Understanding Chinese Martial Arts

Most people have a lot of misconceptions when it comes to chinese martial arts. I hope this can help clear some of your questions.

Firstly, chinese martial art in the form of wushu is not just for 'show'. Today most wushu routines and patterns you see in competitions or performances are usually contemporary or competitive routine. This means that the main focus has shifted from practicality to aesthetic. However, please do not generalise wushu as just a performance display. Wushu is a wide branch encompassing both traditional and contemporary routines. Traditional training of wushu involves mainly kungfu conditioning and kempo drilling just like how the boxers will train to hit sandbags and train some freestyle shadow-boxing. Contemporary wushu has many flashy kicks and acrobatic moves to appeal to the audience; primary aim is to entertain, but the essence of some combat techniques are still hidden within these aesthetic moves. Finally, in terms of speed and agility, contemporary wushu exponents are among the fastest relative to these high-level, difficult moves. Therefore, contemporary wushu is not useless. It is a relatively good conditioning for speed, reflexes, and range extensions.

Secondly, chinese martial art is not an invincible martial art. Do not be misled by those kungfu kickass moves or some elusive 'dragonball' style energy blast (if humans can generate power, why we still need power generators?). These are all exaggerated fictions on chinese martial arts. However, please do not be dishearten by my words. Wushu is not all invincible but if you train hard under the right masters, facing off a ten or twenty hooligans in your way would not be much of a problem to you. The secret is patience and self-awareness, willing to accept your flaws and not satisfied over your strengths. Ultimately, it is about morals. Power without Morals is Tranny; Morals without Power is Futility.

Thirdly, 'Chi' or 'qi' in chinese martial arts is not as fantastic as it seems in the movies. That does not mean 'qi' do not exist in the real-life application. In actual fact, qi is the generation of internal energy within the body to add the extra punch or to block the extra damage. Qi is part of breathing exercise, emphasising air as the key to internal power. If this needs to be proven in the form of western science, qi is formless. However as much as you say it do not exist, you still see some people able to break stones or metal bars with qi conditioning. To those who are still sceptical about this mystical energy source, let me ask you a simple question: did the present day biologists provide a detailed evidence on how energy is used by the human body? Since modern science could not prove to this detail yet, it would not be fair to say the 'qi' do not exist.

"How long a human can live?" a master asked his students.

"Eight years," one student replied

"No."

"Seventy years," another student said

"Nope."

"Sixty years."

"Nah."

"So master, what is the answer?"

"Life is as long as You BREATHE," the Master replied with a smile. "So remember when any situation gets too tough to handle, don't forget to Breathe."

So if you say qi don't exist, why are you alive today?

Last but not least, chinese martial art is about keeping your body fit and healthy, and that all life is precious. Chinese martial art has a set of forbidden techniques that is only passed on to those who are chosen and believed to have morals. A good fighter do not deliver direct murderous attack, he gauge his opponent and use minimal force to subdue him. Mercy before injuring, injure before maiming, Maim before killing, kill only when there is no other options. Most kungfu experts are deadly just as they are merciful. That is the philosophy of chinese martial art.