Kung Fu in China

Practicing Kung Fu with weapons

One of the most famous contributions to the world, Kung Fu is an art that is unmatched in beauty, grace, and speed. It combines auspicious principles with a reverence to nature and humankind. It is meant to improve body, mind and spirit so that the practicioner has a higher conscious, and ironically, is made more civilized in the practice of martial arts. In China, there are different types of Kung Fu. Wushu, literally translated as "Martial Arts" is the overall term for self-defense sports in China. The beauty of this art is that you can use your body, traditional weapons or even ordinary items to employ the techniques. This art is taught from generation to generation. Many masters of this art have practiced it in the family or at monasteries. In both cases, strict discipline and hours of practice along with a series of tests are required to become a master in Kung Fu. Like all martial arts, the movements in wushu were originally designed for fighting, but it is now practiced for many reasons - for health, for competition, for enjoyment and for social interaction.

Practicing Kung Fu without weapons

Overall, wushu is popular in China. On reason it is so popular is because there are different techniques that are popular with different age groups. The Wushu technique called Chang Quan uses characteristically fast movements that must be precise. For this reason, it is popular among young people. Another technique, called Xingyi Quan, is an "internal" martial art. This means that it focuses less on speed and great movement, and more on precision and developing your inner energy. It is popular with young and middle-aged adults.

Kung Fu instructor, Li Chuang

Tai Chi Chuan, the well-known martial art characterized by slow, flowing movements, also popular in the United States. This technique is popular with people of all ages, but it is especially chosen by the elderly because it does not require fast movement. Although the movements are slow, there are surprising benefits when practicing Tai Chi. First of all, it teaches you to breathe properly. This helps you to increase your oxygen intake more efficiently, making you less tired and more relaxed. Second, you learn incredible balance. This helps you carry yourself with more confidence. Thirdly, you learn to pay attention acute attention to your own body. You will discover that the slightest changes in body position, posture and stance can radically improve how you feel, including correction poor movement and relieving the tension that poor movement causes. These benefits are kept long after you stop doing the exercises.

In addition to studying this art, you will be traveling to different scenic and cultural sites in China. For a more detailed travel itinerary, please click here.