Chinese Kungfu guide

Chinese Kung fu, also known as martial arts, is one of the most well known examples of traditional Chinese culture. It enjoys a special place in Chinese spiritual and cultural landscape. People, native or foreign, are easily amazed when Chinese Kung fu are performed. It is now popular around the world either from the Kung fu stars active in Hollywood, like Bruce Lee, Jacky Chan, Jet Li; or shown in Oscor movies, like  "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and "Kung fu Panda". It is probably one of the earliest and longest lasting sports which utilize both brawn and brain.

Martial arts or Chinese Kongfu are systems of codified practices and traditions of training for combat. The theory of martial arts is linked to beliefs such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism or Shinto while others follow a particular code of honor. Over its long history it has developed as a unique combination of exercise, practical self-defense, self-discipline and art. It contains series of actions and many single actions to fit kick, strike, tumble, hold, fall, cleave together in some certain rules. Chinese Kung fu can be divided into two types: "external" kung fu and "internal" kung fu. It is said that "In external kung fu, you exercise your tendons, bones, and skin; in internal kung fu, you train your spirit your qi, and your mind.

Shaolin Kung fu is the most famous of the martial arts heritages with over 1,500 years of history. It was developed from the Shaolin Temple, in the region of Song Mountain, Henan Province. While cultivating in the thick forest of the high mountains, monks created a set of body-building exercises by learning the postures of flying, jumping and running from birds, beasts and fish. Gradually, these body-building exercises developed into a sort of boxing through long practice and improvement, which is generally called 'Shaolin boxing'. Now, the Shaolin Temple has become the most popular travel destination in Henan Province, especially for the Chinese Kungfu-lovers.