C.T.O

Chinese martial arts, famously known as ‘Kung Fu,’ are fighting techniques that have developed over centuries and are grouped depending on characteristic traits. Sometimes they are referred to as ‘Wushu.’ The fighting techniques identify with different features which involve physical exercise that entails mimicry of animals, training methods inspired by traditional Chinese philosophies, legends, and religion. All the traditional Chinese martial arts have a deep history, as early as before Jesus Christ. There are various forms of traditional Chinese martial arts techniques. The following is a discussion of the main types:
 
SHAOLIN KUNG FU
Shaolin Kung Fu is the most popular traditional Chinese martial art. Indian monks established the skill while spreading Buddhism to China. It is the oldest and largest styles used in the famous Chinese martial arts. The technique dates back to thousands of years of existence of martial art. During the 17th century when Shaolin boxing was influential, it was based on a qigong written manual. Shaolin is fundamentally related to Shaolin temple which has two main legacies. The first is Chan which means Chan Buddhism (Shaolin religion). The other legacy is Quan that translates to the martial art of Shaolin. The two legacies work hand in hand and are not two separate entities. The monks always stayed focused on unifying the two disciplines.
 
One of the traditional branches of the Shaolin, Quan, has contents such as:
– Core skills – Shaolin Kung Fu focuses basically on the balance and flexibility which is traditionally known as ‘childish skills’ that has 18 postures. To execute the technique, one had to have stamina, balance, and flexibility among others.
– Power skills – It entails Qigong meditation and 72 arts. Qigong, a powerful meditation tool, is divided into two forms external and internal. Both exterior and interior structures are characterized with dynamic and stationary meditation respectively. The 72 art include a mixer of soft and hard exercises.
– Combat skills – This involved use of bare hands and weapons during combat. It could entail weapons versus bare hands or vice versa.
Shaolin Kung Fu is the oldest martial art technique and has several styles, recorded over thousands of years. The existing forms are more than a hundred. The known types are Arhat’s 18 hands, drunken style, Vajrapani style and plum blossom style among others.
 
Shaolin Kung Fu as a traditional Chinese martial art has nurtured the following key virtues:
– Consideration and Meditation
– Diligence and Discipline
– Moderation and Vigor
– Patience and self-control
– Learning and Wisdom
– Generosity of spirit
Kung Fu training involves a set of fundamental forms that are applied gradually and steadily.
 
WU SHU
Its history dates back in 200 years. It is basically in a southern Chinese internal fist. The history of the Wu Shu is long and mysterious conclusively. Wu Shu describes the Chinese martial arts. The reason why it was formulated back in the traditional ways was to assist in hunting and as a protection against the foes. Traditional Chinese troops were taught Wu Shu with the use of horned helmets. Stylistic concepts for Wu Shu involved soft, internal, hard and external techniques. As much as Wu Shu is a traditional martial art, it also borrowed the name Kung Fu as they have similarities. In the word Wu Shu, ‘Wu’ means military while ‘Shu’ means art. Going by that definition, Wu Shu describes the traditional Chinese martial art.
 
TAI CHI
It’s known for traditional health benefits since its initiation thousands of years ago. Tai Chi is famously known for its breathing technique. Due to the method, it is an internal martial art style. Traditionally it was a traditional martial art used to help in stress relieving and assist in balance. The thing with Tai Chi is that traditionally it translated to great extreme boxing, and supreme boundless fist. Tai Chi applied in health and meditative purposes rather than self-defense. Tai Chi involves slow circular movements. To accomplish this technique, it entailed smooth performance that focused on the mind. The body posture too was also considered to attain the sense of control. Traditionalist used it in achieving optimal clarity and a state of calmness. The slow circular movements in its effectiveness assisted Chinese to manage anxiety and stress as well as hypertension. Five traditional schools taught Ti Chi and include: Sun, Chen, Wu, Yang and Wu (Hao).
 
BAGUAZHANG
Baguazhang as a traditional Chinese martial art traces back to the 19th century. As tai chi is known to be the internal martial art style so does Baguazhang only that it’s a soft martial art. The meaning of Baguazhang is ‘eight trigram palm’ that refers to canons of Taoism.
 
Baguazhang Traits:
Since it is a soft internal martial style, it features liquid forms and slow movements. It concentrates on the mind. Baguazhang focuses on the connection between actions and the mind, that is, outside and inside. These traits help in achieving the final techniques and movements of the discipline.
 
Objectives:
It strongly focuses on health and its improvement. It also balances once life and overall life. It focuses on using the enemies’ energy against him. It concentrates on efficient energy and meditation.
 
Styles:
These techniques have sub-styles that include Shi, Fu, Yin, Liang, Fan, and Liu
 
QIGONG
It is a traditional Chinese martial art that dates back to 5000 years. Qigong means life energy cultivation. It is a practice that involved meditation and breathing alignment. Qigong has several major tradition categories. They are:
– Martial Arts Qigong – Used to protect the body against attacks from weapons or limbs. Trains the body by use of qi to deliver fatal blows.
– Taoist Qigong – The intent of this is to live longer by stress preservation and a great virtue of the body.
– Medical Qigong – By the use of qi, that is, vital energy, it was used to treat, diagnose and heal the body. Its primary objective is to treat and cure illness. Though it also emphasized on balance of qi and free flow.
– Confucian Qigong – Purposefully provided high intelligence and morals.
– Buddhist Qigong – Main goal is to liberate the mind and obtain wisdom.Qigong is majorly known as an internal martial art form.