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This article provides a general overview of Chinese martial arts. For a list of styles, see List of Chinese martial arts.

Kung fu redirects here. For other uses see Kung fu (disambiguation).

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Chinese martial arts (often abbreviated as "CMA") refers to the enormous variety of martial art styles native to China.

Kung fu (Chinese: 功夫) and wushu (Chinese: 武術) are popular Chinese terms that have become synonymous with Chinese martial arts. For more information about these specific terms, see kung fu (term), wushu (term) and Tai Chi.

History

In legend, the Chinese martial arts traces their origin thousands of years in China. As the Chinese writing system traces back to the Shang Dynasty (1766 BC - 1122 BC), claims of entire books regarding the martial arts being written at earlier times are suspect. The Art of War, written during the 6th century BC by Sun Tzu, deals directly with military warfare. There are passages in the Zhuang Zi that pertain to the psychology and practice of martial arts^{[citation needed]}. Zhuang Zi, the author of the same name, is believed to have lived in the 4th century BC. The Tao Te Ching, often credited to Lao Zi, contains principles that are applicable to martial arts, but the dating of this work is controversial. Archery and charioteering were a part of the "six arts" (liu yi, also including rites, music, calligraphy and mathematics) of the Zhou Dynasty (1122 BC - 256 BC), according to the text Zhou Li.

According to legend, the reign of the Yellow Emperor (traditional date of ascension to the throne, 2698 BC) introduced the earliest forms of martial arts in China. The Yellow Emperor is described as a famous military general, who, before becoming China’s leader, wrote a lengthy treatise about martial arts. He allegedly developed the practice of Jiao di or horn-butting and utilized it in war.^[1] Jiao di is believed to have evolved during the Zhou Dynasty into a combat wrestling system called Jiao li which is considered by some to be the first Chinese fighting system, including techniques such as strikes, throws, joint manipulation, and pressure point attacks.^[1] Jiao li reportedly became a sport during the Qin Dynasty (221 BC - 207 BC).^[1] There exists written references to Jiao li in the Han dynasty (140 BC to 88 BC).^{[citation needed]} Currently, Jiao li is known as Shuai jiao, its modern form.

Taoist monks are claimed to have been practicing physical exercises that resemble Tai Chi Chuan at least as early as the 500 BC era. In AD 39-92, "Six Chapters of Hand Fighting", were included in the Han Shu (history of the Former Han Dynasty) written by Pan Ku. Also, the noted physician, Hua T'uo, composed the "Five Animals Play" - tiger, deer, monkey, bear, and bird, around AD 220. As stated earlier, the Kung Fu that is practiced today developed over the centuries and many of the later additions to Kung Fu, such as the Shaolin Kung Fu style, later animal forms, and the drunken style were incorporated from various martial arts forms that came into existence later on in China and have accurate historical data relating to their inventors.

In regard to the Shaolin style that is currently popular, a legend extant since the 17th century A.D.^{[citation needed]} originally attributed Bodhidharma (Pu Tai Ta Mo in Chinese or Daruma Daishi in Japanese), a visiting Buddhist monk, as the progenitor. According to some versions of this legend, Bodhidharma visited a monastery, and was unhappy to find that some of the monks would fall asleep during their meditations. Deciding that they needed more physical stamina, he introduced to the monks a system of exercises that later developed into the modern Shaolin style. However, the texts that first attributed him to Shaolinquan have been shown to be unlikely forgeries. Historical evidence has shown that the Shaolin monks during and before this time harboured retired soldiers who taught the monks self-defense techniques that they had learned during military training. In around AD 500, the Shaolin monks, in order to protect themselves from bandits and criminals, began to codify what they had learned into a "Shaolin" style.

The fighting styles that are practiced today were developed over the centuries, after having incorporated forms that came into existence later. Some of these include Bagua, Drunken Boxing, Eagle Claw, Five Animals, Hsing I, Hung Gar, Lau Gar, Monkey, Praying Mantis, White Crane, Wing Chun and Tai Chi Chuan.

Styles

For a list of styles, see list of Chinese martial arts.

Hundreds of different styles of Chinese martial arts have developed over the past two thousand years, many distinctive styles with their own sets of techniques and ideas. Also, there are many themes common to different styles that lead many to characterize them as belonging to generalized "families" (家, jiā) of martial art styles. There are styles that mimic movements from animals and others that gather inspiration from various Chinese philosophies. Some styles put most of their focus into the belief of the harnessing of qi energy, while others concentrate solely on competition and exhibition.

