Wushu History

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Wushu
The History of Wushu

Wushu's history is extremely controversial. However, there are two main theories about its beginnings in the form of Kung Fu. A large number believe that Bodhidharma, (also called Ta Mo), an Indian Buddhist monk is the founder of Kung Fu. Throughout history credit has been given to Bodhidharma as a creator of Sil Lum Kung Fu or the man responsible for introducing the martial arts to China. But some believe that Kung Fu was already in existence long before Bodhidharma arrived in China. There are vague references to a King in China some thousands of years ago who trained his men in techniques of hand-to-hand combat to use against invading barbarians. Some historians date it as far back as the Shang dynasty (16th century B.C.). Others date it back to the time of Huang Ti Emperor (475-221 B.C.). The first written record we have of Chinese martial arts is from a Taoist acupuncturist from the 5th century.

"Wu Shu" is the Chinese term that translates into "military art." Wushu in its early stages served as a means to build up health, fitness, cure disease, prolong life, temper the fighting skills and character and wills, and train military skills, for the members of the societies. Intense military conflicts progressed the further development of Wushu. Wushu matured and formed complete systems of offense and defense.

During late Shang and Zhou Dynasty (1027-777 B.C.), Wushu was not only used for military training but became part of the school education subjects. As time progressed, innumerable people tempered and processed Wushu in different ways. During the period of Warring States (770-221 B.C.), the heads of states and government advocated Wushu in their armies and kept Wushu masters for their own purposes. During the Tang and Sung Dynasties (618-1279), many civil Wushu organizations came into existence. Military Wushu developed more systematically and exhibitions of Wushu arts were held in the armies as morale boosters and military exercises.

Wushu Develops Internationally

By China's Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1911), Wushu had formed its basic patterns and was at its height. The Republic Government established the Central Wushu Institute in Nanjing in 1928. After its establishment, local Wushu institutes were created in provinces, cities and counties. Two National Wushu Meets were held by the Central Wushu Institute in 1928 and 1933 in Nanjing, which carried out competitions on long weapons, short weapons, free sparring and wrestling. In 1939, the Chinese Wushu Team gave a demonstration in Berlin at the XI Olympic Games. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Wushu has become a part of the socialist culture and the people's physical education and sports. The latter half of the 20th century has seen a great upswing in the interest in Wushu globally due to the lectures and exhibitions given by Wushu delegations, teams, instructors and experts. 

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Wing Chun History

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Yip Man

Wing Chun
The Origins of Wing Chun

There are multiple histories of Wing Chun in existence, but the generally accepted version is that the Buddhist nun Ng Mui, who was a master of Shaolin Kung Fu, developed the art nearly 300 years ago in southern China. At that time the Southern Shaolin Temple was sanctuary to the Chinese revolution that was trying to overthrow the ruling Manchu.

A martial arts system was being taught in the temple but it took almost 20 years to produce an efficient fighter. Realizing the need to produce efficient fighters faster, five of China's grandmasters met and chose the most efficient Kung Fu techniques, theories and principles from the various styles. They then developed a training program that produced efficient fighters in 5-7 years. Before the program was put into practice, the temple was raided and destroyed.

Of those that escaped, Ng Mui was the only survivor who knew the full system. However, she realized that much of what she had learned was ineffective for a small, frail woman to use on a larger, stronger man. She revised everything she had learned and discarded techniques that were slow or that relied on strength or size. She developed a system of fighting that enabled a smaller, weaker person to destroy a bigger, stronger person within a few seconds. Ng Mui's new system was well guarded and passed on to only a few, very dedicated students. The style became known as Wing Chun, after Ng Mui's first student, a woman named Yim Wing Chun.

Yim Wing Chun was a native of Canton in China. Her mother died soon after her betrothal to Leung Bok Chau. Her father, Yim Yee, was later wrongfully accused of a crime. Rather than risk jail, Yim Yee and his daughter left the area and settled down at the foot of Mt. Tai Leung. It was here Ng Mui met Yim Yee and Wing Chun. Wing Chun was a beautiful teenager who had attracted the unwanted attention of a local man who continuously tried to force her to marry him by threatening to harm her father. Ng Mui learned of this and agreed to teach Wing Chun fighting techniques so that she could protect herself. Wing Chun followed Ng Mui into the mountains to White Crane Temple, and began to learn Kung Fu. Wing Chun trained until she mastered the techniques. She then challenged the bully to a fight and defeated him.

