Books on Stimulate Energy Centers and Chinese and Japanese Martial Arts
Chinese martial arts are arguably some of China's most pop and successful cultural exports. Despite their widespread and enduring popularity, about people's understanding of the Chinese martial arts is limited. Join us as we explore the history and culture behind these aboriginal forms of self-defence.
Table of Contents
- What are the Chinese martial arts?
- Origins and history
- Classifying Chinese martial arts styles
- Internal versus external
- Northern versus Southern
- Other classification schemes
- Not to be dislocated with Japanese martial arts
- 5 influential Chinese martial arts styles
- ane. Shaolin Kung Fu
- 2. Fly Chun
- 3. Bajiquan
- four. Tai Chi
- five. Baguazhang
- A window into Chinese culture
- Chinese martial art vocabulary
What are the Chinese martial arts?
The Chinese martial arts are a collection of hundreds of different fighting styles that developed over centuries of Chinese history. Many of the Chinese martial arts contain philosophical concepts that are intimately connected with Chinese faith and philosophy, especially Taoism .
In Chinese, the terms 功夫 (gōngfū) and 武术 (wǔshù) are used to refer to the martial arts. The word 功夫 (gōngfū) is a general term that can be used to refer to whatsoever type of skill. It is the source of the English language term "kung fu."
武术 (wǔshù), rendered in English as wushu, is a more than descriptive term that can literally be translated as "military arts" or "martial arts."
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Compiled from Bruce Lee'south notes and essays and originally published in 1975, this iconic volume is ane of the seminal martial arts guides of its time. The science and philosophy behind the fighting organisation Lee pioneered himself—jeet kune practice—is explained in detail, depicted through hundreds of Lee'southward own illustrations.
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Origins and history
The martial arts have a long history in Red china. As the name wushu suggests, the martial arts are thought to have adult equally methods for hand-to-hand combat used by ancient Chinese soldiers.
Co-ordinate to fable, the martial arts were introduced in Prc by the Xanthous Emperor during the Xia dynasty (2070 - 1600 BCE). The very first mention of Chinese martial arts occurs in the Spring and Fall Annals , a court chronicle that dates all the way back to the fifth century BCE.
The offset mention of Chinese martial arts can exist plant in a chronicle from the 5th century BCE.
Classifying Chinese martial arts styles
Today, at that place are hundreds of different styles of Chinese martial arts. Various classification schemes take been proposed to assist categorize them.
Internal versus external
One common fashion of classifying Chinese martial arts is by separating them into external styles (外家拳 wàijiāquán) and internal styles (内家拳 nèijiāquán).
External styles focus on developing agility and physical force, while internal styles focus on manipulating qi (气 qì) and cultivating the mind and spirit. Many of the philosophical ideas espoused past Taoism are applied by practitioners of internal martial arts styles.
The nearly pop internal way of Chinese martial art is Tai Chi, too called Taiji (太极拳 Tàijíquán) while the most famous fashion associated with the external mode is Shaolin Kung Fu ( 少林功夫 Shàolín Gōngfū).
The internal versus external classification is a popular 1 that has been used since 1669 CE. It remains somewhat controversial, notwithstanding, with some experts arguing that there is really no difference between the two due to the fact that every mode includes some mix of "internal" and "external" elements.
The many different types of Chinese martial arts can be categorized into internal and external styles.
Northern versus Southern
Another common way to classify Chinese martial arts styles is by geographical region. There are many notable differences betwixt northern and southern China. Not only is this truthful when it comes to food, the arts, compages, and language, but it is also true of martial arts.
Martial arts from northern China are referred to as 北派 ( běipài ) and include well-known schools such as Baguazhang and Bajiquan. Northern styles are known for incorporating high kicks and acrobatic elements. Southern martial arts styles are called 南派 (nánpài) and place more emphasis on arm and full-torso movements.
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With detailed anatomical drawings, this book precisely illustrates the inner workings of your body during key martial arts moves. Its color drawings, helpful photos and articulate text make it piece of cake to place the specific muscles you need to train for maximum speed, ability and accuracy.
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Other classification schemes
There are several other means to allocate the Chinese martial arts. Some of these nomenclature categories overlap, so that a single way may belong to more than than one category. Other popular classification styles that are sometimes used are based on faith, history and family unit.
Not to be confused with Japanese martial arts
To an untrained eye, all martial arts may look the same, regardless of country of origin. In reality, countless differences—big and small—exist.
Jiu-jitsu, one of Japan'south most well known martial fine art, originated on the battlefields during the Nara period (c. 710–794) and utilized skills and tactics from a variety of other Japanese disciplines.
Its applications were designed around close combat fighting and emphasized parrying and counterattacking long weapons similar swords or spears using a dagger or other small weapons.