Chinese martial arts can be split into various categories to differentiate them: For example, external (外家拳) and internal (内家拳) (or hard (剛) and soft (柔)). Chinese martial arts can also be categorized by location, as in northern (北拳) and southern (南拳) as well, referring to what part of China the styles originated from, separated by the Yangtze River (Chang Jiang); Chinese martial arts may even be classified according to their province or city. The main perceived difference about northern and southern styles is that the northern styles tend to emphasize kicks, jumps and generally fluid and rapid movement, while the southern styles focus more on strong arm and hand techniques, and stable, immovable stances and footwork. Examples of the northern styles include Changquan and the sword and broadsword routines used in contemporary Wushu competitions, and examples of the southern styles include Nanquan, Houquan (monkey style) and Wing Chun. Chinese martial arts can also be divided according to religion, imitative-styles (像形拳), and more.

Training

Most styles of Chinese martial arts contain practice of the application of techniques (both as prepared drills and as free sparring), but also the practice of what is known as forms, or taolu (套路 - tào lù) in Chinese. Forms are a pre-choreographed series of techniques and movements, performed alone or with one or more partners.

Another important part of the training, as in most other physical activities, is what is referred to as basics, such as various exercises for strengthening the body, and regular stretching.

Basics (基本功)

Basics are a vital part of the training, as a student cannot progress to the more advanced stages without them; without strong and flexible muscles, many movements of Chinese martial arts are simply impossible to perform correctly. Basics include such things as stretching, strengthening of muscles, bones and tendons, stamina training, and basic stances, kicks and punches. Some styles also consider jumping, jump-kicks and acrobatics basics. In addition, many styles teach a few basic techniques as well, before moving on to forms. These techniques are normally the most common techniques of the specific style, found in many of the style's forms.

Chinese martial arts pay considerable attention to stretching. Common stretching exercises include general warm-up stretching, stretching in pairs, and various types of stretch kicks, usually practiced with speed. As many Chinese martial arts are formed to suit children and higher-level students who have been practicing since childhood, they can include basic exercises that require very high flexibility in order to be possible to perform at all.

Forms (套路)

Forms or taolu are series of techniques put together after one another so they can be practiced as one whole set of movements. Some say that forms resemble a choreographed dance, though martial artists often argue that a general difference is the speed and explosiveness seen in most external styles, and that the movements are actual fighting techniques.

These forms sought to incorporate both the internal and external of kung fu. A kung fu form needs to be both practical, usable and applicable as well as promoting flow, meditation, flexability, balance and coordination. Often kung fu teachers are heard to say "train your form as if you were sparring and spar as if it were a form".

Types of forms

There are two types of forms in Chinese martial arts. Most common are the solo forms, performed alone by one person, but there are also "sparring" forms, which are a type of choreographed fighting sets performed by two or more people.

Many styles consider forms as one of the most important practices, as they gradually build up the practitioner's strength and flexibility, speed and stamina, and teach balance and coordination. They also function as a tool for both the students and the teacher to remember the many techniques taught by the style, and sort them into various groups.

A style can have many compartments, both empty-handed and with weapons. In most styles, empty-handed techniques are the most common, but many styles also contain forms using a wide range of weapons of various length and type, utilizing one or two hands. There are also styles that only practice a certain weapon, containing only forms with the specific weapon.

Forms are meant to work the body. Once a basic structure is able be maintained in the body forms are then used to work that structure. Forms develop a sensibility of moving from position to position. This teaches the body to react.

Appearance of forms

Even though forms of Chinese martial arts are based on martial techniques, the movements might not always be identical to how the techniques they symbolize would look when applied in combat. This is due to the way many forms have been elaborated, on the one hand to provide better combat preparedness and on the other hand to look more beautiful. One easily understood manifestation of this tendency toward elaborations that go beyond what most often might be used in combat is the inclusion of lower stances and higher kicks. The regular practice of techniques while using lower stances both adds strength to the same techniques when used with higher stances, and also facilitates using the same techniques in the lower stances when the realities of combat make doing so the most appropriate choice.

