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| Chinese martial arts | ||
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Martial art
Practiced since the dawn of human civilisation,
Chinese martial arts have
influenced martial arts development throughout the whole of Asia.
The
fighting skills
have been developed and refined with each generation.
Folk arts
The
Chinese have used martial arts for the last
4500 years.
Their skills have remained relevant and functional throughout the ages.
The
speed and
versatility of Chinese martial arts makes them ideal for armed combat, unarmed
combat and
self defence.
Fighting art or martial art?
Some styles of martial arts were designed to be
fighting arts; for individual combat,
personal protection and self defence.
Other methods were adopted and employed by the Chinese military - these were
martial arts, not fighting arts.
'Martial' means military
Military combat is quite different from self defence or
sport; more serious...
And it is usually features weaponry.
Wushu
The modern off-shoot of Chinese martial arts is called 'wushu'.
It combines martial arts-style movements, gymnastics, acrobatics and dance
choreographed to look exciting.
Wushu is all about aesthetics, theatrical displays and entertainment. Traditional Chinese martial arts are not performance art, nor
sport.
External
Most martial arts rely on strength, tensed muscles, speed,
force against force,
locked joints,
aggression and using the arms
independently of the body.
This is thought of as being 'external'.
Internal martial arts (neijiaquan)
A handful of Chinese martial arts use the body in a very different manner, relying
upon timing, balance, relaxed muscles, whole-body strength, whole-body
movement and whole-body power.
These arts are called 'internal' or
neijiaquan. The training methods are more
advanced and harder to learn.
Wudang
Taijiquan was created in the Wudang Mountain range in Hubei, China. This
mountain region is famous for Taoism.
Although baguazhang and
xingyiquan are often referred to as
'Wudang', neither of those styles originated in the Wudang Mountain range.
Only taijiquan is from Wudang. Baguazhang is from Emei.
Advanced martial art
Internal martial arts (neijiaquan) cultivate a very different attitude in the student.
They necessitate an unfamiliar approach to
body use, combat and living:
Health and combat are equally important
Age is less of an obstacle
Significantly more refined, detailed and sophisticated than mainstream martial arts
Strength is built using unconventional means
Cross-training: core strength, massage, leg stretches, yoga, qigong, neigong, form, partnered work, martial sets & drills, combat and weapons
Physically and mentally challenging; but in a very different way to mainstream martial arts
Body must be trained to move in a manner that is unfamiliar
Hidden, restrained, subtle
Incapacitation is the aim
Composure is vital
Allowing, leading, misdirecting, listening, sensitivity, adaptation
Close-quarters
Circular
Reliance upon spontaneity and timing
Being in the body and sensation-oriented
Blending rather than blocking
Feeling your vulnerability
A highly developed technical understanding is cultivated
An understanding of the meaning and application of the martial Classics
The art is a vehicle for exploring the many insights offered by 'taoism'
The training is done
carefully, gently - in a controlled manner -
without exertion or strain
In taijiquan we do not train
ourselves so our bodies are distorted in one way to achieve something
special.
(Chungliang Al Huang)
Page created 25 March 1994
Last updated
14 July 2021