Unlike Chinese kung fu, which emphasized strikes and kicks, jiu-jitsu uses counter attacks that atomic number 82 to throws and joint locks.
Japanese jiu-jitsu, in its own right, is frequently confused with Brazilian jiu-jitsu. We caught up with Tony Debelak, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu Black Belt and possessor of Gracie Jiu Jitsu Aurora, to ask most the differences.
"Traditional Japanese jiu-jitsu," Tony explains, "fabricated its way to Brazil, specifically Rio de Janeiro, in 1925. Carlos Gracie and his brothers learned from Esai Maeda, a Japanese jiu-jitsu fighter. Helio Gracie, the youngest of Carlos' brothers, was the smallest and weakest of the brothers plus he had a medical condition that prevented him from preparation right away. And so, Helio spent near of his time watching the lessons taught to his older brothers."
Tony continues, "the story goes that in 1928 Carlos was late to teach a class and so his brother Helio stepped upward. But Helio had never good traditional jiu-jitsu. He quickly realized he didn't have the force to successfully execute the Japanese techniques so he found ways to make the techniques piece of work using leverage, timing, and natural body movements instead of strength, speed, and coordination. That transformation became the foundation of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, which spread across Brazil later taking on the moniker of Brazilian jiu-jitsu."
5 influential Chinese martial arts styles
Although there are a multitude of different styles of Chinese martial arts, some are more than popular than others. Check out the list below to learn well-nigh 5 of the most mutual and influential styles.
one. Shaolin Kung Fu
Shaolin Kung Fu ( 少林功夫 Shàolín Gōngfū) is ane of the most popular styles of Chinese martial arts. Considered an "external style," Shaolin Kung Fu was developed by monks at the Shaolin Temple in Henan Province.
The Shaolin Kung Fu style is distinguished by quick, forceful movements and makes use of weapons including spears and, near famously, staffs.
The Shaolin style has a history of over i,500 years and is believed to take been started by Buddhist monks from central Asia. One of these monks, Bodhidharma , is also credited with having founded the Chan school of Buddhism, the precursor to modern Japanese Zen Buddhism.
Over the years, Shaolin Kung Fu gained semi-mythic condition in China equally a consequence of the exploits of Shaolin Temple'due south "soldier monks." The Shaolin monks supported the founding members of the Tang purple family in their successful armed struggle for the throne. During the Ming dynasty, the government as well enlisted Shaolin monks to fight off multinational gangs of pirates that plagued China'south coastal areas with frequent raids.
Shaolin monks didn't always enjoy government support, however. During the Qing dynasty, their monastery was even accused of anti-Qing activities and destroyed, just to exist rebuilt later on.
Today, at that place are over 1,000 unlike sub-styles of Shaolin Kung Fu. Various schools of martial arts in other countries such equally Japan also merits their origins can be traced dorsum to the Shaolin style.
Shaolin Temple, in Henan Province, is the birthplace of the world-renowned martial art known as Shaolin Kung Fu.
2. Wing Chun
Wing Chun (咏春 Yǒngchūn) is a southern Chinese kung fu style descended from Shaolin Kung Fu. It has the distinction of having been founded by two women, Ng Mui and Yim Wing-chun.
The Fly Chun style is known for placing emphasis on technique rather than strength. This way besides calls for practitioners to stay relaxed while fighting, allowing them to achieve a kind of "softness" or flexibility. This relaxed flexibility gives Wing Chun fighters a special kind of strength that allows them to bend, not suspension, just like bamboo .
Legend has it that Wing Chun founder Ng Mui was living at Shaolin Temple when it was attacked and destroyed past Qing dynasty forces. Surviving the attack, she escaped to the edge expanse between Yunnan and Sichuan. There, she met a young woman named Yim Fly-chun who was the daughter of a tofu merchant.
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Fly Chun is the most popular form of Chinese Kung Fu in the world today, with over four 1000000 practitioners. With 48 total-color illustrations, this guide volition fascinate and educate anyone interested in the martial arts, from beginner to master.
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Upon learning that Yim Wing-chun was soon to be forced into spousal relationship with a local warlord, Ng Mui taught her a modified version of Shaolin Kung Fu to help Yim defend herself against his unwanted advances.
The style was after picked up past members of a Cantonese opera troupe called the Ruby-red Gunkhole Opera Group, who helped atomic number 82 a popular uprising confronting the Qing in the dynasty's waning years.
Ip Homo, featured in the eponymous hitting pic, was a notable modern practitioner of Wing Chun manner martial arts. He also taught the Wing Chun mode to his student, Bruce Lee, who would go on to act in the dear Hong Kong kung fu movies that helped brand Chinese martial arts famous around the world.
Wing Chun was the first martial arts style that Bruce Lee learned.
iii. Bajiquan
Bajiquan (八极拳 bājíquán) is another popular Chinese martial fine art. Information technology emerged in the 18th century and was originally called Baziquan, or "rake fist," considering of its trademark use of swift downward strikes using partially opened fists.