In recent years, as the perceived need for self-defense has decreased, many modern schools have replaced practical defense or offense movements with acrobatic feats that are more spectacular to watch, thereby gaining favor during exhibitions and competitions. The mainland Chinese government has especially been criticized by traditionalists for "watering down" the wushu competition training it promotes. Appearances have been important in many traditional forms as well, seen as a sign of balance but not the most important requirement of successful training. Some martial artists have looked for supplementary income for performing on the streets or in theaters, although in the most traditional schools such performance is forbidden.

Another reason why the martial techniques might look different in forms is thought, by some, to come from a need to "disguise" the actual functions of the techniques from outsiders (from rival schools or from the authorities as legend has it happened in Okinawa). The intention was to leave the forms in such a state that they could be performed in front of others without revealing their actual martial functions, while retaining their original functionality in a less obvious form.

Modern forms

See also: Wushu (sport)

As forms have grown in complexity and quantity over the years, and many forms alone could be practiced for a lifetime, styles of modern Chinese martial arts have developed that concentrate solely on forms, and do not practice application at all. These styles are primarily aimed at exhibition and competition, and often include more acrobatic jumps and movements added for enhanced visual effect compared to the traditional styles. Those who generally prefer to practice traditional styles, focused less on exhibition, are often referred to as traditionalists. Many traditionalists consider the evolution of today's Chinese martial arts as undesirable, saying that much of its original value is lost.

Application

Application training or sparring refers to the training of putting the martial techniques to use. When and how applications are taught varies from style to style, but in the beginning, most styles focus on certain drills where each person knows what technique is being practiced and what attack to expect. Chinese martial arts usually contain a large arsenal of techniques and make use of the whole body, efficiency and effectiveness is what the techniques are based on. However many chinese martial arts appear to be flowery and 'fancier' than other arts but the movements are very meaningful in terms of application. Gradually, fewer and fewer rules are applied, and the students learn how to react and feel what technique to use, depending on the situation and the type of opponent.

Nowadays, many Chinese martial arts choose not to practice much application at all, as the need for self-defense has become less significant in the societies of today. The introduction of firearms has made the traditional weapons and empty-handed martial arts lose much of their power, as even a completely untrained person can kill a master of any style by firing a gun from a safe distance. Before guns existed, however, knowledge of martial arts could save both your and your family's life. Because of this, the applications of the techniques were often considered sacred, and were commonly kept secret from all but family and the closest friends. Today, the views on this tradition of keeping things secret are very mixed, and some schools openly teach applications to anyone willing to learn. Others still require the students to show that they are worthy before teaching applications, "worthy" usually meaning that the students can be trusted that they will not use their knowledge to a bad purpose. It must be pointed out in fairness that some of the masters were in fact members of the criminal underworld (although they may have perceived themselves as righteous) and that some of the actual skill and applications of the various systems were developed in real and extremely violent confrontations both armed and unarmed. This dichotomy did and still does exist. An example: a relatively well known New York Chinese kung-fu master who killed a man (although with a firearm) in some quarrel and went to prison (later released on parole).

There are also modern styles that practice application and even focus solely on them, though these are aimed mostly at competition. One such style that has grown quite popular is called Sanda (or Sanshou). It is similar to Muay Thai and is a type of sparring competition where the competitors wear protection and gloves, and get points when scoring a hit on the opponent or performing a successful throw.

Weapons training

Most Chinese styles also make use of training the broad arsenal of Chinese weapons for conditioning the body as well as coordination and strategy drills.

Use of qi

The concept of qì or ch'i (氣), the inner energy or "life force" that is said to animate living beings, is encountered in almost all styles of Chinese martial arts. Internal styles are reputed to cultivate its use differently than external styles.

One's qi can be improved and strengthened through the regular practice of various physical and mental exercises known as qigong. Though qigong is not a martial art itself, it is often incorporated in Chinese martial arts and, thus, practiced as an integral part to strengthen one's internal abilities.

There are many ideas regarding controlling one's qi energy to such an extent that it can be used for healing oneself or others: the goal of medical qigong. Some styles believe in focusing qi into a single point when attacking and aim at specific areas of the human body (similar to the study of acupressure), to cause maximum damage or disable certain functions of the body. Some go so far as to think that at an advanced level it is (or was, as some believe such abilities to now be lost, if they ever existed) possible to cause harm without even touching the opponent, a popular concept in Chinese martial arts movies.

