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Many folks, students or not, ask me about kung fu and what it means. They ask the same thing about Shaolin. Then, they ask, “well, what is the term for martial arts in China”? These are three common questions.
KUNG FU
Kung fu has become, these days, kind of a generic term for all styles of martial arts in China. It’s interesting how popular the term has become because it wasn’t particularly used until the early 1900s. Most people unfamiliar with Chinese martial arts, think the term goes back thousands of years. But, it doesn’t. It’s a rather new term and one that has been hugely popularized throughout the world by media and movies.
Kung fu basically means “hard work” but not just that. Kung equates pretty closely to work but the character for “fu” indicates not only “hard work” but an attitude: it is sincere and dedicated work. It’s a term that really indicates the sincerity behind the work.
If you are polishing your car and being a bit lazy about it, you are not performing Kung Fu. But, if you are giving it your best; and, every inch of the car has your full attention and sincerity, you are indeed performing Kung Fu. It was the exact attitude the Shaolin Monks maintained in their martial art training and daily life. It is that quality that became recognized and popularized in the first part of the 20th century.
SHAOLIN (OKINAWAN – “SHORIN”) (KOREAN – “SO RIM”)
Shaolin really is Shao Lin and means “young forest” or “young green forest”. You see, neither Kung Fu nor Shaolin mean anything near self-defense or fighting… or martial art.
WU SHU (WU SU) (KOREAN – “MOO SUL”)
Wu Shu is the term used in China for martial art. But, today it really implies more of an acrobatic art that has little or nothing left to do with actual hand-to-hand combat. Older terms such as Ch’uan Fa and specific style names such as Ba Chi Ch’uan, Hop Gar, Hsing I, Pa Kua and countless others were used to reference Chinese fighting arts.
THANKS!
This is a very short and brief explanation of these terms. One day soon, I may address these in much more detail. But for now, this will give you a quick insight to what those terms mean and how they are used.
Thanks for coming by to read and comment!