The Wing Chun System was passed on in a direct line of succession from its origin. After her marriage to Leung Bok Chau, Wing Chun taught him Kung Fu. He in turn passed these techniques on. As techniques were passed along, the Six-and-a-half-point Long Pole was incorporated into Wing Chun Kung Fu. During the Chinese Cultural Revolution, Wing Chun, like other martial arts, was banned in China and survived only through the persistence of practitioners like Yip Man. The veil of secrecy around the art was finally broken in 1949, when Grandmaster Yip Man brought the style out of China into Hong Kong and eventually to the rest of the world.

Yip Man's students began gaining noteriety for besting many systems and experienced opponents in streetfights and "friendly" competitions. The art gained even more popularity when one of its students, Bruce Lee, began to enjoy worldwide fame. It remains one of the most popular forms of Kung Fu today. 

Tang Soo Do History

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Tang Soo Do
The History of Tang Soo Do

Tang Soo Do is a relatively modern Korean martial art based upon the ancient Korean art of Soo Bahk Do, which dates back to the 6th Century. However, the exact origin of Tang Soo Do is obscure. Some Japanese Karate experts insist that the art is of Japanese origin; some say it came from Okinawa; others say it began in China with Bodhidarma and spread from there.

It was during the Silla Dynasty (618 - 935 AD) that the martial arts expanded rapidly in Korea. The Kingdom of Silla was one of the three kingdoms in Korea and was notable for the military prowess of its young warrior class, the Hwa Rang. The five basic principles of Tang Soo Do are derived from the principles of these elite warriors. However, Tang Soo Do gained most of its popularity during the Koryo Dynasty (935 - 1392 AD).

At the beginning of the Yi Dynasty (1392-1910), the National Martial Arts Manual was published, and the term Soo Bahk Do became widely used. During the occupation of Korea by Japan (1907 - 1945) the practice of native martial arts was prohibited. This prohibition forced many Korean Soo Bahk Do Masters to emigrate, or to practice secretly. Tang Soo Do was developed by Grand Master Hwang Kee. He mastered Tae Kyun and Soo Bahk Do at the age of 22. Upon his travels to Northern China in 1936, he encountered a Chinese variation of martial artistry called the Tang Method. From 1936 to 1945 he combined Soo Bahk Do with the Tang Method and developed what was to be known as Moo Duk Kwan Tang Soo Do, even though it was officially registered in Korea on November 9, 1945 as the Korean Soo Bahk Do Association.

At the beginning of the modern era of the Korean martial arts, Tang Soo Do was the most popular term for the merged martial arts, however, at that time, the Korean political leader was concerned about establishing Korean value based on Korean nationalism. The political leaders recognized the popularity of Korean martial arts around the world, but were opposed to the use of the name Tang Soo Do for the art, as it sounded like a Chinese martial art. In 1964, a government sponsored small group created a new name for the Korean martial arts: Taekwondo. The World Tang Soo Do Association still respects the original term, Tang Soo Do, and intends to preserve its heritage and value as a traditional way or path. So Tang Soo Do and Tae Kwon Do are divided principally, with Tang Soo Do striving to remain as a traditional martial art, while Taekwondo held its world games and sport.

The International Tang Soo Do Federation (ITSDF) was formed in 1989. The United Kingdom Tang Soo Do Federation currently serves as its administrative and technical headquarters. Tang Soo Do has since spread throughout the world. Practiced by champions like Chuck Norris, it is a proven method of fighting with a long and proud tradition of victories.

T'ai Chi History

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T'ai Chi
The History of T'ai Chi

Little is known about T'ai Chi's early history which may date as far back to the 6th century B.C., however its foundation is credited to the Taoist Chang San-feng, a monk of the Wu Tang Monastery. Records indicate that Chang lived at the end of the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368) and at the beginning of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

Chang San-fen's theories, writings and practices were later elaborated upon by Wang Chung-yueh and his student Chiang Fa. Wang apparently took the thirteen postures of Chang San-feng and linked them together into continuous sequences, creating something which resembles the contemporary T'ai Chi Chuan form.

Chiang Fa taught T'ai Chi to the Chen village on Henan and thus began the first family school of T'ai Chi Chuan. However, some scholars believe that rather than bringing T'ai Chi to the Chen village, Chiang Fa really only discovered the Chen villagers practicing this art. Others maintain that the Chen family's so-called 'Cannon Pounding' (Pao Chui) was a distinct martial art that undoubtedly influenced Chiang Fa's teaching but that it was not the same as T'ai Chi.