Notable practitioners

File:Jetli.jpg

Jet Li is a well-known practitioner of Chinese martial arts

Jet Li - Five-time sport wushu champion of China, later demonstrating his skills on the silver screen.

Bruce Lee - Chinese American martial arts actor who is widely regarded as one of the most influential martial artists of the 20th century.

Jackie Chan - Hong Kong martial arts actor widely known for injecting physical comedy into his martial arts performances, and for performing complex stunts in many of his films.

Huo Yuanjia - the founder of Chin Woo Athletic Association who was known for his highly publicized matches with foreigners.

Ten Tigers of Canton - group of ten of the top Chinese martial arts masters in Guangdong (Canton) towards the end of the Qing Dynasty (1644–1912).

Popular culture

In modern times, Chinese martial arts have spawned the genre of cinema known as martial arts film. The films of Bruce Lee were instrumental in the initial burst of Chinese martial arts' popularity in the West, and lately, martial artists and actors such as Jet Li and Jackie Chan have appeared in later films. Martial arts films from China are often referred to as "Kung Fu movies" (see also: wuxia, Hong Kong action cinema).

A U.S. network TV western series of the early 1970s called Kung Fu also served to popularize the Chinese martial arts on television.

The show was disliked by many Chinese people due to its racism and the lead character (David Carradine) being white.^{[citation needed]} Also, the fight sequences were slow for the Chinese, who were already used to fast fighting sequences.

Anime and manga

Chinese martial arts appears numerous times in Japanese anime and manga.

The action manga Fist of the North Star uses the concept of internal and external fighting styles and various (albeit fictional) dead points of a human body.
In the Japanese anima and manga Naruto, various styles of Chinese martial arts are used by the character Rock Lee, including taijutsu.
In Dragon Ball Z series also uses many concepts from Wuxia and Chinese fantasy novels.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Chinese Kuoshu Institute. History of Shuai Jiao. Accessed January 30, 2006.

Peers, CJ, and Sque, David. Medieval Chinese Armies 1260-1520. London: Osprey Publishing, 1992

