Sharp - Kung-Fu: The Ultimate Guide to Shaolin Kung Fu Along with Its Movements and Techniques

Most peoples first introduction to martial arts was either through movies or TV shows. Strong, steadfast, disciplined heroes fight seemingly impossible odds with nothing more than their arms, hands, legs, and feet. These heroes are ambassadors. They introduced the art form to audiences outside of China and Hong Kong. You don't have to live in either of those places to learn Kung-Fu properly.

This book is your portal to the dojos and kwoons. From the comfort of your own home and working at your own pace, you too can perform the dazzling kicks and purposeful movements of Kung-Fu. Whether you're a novice or already have some training under your belt, this book is designed to not only further your knowledge of martial art but to enhance the positive ripples that learning it can spread into every facet of your life.

Kung-Fu is more than just learning how to throw punches and kicks. It is all about discipline. This martial art is a fantastic way to get in and stay in great physical shape. In today's hectic and often demanding world, it can be a fantastic outlet to relieve stress and anxiety. Sharpening your body sharpens your mind and improves concentration.

On your journey with this book, you can discover the self-confidence you may lack or bolster the one you already have. By learning Kung-Fu with this guide, you will be connected, if not physically, in spirit with all the practitioners who came before you. You will join an ancient community, all sharing the goals of learning self-defense and improving themselves.

Kung-Fu is an art that promotes self-expression. You can take the foundations and expand on them to form something uniquely your own. Like a painter, this book will provide you with the paint, the brushes, and the canvas. And it'll teach you how to paint while leaving the final product up to you.

Before learning Kung-Fu, it is paramount to understand where it came from. To get the most out of this book's lessons and the martial art itself, obtaining a firm grasp on its history and origins is essential. These are the building blocks that the discipline is built on. Like those of a house, these foundations help keep the whole structure together and prevent it from falling apart.

There are several accepted definitions or translations of "Kung-Fu." Some interpret it as "work and effort." Others feel that the translation to "hard work of a man" is more accurate. Whatever your interpretation, there are always two elements: hard work and dedication. Mastering martial art requires both.

The origins of Kung-Fu are disputed. With a country as old and as rich in history as China, narrowing it down to a single source is seemingly impossible. That said, there are mythological and historical breadcrumbs that you can follow to establish a rough timeline of the martial arts' origin.

Many believe the beginnings of what would eventually become Kung-Fu started with the introduction and spread of martial arts through China. Later known as "The Yellow Emperor," Huangdi was thought to have written some of the first guides on military tactics and self-defense techniques that would evolve into a fighting discipline.

According to legends, the stars foretold the Yellow Emperor's birth and great destiny. Born into a time of great strife and warring tribes, Huangdi would unite the different tribes that lived along the Yellow River. Unified, these groups became the first version of the Chinese State.

The Yellow Emperor not only influenced the political and military landscape of China, but he also was the forefather of Chinese medicine. His philosophies and medical discoveries would later evolve into some of the central tenets of Kung-Fu. Those writings are some of the oldest ever discovered in the history of mankind.

After the legendary Yellow Emperor passed away, his martial arts teachings continued and were built upon. Centuries of small-scale warfare between feudal lords over everything from land rights to personal affronts enveloped a still young China. In this phase, Huangdi's philosophies on martial arts, warfare, and self-improvement were adopted and adapted by different regions of the vast country.

The Yellow Emperor's philosophies evolved into Ancient China's "Six Arts." Extremely similar to the western concept of a "renaissance man," Chinese men, especially those in the upper class, we're encouraged to learn. These Six Arts were: archery, calligraphy, chariot riding, music, mathematics, music, and rites.

During the Han Dynasty, another influential figure in the development of Chinese martial arts came to the forefront of the movement. He was an infamous physician and surgeon named "Hua Tuo." Besides being credited with discovering anesthesia, the well-known doctor filled in the gaps regarding medicine in The Yellow Emperor's teachings.

Another gigantic contribution from Hua Tuo to Kung-Fu was the development of exercise techniques that had numerous health benefits for his patients. These techniques were based on animals he'd observed. He developed a system that would later be used in Shaolin-born Kung-Fu techniques using those movements he observed.

More centuries passed with various fighting styles, techniques, and life philosophies cultivated in mainland China. It wasn't until a foreign Buddhist monk from Southern India, Bodhidharma, visited the country that Kung-Fu was formed.

Bodhidharma came to mainland China sometime between 450-500 A.D. The details of how he got there and his travels across the country are unclear. There aren't a lot of records of his travels. What is known is that he originally came to teach and spread the word of what would become known as Xiao Sheng Buddhism.

The arrival of Bodhidharma was heralded by Indian royalty, requesting that the Kingdoms of China take good care of their monk who came to spread the teachings of Buddha. Wherever he went, the Chinese were eager to see him, hear him speak, and learn from him. But they were surprised when instead of speaking, he simply meditated. Some were intrigued, others confused, and there were even those who were angered. Whatever their reaction, most of the Chinese populace he came across didn't fully understand what he was preaching. With that said, word of him and his radical teachings spread.