Another of Wang's students was Chen Chou-t'ung who established the so-called "Southern School" of T'ai Chi which subsequently disappeared. Chiang Fa continued with the mainstream "Northern" school of T'ai Chi which survives today. The principal styles that exist today are the New Frame Style of Chen T'ai Chi, the Yang Style of T'ai Chi, the Old Frame Style of Chen T'ai Chi, the Wu Style of T'ai Chi, the Wu Shi Style (or Hao Style) of T'ai Chi Chuan, and the Sun Style of T'ai Chi Chuan.

Present Day T'ai Chi

It would be unwise for a present day student to forget the historical fact that T'ai Chi was once a deadly art, jealously guarded by a few families and used for killing. It is within the context of a life or death struggle that the techniques of T'ai Chi were refined over the centuries.

T'ai Chi's place in a less violent, modern society lies in enlarging our understanding of who our "enemy" is. Traditionally, the enemy was an opponent in a combat situation. Today the enemy may be stress, fatigue, or the lack of understanding of oneself and one's body. The same system used then can also be used now to help keep stress from killing or injuring you.

Since the 19th century, the Chinese have understood the immense health benefits of T'ai Chi, and its popularity has grown steadily. T'ai Chi is now practiced around the world. It is one of the most popular exercises today with more than 300 million participants. While all martial arts were designed to increase one's longevity, daily practice of T'ai Chi promotes mental clarity and a healthy body, assists with balance and helps the circulation of the blood.

Taekwondo History

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Taekwondo
The Origin of Taekwondo

The origin of Taekwondo traces back to the three kingdoms of Koguryo (37 BC-668 AD), Paekche (18 BC-600 AD), and Silla (57 BC-936 AD). Mural paintings on the royal tombs of the Koguryo dynasty, the stone sculptures of pagadas of temples of the Silla period, and documents written in the Paekche dynasty showed fighting stances, skills, and formalized movements similar to today's Taekwondo styles and forms.

All three kingdoms indulged in growing national strength with trained warriors. Therefore, the Korean history tells that there were military personalities among the well-known prominent national leaders of the three kingdoms, which proves the military tendency of ruling hierarchy.

Although Taekwondo first appeared in the Koguryo kingdom, it is the Silla's Hwarang warriors that are credited with the growth and spread of Taekwondo throughout Korea. Silla was the smallest of the three kingdoms and was always under attack by Japanese pirates. Silla got help from King Gwanggaeto and his soldiers from the Koguryo kingdom to drive out the pirates. During this time a few select Sillan warriors were given training in Taek Kyon by the early masters from Koguryo.

The Taek Kyon trained warriors became known as the Hwarang. The Hwarang set up a military academy for the sons of royalty in Silla called Hwarang-do, which means "the way of flowering manhood." The guiding principles of the Hwarang warriors were loyalty, filial duty, trustworthiness, valor, and justice. The makeup of the Hwarang-do education was based on the Five Codes of Human Conduct written by a Buddhist scholar, fundamental education, Taek Kyon and social skills. Taek Kyon was spread throughout Korea because the Hwarang traveled all around the peninsula to learn about the other regions and people.

The modern period of Taekwondo began with the liberation of Korea in 1945 after World War II. Korea wanted to eliminate Japanese influences (in martial arts) and began to unite the various martial arts schools and styles into a single style and national sport. In 1965, the name Taekwondo was chosen to represent this unified style of Korean martial arts.

Kukkiwon

The present Kukkiwon was finished in 1972 and was used as the central gymnasium as well as the site of various Taekwondo competitions. A year later on May 28, 1973 the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) came into existence. The first World Taekwondo Championships were also held in 1973. In 1980 the World Taekwondo Federation was granted recognition by the International Olympic Committe (IOC). Then the adoption of Taekwondo as an official event was followed by the World Games in 1981, the Pan-American games in 1986, and finally by the 2000 Olympics held in Australia. 

Muay Thai History

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Muay Thai
The Origins of Muay Thai

Much of the early history of Muay Thai was lost when the Burmese army destroyed Ayuddhaya, as the archives of Thai history were lost. Most of what is known about the origins of Thai boxers comes from Burmese accounts of warfare between Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) and Thailand during the 15th and 16th centuries. All sources agree that Muay Thai began as a close combat battlefield fighting skill … more deadly than the weapons it replaced.

There are two main theories as to where Muay Thai came from. One theory is that the art developed as the Thai people moved down from China and struggled for land. The second theory, while controversial, has archaeological evidence and considerable academic backing and says that the Thai people were already in Thailand and that Muay Thai developed to defend the land and its people from constant threats of invasion. What is not disputed is that Muay Thai was an essential part of Thai culture right from its dawn and in Thailand it is the sport of kings.

