Everybody Was Kung Fu Fighting: Studying Martial Arts in China

Everybody Was Kung Fu Fighting: Studying Martial Arts in China
Oct 12, 2009 By Susie Gordon , eChinacities.com

The average expat comes to China with high hopes. Some dream of becoming fluent in Mandarin, others hope for achievements in the workplace. But some harbour a very different desire – one which will make them the envy of their friends back home: kick-ass martial arts skills à la Jet Li and Jackie Chan. As the home of many martial arts, China can be a great place to study the various styles of wushu and gongfu. Read on to find out where you can train to become the next Bruce Lee.


Photo: richardmasoner

Wushù (武术) and gōngfu (功夫) are the official names for Chinese martial arts, a practise which dates back around 4000 years to the Xia Dynasty. Wushu was developed as self-defence training and hunting practise. Many styles branched off over the years, some using weapons (spears, swords, and sticks) and some using bare hands. The various styles were inspired by ancient myths and stories, and the movement of animals.

Martial arts fall into two main categories –nèi (内) or “internal”, which concentrates on harnessing the powers of the life force or “qi”, and wài (外) meaning “external” which focuses on fitness and muscular training. Both groups share common purpose: to improve health and spirit, and to build self-defence skills.

Shaolin kung fu is one of the most popular Chinese martial arts among foreign students of wushu, thanks in part to the Shaolin monks who have made it famous in the West with their elaborate (and impressive) stage show. The original Shaolin temple is in Henan province near the town of Dengfeng. Since most of the kung fu schools in Shaolin itself were closed down at the behest of a local abbot, Dengfeng has become the main centre for Shaolin training in China. Of the 40 or so schools in Dengfeng, Tagou is the biggest with 10,000 students. All the schools are different, so it’s impossible to recommend just one. If you’re interested, do some research to find out which will be best for you. Foreigners can expect to pay between ¥600 and ¥5,000 per month to train at a kungfu school in Dengfeng. They can also expect an almighty shock to the system: pre-dawn sirens as wake-up calls, heavy, relentless training all day with breaks only for food and sleep, and basic living conditions. It ain’t a walk in the park, that’s for sure.

The Shaolin temple at Songshan in Jilin Province north of Beijing is an alternative to Shaolin itself. The Siping City Shaolin Martial Arts Center offers training in meditation techniques including qigong and tai chi, as well as traditional Shaolin kung fu taught by experienced masters. Tuition costs US$300 per month, with an additional US$270 per month for accommodation and food.


Photo: kevinpoh

If you want to try something a bit different from Shaolin, Baguazhang may be just the thing. Based on the Daoist principle of the eight trigrams of the I Ching, Baguazhang relies on skill rather than brutality to overmaster opponents. Bagua artists use the circle as the basis for their moves, believing that a moving target is more difficult to strike. Big sticks and spears are used, coupled with ducking and weaving. Bagua is relatively new, only gaining popularity in the early 19th century. The Wudang Academy in Hubei Province is probably the best place to train. Based at the Daoist site Yuxu Gong, studies are overseen by Master Yuan, and don’t come cheap. A 3 year course costs ¥100,000 while the 5 years of training required to become a master will set you back ¥150,000. Students are only allowed one month’s holiday per year, so Wudang is strictly for the dedicated.

If you don’t want to specialise in a single discipline, you should think about taking a combined martial arts course. This way, if you find out on day one that you hate kung fu, you’ll be able to do other stuff as well. Schools like the Martial Arts Academy near Nanchang in Fujian Province offer mixed courses in Shaolin, Sanda (contact fighting), Xingyi (channelling qi), Bagua, and Fujian White Crane fighting. They also teach tai chi chuan and qigong. Classes run $1,459 per month.

Then there’s the Wushu Academy near Beijing which offers a range of martial arts alongside language teaching and cultural education. A week of basic martial arts training costs US$200, but combined with extracurriculars it’s US$540, with US$630 per month accommodation.

You get the feeling that these serve-all schools are less authentic than the Chinese-run organisations. Sure, your room will be cleaner and your food a bit tastier, but you miss out on the grittier side of wushu life. It just depends what you’re looking for: if you’re a dyed in the wool enthusiast, a school in Dengfeng will suit you perfectly, but if you’re more of an amateur looking to dip your toe in the swirling waters of wushu, you’ll be better off at a foreign-run school.

Whatever you decide, good luck. You’ll be doing round-houses with the best of them before you know it.
 

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2 Comments

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Daniel

Seeking Students interested in getting in shape while learning the Jeet Kune Do concepts. Classes will include a number of different concepts and arts. Also, class may include conditioning, such as, push-ups, pull-ups,dips, sprints and more. Have the opportunity in learning this most incredible athletic fighting sport. Change the way you move and you will change the way you think. Get involved in something really cool, athletic and relaxing, while learning cutting edge training methods. Certified by Paul Vunak's Progeressive Fighting Systems in California and Shaharam Moosavi's Arizona Jeet Kune Do. Please contact me for more information. Thank you very much. 15112445158

Oct 03, 2012 02:23 Report Abuse

Daniel

Please come train with me and learn the 4 ranges of fighting plus extra long range and tight trapping range. Classes are currently held in a one-on-one basis for maximum growth. During your classes you will learn a variety of non-classical Jeet Kune Do concepts. Classes may or may not contain running, jumping, stretching, calistenics, and more based on basic conditioning. You will also learn Sumbratta in a 3 step flow, Sinawali 3,4,5 step methods, trappping drills from Wing Chun and Kali, Straight Blasts punching, Western Boxing, rythem of 3, footwork and head movement, Thai kick- thai and inside shin kicks, Pananjakman, Elbows, Knees and Headbutts, sensitivity drills, arm locks, chokes, hold, restraints, toe kicks, Panantukan, nerve destrucions, range control, eye jabs/groin smashes, arm bashing based on crosstraning trapping, weapon training for the empty hand and more. Let's have fun and train.

Jul 31, 2012 00:40 Report Abuse