Martial arts

Author: China Tourism Press
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-02-01
Features: "Flying eaves and walking walls," "iron frame and strong bones" are forged this way. Chinese martial arts are not just martial arts, but also include Gong, which is Wushu. Beyond routines, they particularly emphasize Gong training. The folk saying goes, "If you practice boxing without practicing Gong, you will be empty-handed in old age." The internal and external Gong of martial arts directly inherit the cultivation methods of Chinese Buddhism and Taoism. Many modern Chinese Qigong schools inherit their internal Gong from Chinese martial arts, playing a significant role in fitness and often showing remarkable effects in treating difficult and chronic conditions. Traditional martial arts schools often do not distinguish by form but are formed based on historical inheritance and regional differences. Examples include:
- Schools named after mountains and scenic spots: Shaolin, Wudang, Emei, Qingcheng, Huashan, Kongtong, Tianshan.
- Schools named after regions: "Southern fists and northern legs," "Southern staffs and northern spears," "internal family boxing and external family boxing."
- Schools named after specific styles: Chaquan, Hongquan, Taichiquan, Xingyi, Bagua, Tongbei, Menhe, Huquan, Tanglang, Yingzhua, Ditang, Piguai, Meihua, Ziran, Baji. Chinese martial arts also possess aesthetic and fitness values.