Flying Jinko
New member
Hey guys, Im sure many of you here are interested in martial arts especially the various styles of Kung-Fu. Since I am experienced in a number of Kung Fu styles and have been practising for over 10 years, I thought of shedding some light on this wonderful art, so that all those aspiring to learn it can make wise and informed decisions regarding particular styles you would like to practice. It has been known that there are more than 800 styles of Kung Fu and thus a comparison with each of these styles will be impractical. Thus for starters I shall focus on the two main broad classifications of Kung Fu, the Northern Styles and The Southern Styles.
Northern Styles: Fluid, Elegant, Dynamic
If you were to watch someone trained in the northern style of kung fu vs someone trained in the southern style the difference would be apparent. Nothern styles are generally based around much wider stances, much higher kicks and greater mobility. Much of the whirling motion and spin kicks you see are typical of northern styles.
During the times of the Chou Dynasty,Northern China had a much rockier terrain and constant climbing up and down a hill would strengthen the legs of its people. The people from this region were generally of a much taller stature and better able to use long range kicks. With Mongolia to the north there was much greater need to focus army in this region as well. A martial arts style developed primarily for fighting in situations like this would be more fluid. With dynamics of war, one is constantly being pushed or pulled by soldiers on all sides and one must learn very fluid stances in order to react. It would be likely that a martial artist has a weapon in hand so kicks would be extremely useful.
Thus it is typically thought that this environment is what led to the development of northern styles of kung fu, in which kicks are used frequently and there is a lot of movement in one's stance. Northern Styles are characterized by their long range techniques, quick advances and retreats, agility, whirling or circular motions.
Examples: Chang quan, Xing yi quan
(One of Kano's styles in MK
A)
Southern Styles: Stable, Powerful and Grounded
When the Qing Dynasty overther the Ming, the Shaolin temple in the Fuijan province was destroyed. The Shaolin masters who managed to escape fled to neighbouring provinces and there they developed an insurgency and would often train the locals and peasants to fight against the oppression. Since martial arts was prohibited, it was impossible to train as they have for centuries. The combat they would face was entirely different from clash of armies and the fighting techniques needed to adapt to these conditions.
In the south the terrain was much flatter, with less open spaces. Its people were shorter than those in the north and the cities were cropped up with densely packed buildings, restricting mobility within cities. More combat was also happening in small numbers in city streets. With an insurgent force training in secret, fights were usually one on one or a few fighters at a time, usually in very close proximity to one another in alleyways and streets with densely packed buildings surrounding them. Flourishing kicks and whirling blocks would not be as effective in such close combat, and southern styles adapted to meet these condtions. Martial Arts training was prohibited and hence one could not train in weapons and had to rely on his hands.
Low stances, Low kicks, greater use of hands and stability are all characteristic of southern styles. Many of the strikes are designed to get as much as power out of as little motion as possible and it is in tradition that you commonly hear of the 'one inch punch,' Stances had to be low to the ground, so that the fighter could remain grounded. Much of the fighting philosophy was geared towards economy of motion and restricting any uneccesary movement. (Bruce Lee would later strive to perfect this concept by creating Jeet Kune Do).
Southern styles thus became very external or hard styles. Hands replaced weapons so each strike had to do as much as damage as possible. Kicks were mostly retricted to striking below the waist.
Examples: Wing-Chun, Nan Quan
I hope this was informative to most here. I shall give a brief intro on the shaolin temple styles and animal styles in the next post and then focus on individual styles, stating its pros, cons and to what kind of people it would be suitable etc so that all aspirants can make informed decisions.
Northern Styles: Fluid, Elegant, Dynamic
If you were to watch someone trained in the northern style of kung fu vs someone trained in the southern style the difference would be apparent. Nothern styles are generally based around much wider stances, much higher kicks and greater mobility. Much of the whirling motion and spin kicks you see are typical of northern styles.
During the times of the Chou Dynasty,Northern China had a much rockier terrain and constant climbing up and down a hill would strengthen the legs of its people. The people from this region were generally of a much taller stature and better able to use long range kicks. With Mongolia to the north there was much greater need to focus army in this region as well. A martial arts style developed primarily for fighting in situations like this would be more fluid. With dynamics of war, one is constantly being pushed or pulled by soldiers on all sides and one must learn very fluid stances in order to react. It would be likely that a martial artist has a weapon in hand so kicks would be extremely useful.
Thus it is typically thought that this environment is what led to the development of northern styles of kung fu, in which kicks are used frequently and there is a lot of movement in one's stance. Northern Styles are characterized by their long range techniques, quick advances and retreats, agility, whirling or circular motions.
Examples: Chang quan, Xing yi quan
(One of Kano's styles in MK
A)Southern Styles: Stable, Powerful and Grounded
When the Qing Dynasty overther the Ming, the Shaolin temple in the Fuijan province was destroyed. The Shaolin masters who managed to escape fled to neighbouring provinces and there they developed an insurgency and would often train the locals and peasants to fight against the oppression. Since martial arts was prohibited, it was impossible to train as they have for centuries. The combat they would face was entirely different from clash of armies and the fighting techniques needed to adapt to these conditions.
In the south the terrain was much flatter, with less open spaces. Its people were shorter than those in the north and the cities were cropped up with densely packed buildings, restricting mobility within cities. More combat was also happening in small numbers in city streets. With an insurgent force training in secret, fights were usually one on one or a few fighters at a time, usually in very close proximity to one another in alleyways and streets with densely packed buildings surrounding them. Flourishing kicks and whirling blocks would not be as effective in such close combat, and southern styles adapted to meet these condtions. Martial Arts training was prohibited and hence one could not train in weapons and had to rely on his hands.
Low stances, Low kicks, greater use of hands and stability are all characteristic of southern styles. Many of the strikes are designed to get as much as power out of as little motion as possible and it is in tradition that you commonly hear of the 'one inch punch,' Stances had to be low to the ground, so that the fighter could remain grounded. Much of the fighting philosophy was geared towards economy of motion and restricting any uneccesary movement. (Bruce Lee would later strive to perfect this concept by creating Jeet Kune Do).
Southern styles thus became very external or hard styles. Hands replaced weapons so each strike had to do as much as damage as possible. Kicks were mostly retricted to striking below the waist.
Examples: Wing-Chun, Nan Quan
I hope this was informative to most here. I shall give a brief intro on the shaolin temple styles and animal styles in the next post and then focus on individual styles, stating its pros, cons and to what kind of people it would be suitable etc so that all aspirants can make informed decisions.
