sifu's: Abhijit Mukerji,Lee Kuo Sen and Akbar Khan Thikari.The disciples are 5th Generation lineage holders.
    The system has 4 training Seeds:
    1. Kiu Bo Chen or 9 Step Arrow
    2.Pai Sith
    3.Sine Su
    4.Fa-Khian
    Indoor disciples are also taught 12 unique short hand combinations.
    The weapons include,Staff,broadsword,Sai and the Tiger Fork.
    It is known that some of Sifu Hsuing's Chinese students are teaching privately in the U.S and Canada.
    In the U.S you have Sifu Liu teaching in Alberquerquie,New Mexico and in Canada you have Sifu Joseph Fan.
    Perhaps one of the members,Mr. Joy Chaudry (Vajramusti) who is from Calcutta and may have been exposed to the system ,albeit perhaps not as a student ,may shed some more light.
    This is our first seed form,Kiu Bo Chin or 9 Step Arrow (9 steps is because there are 9 inward pulls,but it is the standard set that is named as 3 Steps Arrow in other SPM systems),here it is performed by 5th generation diciple,Abhijit Mukerji:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qpWNdVEess
     

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