China Arts Association

This article is a brief overview of the origins of Chinese Martial Arts, followed by a viewpoint on what place Kung Fu has in the world today. We will first see that Kung Fu evolved in a martial tradition, but that its meaning goes beyond just being a fighting skill and that therefore still has relevance in the modern world.

There are many theories concerning the origins of Chinese Wushu, including a large number of folktales attributing skills to mythical figures passing on secret techniques. However, a more sociological approach divides the basic origins into the following points:

In the Beginning

The Dong family came from Gong Tong County in Shanxi province. Dong Hai Chuan, born in 1797, was originally called Dong Ming Kui and was the second son of Dong Bo Xuan. At an early age he started learning Kung Fu from a relative called Dong Xian Zhou. At any chance he got, he would run off to be with Dong Xian Zhou and was rarely seen at home.

The Start of Dong Hai Chuan’s Wanderings and the Changing of his Name

Practitioners of Xing Yi Quan aim to unite movement with mind so that they can achieve the ultimate expression of internal power. Each of the 5 elements fists has its own way of expressing power.

The movements of Zhang Style Xing Yi are compact and coordinated, complete and stable, fast and slow, with an obvious rhythm and form and spirit united as one. Zhang style Xing Yi is a combination of hard ferocious movements and soft, “silk spinning” movements, so that its characteristics are distinct from other styles of Xing Yi.

1. The Stance - the posture is correct, movements are complete

"As soon as the mind and qi are released, the body must follow"