Classification of the Styles and Terminology
The simplest way to categorise the Chinese martial arts is this: Wushu literally translates as martial arts. Ours is a school of Chinese martial arts, so if you choose to study with us, in the broadest sense that is what you will learn. Of the vast lexicon of Wushu you may study the ‘external’ styles, which is to say the athletic and dynamic styles known collectively as Kung Fu, and you may study the famous ‘internal’ style Tai Chi, known for its meditative and soft, harmonious movements.
In addition, you may learn Qigong exercises for breathing, focus and mobility; Qi means energy or breath, and Gong means work or exercise, so Qigong translates effectively as breath work or energy exercise.
For further details, including an explanation of the terminology and classification of the styles and your potential options as a student, please read on.
Of the Chinese martial arts, there are numerous different styles. Tai Chi is one. The proper name is Tai Chi Chuan, the word Chuan meaning fist, martial style, or boxing. Therefore Tai Chi Chuan translates as the Martial Art of Tai Chi.
There are two main ways of translating Chinese into the English language. Tai Chi Chuan is the older translation; under the newer method, it is spelled Taiji, or Taijiquan. Chuan and Quan are the same words, different translation. Where possible, I will use the common terms, rather than following either the newer or older method of translation.
Likewise, when we spell the word Qigong as we do, we are making use of the newer method. To refer to the art as Chi Kung is to use the older method, but in Chinese, the words are the same. It is only the method of translating into English that differs: Qigong and Chi Kung are exactly the same word in Chinese.
The word Chuan pops up frequently. Shaolin Chuan or Shaolinquan therefore means Shaolin Boxing. And there are numerous other unique or distinctive styles: Nanquan is the relatively modern style of Southern Boxing. Changquan or Long Fist is another. These are unique and specific styles of martial arts.
But the terms Wushu and Kung Fu (sometimes translated as Gongfu) are a bit different. They do not relate to any single, particular style; instead they serve as umbrella terms that may relate to almost any individual style.
Wushu is the broadest term and encompasses all the Chinese styles, so if someone tells you they are a practitioner of Wushu, they may practice Changquan, or Tai Chi, or Nanquan, or Xiao Hongquan, Bajiquan, or any other style. Colloquially however, it is a term often used in reference to the modern styles. More on that later.
If you’re familiar with the Japanese martial arts, there is a similar parallel in the Japanese language. Judo is a specific style, as are Aikido, Karate and Kendo. You may tell someone you practice Judo, and they may have a sense of what you mean. But if you practice multiple styles, you may consider yourself a practitioner of Budo – the martial way, or Bujutsu – the martial arts. These are broader terms that may encompass a range of styles.
Indeed, the Chinese Characters for Wushu are the same as the Japanese Characters for Bujutsu. Either way, they translate as martial arts.
Hence, a person may be a practitioner of Budo, and may practice Judo, Aikido, Kendo, or any other art. In much the same way, a practitioner of Wushu may practice Chanquang, Tai Chi Chuan, Shaolinquan, or any other style.
As an umbrella term, Kung Fu is used less broadly than Wushu, and typically refers to the external styles of Chinese martial arts, being the more athletic, dynamic, or overtly combative styles. Likewise, people sometimes use the term Tai Chi similarly, as an umbrella term in reference to the internal styles of Wushu, being the more meditative and softer styles, but this is not really a correct usage of the word Tai Chi.
Between Wushu and Kung Fu schools, sometimes there is some rivalry. Colloquially, in Melbourne, if someone says they practice Kung Fu, the implication is usually that they practice an older, traditional style, and if they say they practice Wushu, the implication may be that they practice more modern forms, standardised for competition. In an attempt to clarify, a practitioner may say they practice traditional Wushu, but the usage of both these terms is quite fluid.
Wing Chun practitioners often refer to their style as Kung Fu, and seldom use the term Wushu. So when they say they practice Wing Chun Kung Fu, it would be correct to interpret them thusly: they practice the traditional Chinese martial art known as Wing Chun.
As far as I can tell, the word Kung Fu grew in popularity internationally because Bruce Lee described his art as such, and from there it became a popular international term. The school he founded, Jeet Kune Do – that’s the particular style he practiced. Jeet Kune Do means The Way of the Intercepting Fist. Bruce Lee used the word Kung Fu as a kind of broader term to capture the essence of Chinese martial arts, but the word Kung Fu itself is not strictly limited to the martial arts either. As a term, it is comprised of two words: kung means work, and fu refers to a mature adult, who is grown, or refined in skill. Hence, Kung Fu means accomplished skill earned over time through the application of hard work. Any artist may possess good Kung Fu at their craft.
