Ok, appearently there are over 1500 styles of Kung Fu and I just want to know...WHY??? How did this happen? Whats so different about all these styles? Are any of them so difficult or rare that only a handfull of people around the world practice them?
Hi Stash, That is a question of truly epic proportion. One factor has to be the length of time that MA have been practiced in China. Another may be that practice of MA is synonymous with health and religious beliefs in China. There are some divisions within Kung Fu to make it easier to understand. Animal Styles. These are styles supposedly based on animal movement- Crane, Mantis, Dragon, Tiger, etc. Family Styles. Lau Ga, Hop Ga, Hung Ga, Chow Ga Mok Ga etc These reputedly started out with the Shaolin temples 'Five Ancestors' and were passed on 'Father to son' etc Other Styles. I suppose because of the length of time these systems have been around, some cross pollenisation and specialisation was inevitable. The same thing happens in modern martial arts every five minutes these days after all. Wing Chun, Pak Mei, BaGhua, Chin Na I'd really have to get the books out to give you a cure for insomnia, but I hope that helps get you started. Pablo? Kat? Mark?
Because different styles suit different people, think about the number of martial artists there are, now realise that no two of them do exactly the same style. In China martial arts was more of a way of life, so you got more teachers, each of whom wanted to teach their own style as the best way.
Ok, but I'm trying to point out that all these 1500 styles of Kung Fu, all of them came from the same place, they just changed through people. Its hard to explain...ok, lets take TKD and Karate both these styles came from two different times, two different countries, and they were created for different purposes. Now people are telling me that way way back there was only one Kung-Fu but over time it got changed and different sub-styles evolved, so we cant really compare two styles of Kung Fu the same way we would compare TKD and Karate, I dont know, I might be horribly wrong, does this make any sense to you guys?
Hi Stash. Sorry to make things even harder for you, but there are those that say that Karate's origins owe a lot to Kung Fu, and TKD's origins owe a lot to Karate. Kung Fu is just an 'Umbrella' title, much as Karate is becoming these days with all it's derivative variants. The Shaolin arts reputedly owe much To India anyway. The 1500 styles can also be broken down into those that are primarily Internal like Tai Chi and those that are External Wing Chun. There are also regional variations, with visible difference in fundamentals between Northern and Southern styles. Even something as apparently 'pure' as Wing Chun, has at least eight strong lineages.
ITF and WTF Tae Kwon Do would probably need a similar sort of comparison. In fact there are probably fewer differences between them than between many forms of Kung Fu.
With the family styles, if you can imagine this, it all started as one big style. Basic styles .... then one family / area of people developed it a bit and started to win the fights. Ah, say the other families, and create anti-styles, weapon proficiencies designed to specifically counter the other style, and they named it. Sword was practiced to counter knife. Spear was practiced to counter sword, whip was practiced to counter spear. If you go right back to the beginning, of everything Eastern, when there was no China / Japan / Korea, in essence, segregation of the eastern peoples, human nature being what it is, you can imagine the splits that occured. Indeed, look around today in society and you will see clans within clans within clans. Hence, the proliferate of Family Styles, even Animal Styles. Those styles then became alive as each style altered and changed and evolved to become "better". Even things like the Shaolin Styles (Medatitive physical practices designed to keep the monks fit during their rigorous medatations) evolved and altered to counter the Styles of their enemies. So, in truth, there are so many styles because of social segregation, clan mentalism and finally, the need of the group to become "better" than the other. It is only today where Kung Fu is practiced more as a sport and 'self defence' (as opposed to 'Others Offence') that the styles have maybe taken a step back. Moves are made simpler for others to understand as most teaching is given freely ( +VAT of course). For example, Lau Gar Armblock 1. Used to be Counter, Buddah Finger to the Eyes. Now, Counter, strike low with clenched fist.
An excellent example of the diversification of styles can easily be seen when a style such as Lau Gar is viewed. Lau Gar has been taught in the UK for 30 odd years, yet already there are many varients that all have their roots leading directly to Master Yau. Across the UK there are groups that teach with a very traditional approach. Explaining to students the concepts of the three treasures; teaching power development, chi cultivation, spirit etc...... as well as correct application of forms. Yet there are probably more groups/classes that do not teach this method, but are more concerned with fitness, flexibility and competition. They practice forms primarily for grading, as opposed to practical fighting application. At present these two branches can be regarded as two sides of the same coin. However in a few years (if not already in some cases) there will be a complete separation within the style. Even within the very traditional clubs there is much variation in the way some aspects of forms are taught, but this is one of the most positive aspects of the style. As the style fits the practictioner rather than the other way around. We do not all blindly march along exactly duplicating the Sifu's actions, but instead are encouraged to make the technique work for the individual. This being the case as the years go by more branches will develop, especially as more people study more than one style, and subsequently incorporate (conciously or not) aspects of other styles. In time some may choose to drop the name Lau Gar completely, and call "their" new style by a different name. This has always happened in China, hence the proliferation of different styles. Actually there are already a number of people, that for their own reasons teach Lau Gar Kuen in the UK under different names. In my mind this may be a good thing, as once an instructor has lost, or chosen to change the basic principles of a style, then even if they have the "same" form it is not really the same "style". I'm sorry I highjacked this thread a bit, but it's been a while since I've had the chance to do so. regards Colin...............
Even with younger styles, such as CKD, you get breakaways. We've only been around fifteen years and there's already Choi Karate, Dynamic Self Defense and Ku Self Defense. Martial arts is like religion (in fact for some people they're one and the same) and splits are inevitable.
you also have to consider all the martial arts from china are classed as kung fu whereas in other countries all styles have different names
