Self-Defense

Kung Fu as a martial art came from the need to defend oneself.  The training in martial arts is the primary set of exercises at Kung Fu’s core.  All nations have the dangers of external and internal strife and war. Therefore a military is necessary.  The soldiers and sailor throughout history must have the art of war trained into them.  Since each society and sub-culture will have its own personality, different forms and styles came about.  When these cultures meet, there is an exchange of ideas and styles start to mix.  Certain schools have emerged not as it’s own style, but as a safe place where a wealth of knowledge can be exchanged with tournaments, guests, conferences of kinds and so on.  Places such as the Shaolin Temple and Wu Dang Mountain, soldiers, warriors, even generals would retire to these religious places to stay away from the horrors of war.  Here, in this setting, martial arts started to change in a friendly exchange of ideas rather than from war. 

A Samurai master named Miyamoto Musashi. He survived 60 duels (to the death) and 7 wars.  He wrote a vital book to swordsmanship called “The Five Rings”.  In his later years he retired to a Buddhist temple to meditate and write.  His book teaches the fighting skills as well as internal peace.  Even though he did not practice “Kung Fu”, he definitely had achieved Kung Fu and we can all learn from him.