About Kung Fu

The words Kung Fu have become known in the west to mean Chinese Martial Arts, but if you translate the words from Chinese to English the word Kung means “Energy” and the word Fu means “Time”, so together the words mean a dedicated arduous study over a sustained period of time.

Kung Fu became famous as martial arts by the dedication of the monks at the Shaolin Temple, before 527AD the monastery was a place of Buddhist worship and religious teaching. It was in the year 527AD that an Indian prince Da Mo arrived at the monastery to discover that the monks were in poor health and not fit enough to pursue the rigorous meditation required.

Da Mo shut himself away for years and when he emerged he had devised a serious of exercises mimicking the movement of animals and birds designed to strengthen their bodies and minds both internally and externally. After practicing these methods the monks became healthy and physically strong. They then introduced martial forms into their routine and although dedicated to peace and living in harmony, they became revered and respected by how well they could defend themselves.

Traditionally Kung Fu masters would learn healing techniques before being taught martial techniques, so that they could undo any damage they may have had to inflict in self defence. They were more inclined to be approached for their ability to heal rather than their ability to fight.

The benefits from learning Kung Fu are many, to list a few, physical and emotional control, confidence and well-being, assertiveness and heightened reflexes, breathing and body movement, comradeship, stress reduction, good posture, stability and improved mobility and flexibility.