Kung Fu Styles
Kung Fu is an old and powerful martial art. The power and mystique of Kung Fu is enhanced by the presence of several different forms. We will discuss some of the major forms and styles of Kung Fu below.
All though this is not all of them.
White Crane Style
This is considered the most graceful system of Kung Fu and is based on the spirit of the white crane. The crane, which is often found in the marshes and plains, was the inspiration for the forms of this style. The term deadly beauty has often been used to describe the defense forms and attacks of this style.
The movements within this style are simple, although they can take years to master. Students of this style are taught to avoid confrontations if possible, and are masters of self defense. The stylist of this style will only use these great skills if left with no other option than physical confrontation.
Wing Chun
The main theory behind this style is that the opposite will attack, absorb, and neutralize an attack. The opponent will then back off, pursue, and then counter, often retaliating with great force.
It takes years to fully comprehend and master this philosophy and the techniques associated with it. Based on the theory that a straight line is the shortest distance between two points this style uses a steady and consistent forward flow of energy.
Interception and straight lines when deflecting arcs are the heart of the Wing Chun offense. This style is aggressive and takes the fight to the attacker in a close quarter style. There is not much attention paid to traditional block and counter moves in Wing Chun.
Hung Gar
This style emphasizes close quarter techniques and is an adaptation of the Tiger system of Shaolin. This style is excellent for close quarter fighting, such as in alleys, although it is lacking in distance fighting. Stylists of this style will learn to properly protect themselves in a way that stylist of other martial arts systems can not.
Praying Mantis
A man named Wang studied the movements of a captured praying mantis around 400 years ago. These movements became the foundation of the praying mantis style of martial art. Both the offensive and defensive movements of the praying mantis were used in the development of this style.
Monkey Style
This is one of the deadliest styles in the martial arts, although it is often thought of as comical. This style originated when missionaries first arrived in China during the 1840s.
A man named See is though to be the inspiration for this style as he was arrested for killing an officer. See would carefully watch the prison monkeys during his time in prison for the crime. The monkeys were fascinating to him and watching them helped to pass the time.
He paid close attention to how the monkeys defended themselves during his ten years in prison. Upon his release from prison he developed his own style of martial art based on what he had observed. This system is still studied today as many people joined him in this new art.