It is easy to oversimplify, or to overcomplicate. This hopefully gives a sense of how the terms are used: at a school of martial arts (Wushu), you may practice the external styles (Kung Fu), you may practice Tai Chi, or Tai Chi Chuan to use the proper terminologoy, or you may practice any combination of styles – internal, external, modern or traditional.
In addition, you may learn Qigong exercises for breathing, focus and mobility; Qi means energy or breath, and Gong means work or exercise, so Qigong translates effectively as breath work or energy exercise.
For further details, including an explanation of the terminology and classification of the styles and your potential options as a student, please read on.
Of the Chinese martial arts, there are numerous different styles. Tai Chi is one. The proper name is Tai Chi Chuan, the word Chuan meaning fist, martial style, or boxing. Therefore Tai Chi Chuan translates as the Martial Art of Tai Chi.
There are two main ways of translating Chinese into the English language. Tai Chi Chuan is the older translation; under the newer method, it is spelled Taiji, or Taijiquan. Chuan and Quan are the same words, different translation. Where possible, I will use the common terms, rather than following either the newer or older method of translation.
Likewise, when we spell the word Qigong as we do, we are making use of the newer method. To refer to the art as Chi Kung is to use the older method, but in Chinese, the words are the same. It is only the method of translating into English that differs: Qigong and Chi Kung are exactly the same word in Chinese.
The word Chuan pops up frequently. Shaolin Chuan or Shaolinquan therefore means Shaolin Boxing. And there are numerous other unique or distinctive styles: Nanquan is the relatively modern style of Southern Boxing. Changquan or Long Fist is another. These are unique and specific styles of martial arts.
But the terms Wushu and Kung Fu (sometimes translated as Gongfu) are a bit different. They do not relate to any single, particular style; instead they serve as umbrella terms that may relate to almost any individual style.
Wushu is the broadest term and encompasses all the Chinese styles, so if someone tells you they are a practitioner of Wushu, they may practice Changquan, or Tai Chi, or Nanquan, or Xiao Hongquan, Bajiquan, or any other style. Colloquially however, it is a term often used in reference to the modern styles. More on that later.
If you’re familiar with the Japanese martial arts, there is a similar parallel in the Japanese language. Judo is a specific style, as are Aikido, Karate and Kendo. You may tell someone you practice Judo, and they may have a sense of what you mean. But if you practice multiple styles, you may consider yourself a practitioner of Budo – the martial way, or Bujutsu – the martial arts. These are broader terms that may encompass a range of styles.
Indeed, the Chinese Characters for Wushu are the same as the Japanese Characters for Bujutsu. Either way, they translate as martial arts.
Hence, a person may be a practitioner of Budo, and may practice Judo, Aikido, Kendo, or any other art. In much the same way, a practitioner of Wushu may practice Chanquang, Tai Chi Chuan, Shaolinquan, or any other style.
As an umbrella term, Kung Fu is used less broadly than Wushu, and typically refers to the external styles of Chinese martial arts, being the more athletic, dynamic, or overtly combative styles. Likewise, people sometimes use the term Tai Chi similarly, as an umbrella term in reference to the internal styles of Wushu, being the more meditative and softer styles, but this is not really a correct usage of the word Tai Chi.
Between Wushu and Kung Fu schools, sometimes there is some rivalry. Colloquially, in Melbourne, if someone says they practice Kung Fu, the implication is usually that they practice an older, traditional style, and if they say they practice Wushu, the implication may be that they practice more modern forms, standardised for competition. In an attempt to clarify, a practitioner may say they practice traditional Wushu, but the usage of both these terms is quite fluid.
Wing Chun practitioners often refer to their style as Kung Fu, and seldom use the term Wushu. So when they say they practice Wing Chun Kung Fu, it would be correct to interpret them thusly: they practice the traditional Chinese martial art known as Wing Chun.
As far as I can tell, the word Kung Fu grew in popularity internationally because Bruce Lee described his art as such, and from there it became a popular international term. The school he founded, Jeet Kune Do – that’s the particular style he practiced. Jeet Kune Do means The Way of the Intercepting Fist. Bruce Lee used the word Kung Fu as a kind of broader term to capture the essence of Chinese martial arts, but the word Kung Fu itself is not strictly limited to the martial arts either. As a term, it is comprised of two words: kung means work, and fu refers to a mature adult, who is grown, or refined in skill. Hence, Kung Fu means accomplished skill earned over time through the application of hard work. Any artist may possess good Kung Fu at their craft.
It is easy to oversimplify, or to overcomplicate. This hopefully gives a sense of how the terms are used: at a school of martial arts (Wushu), you may practice the external styles (Kung Fu), you may practice Tai Chi, or Tai Chi Chuan to use the proper terminologoy, or you may practice any combination of styles – internal, external, modern or traditional.