@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 ==Styles==
 [[Image:Taichi_shanghai_bund_2005.jpg|thumb|300px|right|The Chinese martial arts [[Taijiquan]] being practiced on [[the Bund]] in [[Shanghai]].]]
+{{main|Styles of Chinese martial arts}}
 :''For a list of styles, see [[list of Chinese martial arts]].''
 Hundreds of different styles of Chinese martial arts have developed over the past two thousand years, many distinctive styles with their own sets of techniques and ideas. Also, there are many themes common to different styles that lead many to characterize them as belonging to generalized "families" (家, jiā) of martial art styles. There are styles that mimic movements from animals and others that gather inspiration from various Chinese philosophies. Some styles put most of their focus into the belief of the harnessing of [[qi]] energy, while others concentrate solely on competition and exhibition.
 Chinese martial arts can be split into various categories to differentiate them: For example, ''external'' (外家拳) and ''internal'' (内家拳) (or ''hard'' (剛) and ''soft'' (柔)).  Chinese martial arts can also be categorized by location, as in ''northern'' (北拳) and ''southern'' (南拳) as well, referring to what part of China the styles originated from, separated by the [[Yangtze River]] (Chang Jiang); Chinese martial arts may even be classified according to their province or city.  The main perceived difference about northern and southern styles is that the northern styles tend to emphasize kicks, jumps and generally fluid and rapid movement, while the southern styles focus more on strong arm and hand techniques, and stable, immovable stances and footwork.  Examples of the northern styles include [[Changquan]] and the sword and broadsword routines used in contemporary Wushu competitions, and examples of the southern styles include [[Nanquan]], [[Houquan]] (monkey style) and [[Wing Chun]].  Chinese martial arts can also be divided according to religion, imitative-styles (像形拳), and more.
-===External styles (外家拳 wàijiāquán)===
-These styles are what most people associate with Chinese martial arts. They are generally fast and explosive, focusing on physical strength and agility. External styles can be both the traditional styles focusing on application and fighting, as well as the modern styles adapted for competition and exercise. Examples of external styles are [[Shaolinquan]], with its direct explosive attacks and high-kicking aerial maneuvers from which is developed the [[Korea]]n [[Taekwondo]], and the many animal styles inspired by the movements of certain animals. External styles begin with a training focus on muscular power, speed and application, and generally integrate their [[qigong]] aspects in advanced training, after their desired "hard" physical level has been reached.
-===Internal styles (內家拳 nèijiāquán)===
-[[Image:Martial arts - Fragrant Hills.JPG|thumb|300px|right|[[Taijiquan]], the most well-known internal style of Chinese martial arts, being practiced at the [[Fragrant Hills]] Park, [[Beijing]]]]
-{{main|Neijia}}
-[[Nei chia|Internal]] styles focus on the practice of what they call "internal" elements, such as awareness of the spirit, mind, qi (breath, or energy flow) and the use of relaxed leverage rather than unrefined muscular tension, tension that soft stylists call "brute force".  While the principles that distinguish internal styles from the external were described at least as early as the [[18th century]] by [[Chang Nai-chou]], the modern terms distinguishing external and internal styles were first recorded by [[Sun Lutang]]; who wrote that [[Taijiquan]], [[Baguazhang]], and [[Xingyiquan]] were internal arts.  Later on, others began to include other styles in this definition, including [[Liuhexinyiquan]], [[Lok Hup Ba Fa|Liu He Ba Fa]] and [[Yiquan]].
-Some internal stylists say that the difference between internal and external for them is mostly the distinction of the inside and the outside of the body. The reason for the label "internal," according to most schools, is that there is a focus on the internal aspects earlier in the training, once these internal relationships are apprehended (the theory goes) they are then applied to the external applications of the styles in question. Because of the extended periods of time that beginning students are expected to work on very basic principles in most internal schools, and perhaps also the prevalence in recent years of many Western "[[New Age]]" oriented schools who are accused by traditionalists of emphasizing philosophy and speculation at the expense of hard work (see the next paragraph), many people believe internal styles lack "external" physical training. In the older schools, however, much time is spent on basic physical work, such as stance training (''[[zhan zhuang]]''), stretching and strengthening of muscles, as well as on empty hand and weapon forms which can contain quite demanding coordination from posture to posture. Also, many internal styles have basic two-person training, such as [[pushing hands]]. Some forms in internal styles are performed slowly, though some also include sudden outbursts of explosive movements, such as those the [[Ch'en style T'ai Chi Ch'uan|Chen style of Taijiquan]] is famous for teaching earlier than some other styles (e.g. [[Yang style T'ai Chi Ch'uan|Yang]] and [[Wu style T'ai Chi Ch'uan|Wu]]). The reason for the generally slow pace is to improve coordination and balance by increasing the work load, and to require the student to pay minute attention to their whole body and its weight as they perform a technique. At an advanced level, and in actual fighting, internal styles are performed quickly, but the goal is to learn to involve the entire body in every motion, to stay relaxed, with deep, controlled breathing, and to coordinate the motions of the body and the breathing accurately according to the dictates of the forms while maintaining perfect balance. Internal styles have been associated in legend and in much popular fiction with the [[Taoist]] monasteries of [[Wudangshan]] in central China.
