Kung Fu is an ancient martial art, born in the depths of China over 3,000 years ago.
If you’d like to dive into its early origins, I invite you to read Kung-fu origins .
But for now, let’s stay focused:
What does Kung Fu really mean?
At one time, its true meaning was:
“Skill acquired through sustained effort.”
So, to use a metaphor that many Kung Fu masters and practitioners have used before me:
“A chef who cooks Cantonese fried rice every day, for years on end in his restaurant, will get really good at it.
He’ll become a master at making fried rice.So he’ll have excellent Kung Fu — skill through hard work.
His stir-fried rice IS his Kung Fu.”
The actual word for Chinese martial arts was, in fact, Wushu.
But the term Kung Fu was popularized by movies and culture, especially thanks to famous figures like Bruce Lee, and it gradually became a catch-all name for Chinese martial arts — while Wushu today is more often associated with the acrobatic, competition-oriented forms of Kung Fu.
Nowadays, the word Kung Fu is accepted by everyone, even the old sifus in China.
So let’s use it… and move on with the story.
Kung Fu is a traditional martial art.
“Martial” means it teaches you how to defend yourself against an attacker.
“Art” implies a search for beauty, for grace.
(Because walking around decapitating random thugs — even if they’re aggressive — doesn’t sound like “Art,” right?)
So… fighting to protect yourself, and being a wise and beautiful human being —
Are these opposites?
Well, that’s exactly what the old Chinese masters worked on for over 3,000 years:
How to grow, become a better person, while also being able to defend oneself — and protect others.
They called it the Chivalrous Way of Life, or Kung Fu Wushu.
That’s why, compared to other martial arts like Muay Thai or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Kung Fu may sometimes feel less aggressive, less focused on pure fighting.
Because it’s not aiming for the same goal.
Kung Fu also includes Qi Gong and meditation.
As I mentioned earlier:
Someone who is excellent in combat, but who doesn’t seek to elevate their awareness or help the weak… could never truly be considered a Kung Fu practitioner.
From a secret practice… to a shared legacy
In its early days, Kung Fu was reserved for a select few.
It was taught by sages and hermits, or monks deep in the mountains.
But eventually, it spread all over China — evolving into many styles, depending on the environment, the students’ physiques, and their mindset.
For example, the Hung Gar style — which means “Red Family” — got its name because its practitioners had to hide from the government.
They disguised themselves as circus performers, all wore red pants…
and spent most of their time on flat-bottomed boats.
Naturally, their style became grounded, rooted, low to the earth.
(I mean, would you try a flying crescent kick on a narrow boat deck?)
There are tons of fascinating stories behind each style: Praying Mantis, Eagle Claw, Tai Chi Chuan, Pa Kua, Pek Kwar, Ba Ji, Xing Yi, Choy Lee Fut... (just to name the ones I know!)
They all have their own stances, techniques, and logic…
But they’re also all connected by shared foundational principles —
And they all belong to the world of Kung Fu.
This is where it might seem a bit fuzzy for some:
Kung Fu can look very different from one school to another.
But all these styles share a common ground.
So here’s a summary of what Kung Fu is:
What is Kung Fu?
- Kung Fu (or Wushu) means Chinese Martial Art.
- It was born in deep rural China over 3,000 years ago, and influenced most modern martial arts and combat sports: Karate, Judo, Aikido, etc.
- Practicing Kung Fu leads to a deep understanding of your own body. It connects the body and mind — and trains both at once.
- Training includes solo techniques, partner exercises, and forms (called kata in Japanese), performed empty-handed or with any weapon that could be useful in combat: sword, staff, spear, chain, whip, chair, nunchaku…
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And finally, Kung Fu has always been deeply linked to Nature.
It often mimics the movements of animals: tiger, crane, snake, mantis, monkey…
(Yes — who just thought of Kung Fu Panda? 😄)
It follows the natural logic of movement, applies the principles of Yin and Yang, and focuses deeply on breath control, to cultivate and use your internal energy.
There you go!
Feel free to share your thoughts or questions below.
See you soon,
Maoni
Hey ! What is Kung Fu even about ?