Kungfuology is a web 2.0 site about Kung Fu. We are based out of Shanghai and interested in Asia. We are a collaborative blog, so why not write for us if you have something relevant. We also have featured content from our team that includes original video shows every 3-4 weeks.
Kung Fu
What do we mean when we say "Kung Fu"? This is a tough one.
In Chinese culture the origins of Kung Fu are in Shaolin and the origins of Kung Fu in Shaolin are marked by the monk Bodhidharma's visit to Mt. Song (Song Shan). Teachers in all styles of Kung Fu will happily go back to Bodhidharma, his Chinese name commonly abbreviated to Da Mo, when asked about the historical or cultural side of their art. The exercise routines that are accredited to him in Kung Fu mythology are known today as the Eighteen Luohan Routines (Shiba Luohan Gong). Aligning the mind and body to refine the awareness and internal energy centre is expressed in Chinese language as the cultivation of Qi. These early roots of Kung Fu represent the coming together of fighting techniques, yogic techniques (Luohan Gong) and meditation to form a complete system of the body, energy and mind that, philosophically, is a distinct product of Imperial Era China. Therefore we venture that when we use the term Shaolin Kung Fu or Kung Fu in this site, we are referring to Chinese fighting arts that come from the Shaolin tradition that combine Buddhist philosophy and yogic meditation with combat techniques and movements. Shaolin Kung Fu is not a style itself, but a tradition from which the styles have evolved.
Wushu Policy
The sport commonly known as "Wushu" - in China it's officially called Zhonghua Wushu - is a gymnastic performance art that uses Kung Fu as its inspiration. Sanda is a kickboxing league. Both have been wholly invented by national committee then refined in a period that spans 1950-1976. Their creation was a mass political act of rejecting Kung Fu. We do not cover Wushu.
We have no time for ridiculous semantics like this, "In Chinese, 'Wushu' means martial arts so it is martial arts." I can call my cat a dog if I like.
We also have to exercise care as many communities on the mainland that have gone back to traditional Kung Fu contain the influence of the government sanctioned internal styles and Wushu. It is not uncommon to visit a Kung Fu club and see the official Wushu warm ups being done. Post-revolution politically correct Wushu language is also common across all mainland clubs, for example, calling a Bow/Hill Climbing Stance "Gongbu". Wushu's Gongbu and Kung Fu's Dengshan Bu are different. Hence in our writing we will use the different terms.
