Wu shu practitioners out there...

[Moe]

Hi im new here but ive been following many topics since a long time.

I practice Wu shu but am increasingly becoming frustarted with the fact that its a performance martial arts, I would like to ask if there are any others here who practice wu shu and have they have gained combative skills. We practice forms only, no sparring. The forms themselves are not easy and several techniques in them are clearly to deal with a particular fight situation and I heard the skill comes over time.

I am considering to switch to either Aikido, San shou, Fut Choy Lee Fut kung fu, does anyone here know anything about Choy Lee Fut kung fu?

[shogeri]

We've gone over this in other posts. Rather something similar.

Wushu, as it is practiced, is nothing more than what you have mentioned as well.

However, in regards to practicing Wushu, as a Martial Art, we are actually speaking of a collection of the various Chinese Martial Art Systems.

Some common "hard" or external styles of contemporary Wushu are Southern Fist (Nanquan ), Choy Lay Fut, Wing chun, Hung gar, Crane, and Changquan (Long Fist). Common "soft" or internal styles are Taijiquan, Baguazhang and Xingyiquan.

The primary differences are that Northern styles tend to emphasize kicks, jumps and generally fluid and rapid movement, as the Southern styles focus more on strong arm and hand techniques, and stable, immovable stances and footwork.

We find that Taijiquan, Baquazhang, and Northern Shaolinquan are based upon long fist fighting methods which rely upon the person being kept at bay, along with what seems to the untrained eye, pre-emptive striking methods.

Whereas with Nanquan, we find hung gar and choy lay fut as the bread winners. It is from Nanquan, that Karate more than likely sprung, due to the obvious connection in deep stances, waist power, less kicks, and less acrobatics.

Alot of this stuff overlaps at some point. After reading it.

Another way of putting it is this:

Tiger - Hung Gar and Taijiquan

Crane - White and Fujian

Leopard - teaches footwork and moves to the angles when attacking.

Snake - Both Wing Chun and Taijiquan are said to use snake and crane. Long and short fist.

Dragon - Zig, zag movement, open hand strikes, low kicks, internal power

Note that the five animals also correspond to the 5 elements.

Choy-lay-fut is more commonly referred to as a Southern external style, but also includes many Northern techniques. It was born in the 1800's.

When one learns Choy Lay (Li) Fut, one can expect to learn the following:

1. Stances, and movement training.

2. A multitude of striking methods, such as the 'long fist' and the 'buddhist palm'.

3. Longer sets or forms than most styles. Sets such as:

NG LUN MA (Five Wheel Stance Form) - It also helps the student remember stances, and movement within stances (footwork).

NG LUN CHUI(Five Wheel Fist Form) - most of the major fist strikes are contained within this form.

HUNG SING LONG FIST FORM (Cheong kuen) - This form is sometimes called the 'pulling' or 'stretching-out' form because the techniques used are thrown very long using fully the twist of hips and shoulders. Similar to those of Taijiquan.

Some open hand techniques only appear later in more advanced Forms such as Sup Ji Kau Da (Cross Pattern Boxing) and Fut Quan (Buddhist Palm Set).

Essentially it is about deep stances, and long movements with the arms. Which means it's very physical.

As a wushu practitioner (performer) you have options, since you know yourself in regards to being able to train in what works for you.

If you are young, stay with that stuff that keeps you moving. As you get older, stick with the more simple, and yet just as effective.

Find something that works for you, and with you.

Good luck!

[Moe]

Cool man, and thanks for opening my mind to the confusing terms and styles in gung fu!

[cleung]

You have every right to feel a bit frustrated in the lack of combat and self defense training in wushu. It's okay to keep training in wushu if you like it. But to get a more complete martial arts training, you would be wise to try out other martial arts as well.

[Moe]

Very true, in fact I am now taking San shou as a combative art.

Strangely enough though yesterday after we practiced a wu shu form our Sifu showed us how one of the moves could be used in a fight situation.

If he would do more of that and allow us to be able to practice them on each other I think that would lead to some good results.