Interest in Muay Thai as a sport, as well as a battlefield skill, began to grow in the late 1500's under King Naresuan. During this period, every soldier trained in Muay Thai and could use it, as the King himself did. Slowly new fighting techniques began to evolve with the change in the art continuing under another fighting king - Prachao Sua. Known as the Tiger King, he often fought incognito in village contests, beating the local champions. During contests, the hands and forearms were bound with strips of horse's hair. This was done to protect the fighter as well as inflict more damage on the opponent. Later, hemp ropes or starched strips of cotton replaced the horse's hair. For particular challenge matches and with the fighters' consent, ground glass was mixed with glue and spread on the strips. The Tiger King was one of the prime movers in transforming the sport, not only influencing fighting styles but also the equipment.

The nation was at peace during Prachao Sua's reign, so to keep the army busy, he ordered them to train in Muay Thai. Muay Thai then became the favorite sport and pastime with people from every walk of life. Each village staged its own prize fights and had its champions. In addition to a contest of local pride, every Muay Thai bout was bet upon. The betting tradition has continued and today large sums are wagered on the outcome of fights.

It wasn't until the reign of King Rama VI (1910-1925) that a standard ring surrounded by ropes came into use, as did time keeping by the clock. Before this period, any available space of the right size was used for the bouts. Time was kept by floating a pierced coconut shell on water. When the coconut piece sank, a drum signaled the end of the round.

Muay Thai was a part of school curriculum until the 1920's. It was withdrawn because there were concerns that the injury rate was too high. However, Muay Thai continued to be practiced in gyms and clubs. The 1930's saw the most radical change in Muay Thai. It was codified and today's rules and regulations were introduced. Rope bindings of the arms and hands were replaced with gloves. Thai fighters have always worn groin guards, originally made from sea shells or tree bark. They were replaced by a triangular shaped pillow and later a groin box.

Weight classes based on the international boxing divisions were introduced, altering the fighting techniques that the Muay Thai boxers used. Before the introduction of weight classes, a fighter could and did fight anyone regardless of their size and weight differences. The introduction of the weight classes meant that the fighters were more evenly matched and instead of there being one overall champion, there became one for each weight class. The introduction of five 3 minute rounds was another recent innovation. Winners are determined by knockout, technical knockout, or judgment by officials.

Stadiums like Rajdamnern and Lumpinee were established during the reign of Rama VII before World War II. They gradually disappeared during the war but reappeared soon afterwards. Fights were then broadcast in full color on Thailand television. Today fights dominate televised sports are broadcast free to millions of Muay Thai fans throughout Thailand on all stations - four nights a week. Thai Boxing has also become popular outside of Thailand with enthusiasts and practitioners around the world. 

Kung Fu History

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Kung Fu
The History of Kung Fu

The history of Kung Fu is extremely controversial as the exact date of its development is not known. There are two main theories about the beginnings of Kung Fu. A large number believe that Bodhidharma, (also called Ta Mo), an Indian Buddhist monk is the founder of Kung Fu. And some believe that Kung Fu was already in existence long before Bodhidharma arrived in China. Throughout history credit has been given to Bodhidharma as a creator of Sil Lum Kung Fu or the man responsible for introducing the martial arts to China. Some historians date it as far back as the Shang dynasty (16th century B.C.). Others date it back to the time of Huang Ti Emperor (475-221 B.C.). The first written record we have of Chinese martial arts is from a Taoist acupuncturist from the 5th century. He describes combat designed along the lines of an animal's movements and style. Written text about Kung Fu was depicted in the early 17th Century by the Jesuit priest Pere Amoit. He wrote of "peculiar" exercises, which he called "Cong Fou," practiced by the Taoist priests of his area.

The Chinese term that translates into "military art" is "Wu Shu." As with all martial arts, Wushu in its early stages of development was practiced primarily for self-defense and for aquiring basic needs. As time progressed, innumerable people tempered and processed Wushu in different ways. By China's Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911), Wushu had formed its basic patterns.

Kung Fu's Popularity Soars

Martial arts spread throughout China during the Republic (1912 - 1948). Military tactics were taught in all schools and fighting arts became very popular in China. Kung Fu made its way to the United States in the days following the gold rush of 1848. It was an integral part of the lifestyle in Chinese labor camps and mining towns in California.

Practice of Kung Fu increased dramatically in 1863 with the importation of Chinese laborers to work on the Central Pacific Railroad. However, few people; even Chinese, were allowed to study the art. Early Kung Fu schools in the states perpetuated the secret society mystique. As time passed the strict tenets eased and Kung Fu slowly came into the public light. Throughout the U.S., Kung Fu gained popularity in the 1960's and '70s because of Bruce Lee's movies and the TV show, "Kung Fu."