Kung-Fu in General
Genesis of Kung-Fu
The Kung-Fu is born from a combination of Indian boxing and a Greco-Roman ancestral fight "imported" in ancient China by a Buddhist preacher from India, Bodhidharma. Around the year 525, during his trip to China he found the Shaolin monastery, where monks were in poor physical condition because of their contemplative state.
He developed exercises that taught them to unite the spiritual harmony and physical strength. To allow the monks to defend against animals and brigands who roamed around the monastery, he taught them 18 basic movements.
The Kung-Fu was partially born, and with years of practice and observation of nature and animals in particular, the Shaolin monks developed their fighting art.
General information about Kung-Fu
Martial arts are based on a study of sequences of techniques (called kata in Japanese martial arts or taolus in Chinese martial arts). This study has direct application in combat and is the basis for attacks and parries. The absence of actual intent to harm in the martial arts allows to work on dangerous situations such as confrontation like hands against a knife or a sword. The practice of a martial art is not limited to those sequences of techniques, although it represents a major part of the transmission. The practice of martial arts goes beyond the acquisition of combat techniques, and can be interpreted perfectly by a development both physical and spiritual.
Motivation
Motivation grows with practice, like the power of will. The reasons that lead to practice a martial art are manifolds:
- Mastering the techniques of self-defense and fight;
- Develop physical abilities (nb: the Mansuria Kung-fu is an art well suited to children's growth since it is based on muscle development and stretching);
- Improve coordination, reflexes, alertness, speed, etc.
- Physical activity to unwind;
- Regain confidence in themselves (after a period of illness, for example).
Stances
The Kung-Fu is an external martial art whose techniques are based on positions of specific body postures. The interest of posture is multiple:
- Strengthen muscles, bones and joints of the legs and the rest of the body to strike and be struck without any injury;
- Allowing speed movement in all directions while protecting vital points;
- Put the body in optimal positions to do offensive and defensive techniques. The study of natural behaviour of animals in combat allowed to find specific techniques showed in different styles;
- Forging the will for a long time while working on stances.
These positions, which are initially working positions, will be applied during a fight.
Breathing
The breathing technique is essential in any martial art. From the belly, breathing accompanies the practitioner's movements: each movement is either an inspiration or an expiration. The ventral end will allow the expulsion of the movement by increasing its power.
Breathing is an integral part of the movement in accordance with biomechanical principles. Breathing, relayed by the voice of the practitioner may be an element of surprise to destabilize the opponent or make him afraid.
Taos
There are in Kung-Fu several fighting choreographed skills called Taos, and so imagine opponents. These sequences, that present a variety of difficulties and consisting of several movements, are used in the individual training of the practitioner.
The Taos are unique to each school in each style. It exists both for the unarmed combat and for armed combat. The teacher called Sifu, tries to convey it to his student retaining the essence of the art.
All these characteristics, that are the foundation of any style of Kung-Fu, constitute an integral part of Mansuria Kung-Fu.