Its electric current full name is 开门八极拳 (kāimén bājíquán), which can be roughly translated as "admissible fist of the 8 extremes." The "admissible" or "open up-gate" part of this name comes from the do of forcing i's opponents arms apart in society to strike their body.
Bajiquan features rapid, explosive movements including elbow and fist strikes and is considered ideal for short-range gainsay.
As an iconic Chinese martial art, Bajiquan has influenced the pop civilisation of both China and other countries. It is often featured in Japanese video games, also equally in manga and anime. Bajiquan even makes an appearance in The Matrix and Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance .
Agent Smith, played past role player Hugo Weaving, makes use of Bajiquan techniques in The Matrix.
4. Tai Chi
Tai Chi (太极拳 tàijíquán) is the well-nigh well-known of the "internal" Chinese martial arts styles. While it is most ordinarily practiced today as a meditative, gentle form of practice, information technology also has its roots in the martial arts and was originally developed as a form of self-defense.
Tai Chi is sometimes referred to as "shadow boxing." Although about people think of Tai Chi as existence made up of slow movements, there are several styles which include faster paced elements.
Like many other forms of Chinese martial arts, Tai Chi is intimately continued to traditional Chinese belief systems including Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism.
Tai Chi's fundamental philosophy is related to the Taoist concept of yin (阴 yīn) and yang (阳 yáng). In traditional Taoist metaphysics, yin is said to be a dark, soft, female forcefulness while yang is a hard, bright, male person force. Together, these ii forces make up the universe, and it is important to seek a remainder between them.
Tai Chi is rooted in ancient Taoist philosophy.
In Tai Chi, practitioners work to go along the yin and yang forces constantly in flux so that two forces of equal strength are never used against each other. The utilize of a difficult force against another hard strength can only consequence in deadlock. Thus, in Tai Chi, hardness should exist met with softness, and vice versa.
The exact origins of Tai Chi are unclear, with some historians arguing that information technology originated with a twelfth century Taoist monk, while others contending that its origins are much more recent.
Today, Tai Chi is known both within People's republic of china and around the earth for its many scientifically proven health benefits. The renowned Mayo dispensary even recommends Tai Chi as a not bad style to gently reduce stress and anxiety.
Mod students of Tai Chi, like these CLI students, can benefit from the many scientifically proven health benefits of this ancient martial art.
5. Baguazhang
Like Tai Chi, Baguazhang (八卦掌 bāguàzhǎng) is considered an "internal style" martial art. Its philosophy draws heavily on Taoist concepts like yin and yang and it even takes its name from the Taoist trigrams, or bagua .
Dong Haichuan is credited with founding this fashion in the outset half of the 19th century by synthesizing martial arts techniques that he learned from the Taoist and Buddhist practitioners that he met during his travels in rural People's republic of china.
The most distinctive characteristic of the Baguazhang style is its use of circle walking. Practitioners move in a circular pattern while performing the various moves associated with this way, which are quite diverse and include a mixture of strikes, throws, kicks and grappling moves.
Baguazhang is besides known for its use of a diverse array of weapons including distinctive big broadswords. Interestingly, this style is said to be especially constructive when fighting against multiple opponents.
A window into Chinese culture
Due to their connections with Chinese philosophy, religion and history, the Chinese martial arts provide a fascinating window into traditional Chinese culture.
One of the all-time ways to understand China, Chinese civilization and the Chinese martial arts is to experience them for yourself. Nosotros invite you to bring together united states in Guilin to experience Red china firsthand through total language and cultural immersion.
Studying the Chinese martial arts is a great manner to gain a deeper understanding of Chinese civilisation.
Chinese martial art vocabulary
| Hànzì | Pīnyīn | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| 功夫 | gōngfū | kung fu; martial arts; skill |
| 武术 | wǔshù | wushu; martial arts |
| 外家拳 | wàijiāquán | external style (of Chinese martial arts) |
| 内家拳 | nèijiāquán | internal style (of Chinese martial arts) |
| 气 | qì | qi; vital energy |
| 北派 | běipài | northern school/fashion (of Chinese martial arts) |
| 南派 | nánpài | southern school/style (of Chinese martial arts) |
| 少林功夫 | Shàolín Gōngfū | Shaolin Kung Fu |
| 咏春 | Yǒngchūn | Wing Chun |
| 八极拳 | Bājíquán | Bajiquan |
| 太极拳 | Tàijíquán | Tai Chi |
| 阴 | yīn | yin; a night, female force |
| 阳 | yáng | yang; a brilliant, male person force |
| 八卦掌 | Bāguàzhǎng | Baguazhang |
Source: https://studycli.org/chinese-culture/chinese-martial-arts/
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