-Today, only a few traditional schools teaching internal styles train martially, even though such training was originally a part of all internal styles. Most schools teach forms that are practiced for the health benefits only, as this is what most modern students are looking for and as these students seldom have the time or devotion to reach far enough in their training to start focusing on the martial aspects. To condition oneself well enough to become adept at the internal style martial arts is a long-term proposition; many simply lose interest after a few years and never finish the program. Most have no hope as their teachers know little. Many people who have not fully learned the martial aspects of their style judge themselves qualified to teach what they do know publicly anyway, leading to a further diminution of the martial applications taught in many schools.  Some of such instructors supplement what they are teaching with elements from other schools, internal and external, and their training becomes further removed from the original art. While this gradual watering-down of technique has made some external aspects of internal styles available for a wider audience who are interested in the purported health benefits of the internal schools, traditional schools see a complete martial syllabus as a fundamental, defining part of their art, both for health and self-defense purposes. They claim that while the students may not need to practice external applications to derive a benefit from the training, their teachers should know the applications well, to ensure that the movements are trained correctly, effectively and safely. For these reasons traditionalists feel that a school not teaching martial aspects somewhere in their syllabus cannot be said to be actually teaching the art itself, that they have "graduated themselves", and that they are much less likely to be able to reproduce the health benefits that have made complete internal systems famous in the first place.
-===Northern styles===
-{{seealso|Chángquán}}
-Northern styles feature deeply extended postures&mdash;like the horse, bow, drop, and dragon stances&mdash;connected by quick fluid transitions, able to quickly change the direction in which force is issued.
-It is said that northern styles put more focus on legwork, kicking and acrobatics. Some say this is because the northern Chinese were generally taller than those living in southern China, and that they made their styles take advantage of their greater range of motion, especially in their legs. Others claim that the terrain of northern China is more suitable to kicking techniques, or that the cold of the northern Chinese winter caused any focus upon hand techniques to be physically damaging to the practitioner's hands. Still other experts, hold that northern styles originally emphasized high kicks as an expedient against the Mongoloian occupation forces who often fought from horseback and could be easily unseated because they used "very short stirrups" (Peers and Sque, 45). An example of a northern style is the modern [[Changquan]] (Long Fist) that is the most popular style in the forms division in most contemporary Chinese martial arts competitions held around the world today.  There are many northern styles; some of them are [[Northern Praying Mantis]], [[Chuojiao]], [[Bajiquan]], [[Taijiquan]], [[Baguazhang]], Bayingquan, [[Eagle Claw]], and [[Chaquan]].  Most Korean martial arts are analogous to Northern Chinese Style martial arts.
-===Southern styles===
-{{seealso|Nánquán}}
-The southern styles are those that originate south of the [[Yangtze River]]. They are typified by the styles that belong to the related [[Fujian]] ([[Fujian White Crane]], [[Five Ancestors]], [[Wing Chun]]) and [[Hakka Kuen|Hakka]] ([[Southern Praying Mantis]], [[Dragon Kung Fu|Dragon]]) families of martial arts.
-As Leung Ting, the head of the WingTsun branch of Wing Chun, put it, the common features of the Fujian and [[Hakka martial arts]] are "that during fights, pugilists of these systems prefer short steps and close fighting, with their arms placed close to the chest, their elbows lowered and kept close to the flanks to offer it protection" (Leung, 1978, p. 30).
-Even though Cantonese styles such as [[Choy Lee Fut]] and the [[Wong Fei-Hung]] lineage of [[Hung Kuen]] are classified as Southern and feature a characteristically Southern emphasis on the arms, their stances and routines, like those of Northern Chinese styles, are respectively wider and more complicated than those of Fujian and Hakka styles.
-High, narrow, pigeon-toed stances are more prominent in "old" or "village" styles of Hung Kuen but also appear in its Iron Wire Fist empty-hand routine.
-There are sayings that because of their shorter height, the southern Chinese developed styles that were direct and powerful. Similarly, it is speculated that the dense urban population of the south and its humid climate made focusing on close-quarter hand techniques more practical there than the north's focus on jumping and kicking. A generalized [[Nanquan]] (Southern Fist) style has become a popular class in modern Chinese martial arts competitions. It is similar to [[Changquan]] (Long Fist) but includes more rapid punches and blocks, and fewer jumps.
-The most popular Southern style is [[Wing Chun]]. Also known as Ving Tsun or Wing Tsun, it is characterized by short range power, centerline strategy and sticking and deflecting techniques. Its most famous student is [[Bruce Lee]], whose teacher was [[Yip Man]]. Other Southern styles include [[Hung Gar]] and [[Choy Lee Fut]].
-===Shaolin Kung Fu===
-{{main|Shaolin Kung Fu}}
-The term "Shaolin" is used to refer to those styles that trace their origins to Shaolin, be it the original [[Shaolin temple]] in [[Henan Province]], another temple associated with Shaolin, or even wandering Shaolin monks.
-More restrictive definitions include only those styles that were conceived on temple grounds or even just the original Henan temple proper.
-The broadest definition includes just about all external Chinese martial arts, though this has much to do with the attractiveness of the Shaolin "[[brand name]]".
-===Buddhist styles===
-Buddhist styles are those styles practiced mostly within Buddhist temples (primarily [[Chan Buddhism|Chan Buddhist]]) or those styles created by Buddhist monks that later spread to laymen.
-These styles often include Buddhist philosophy, imagery, numbers, and principles.
-The most famous of these are the Shaolin (and related) styles, e.g. [[Shaolinquan]], [[Luohanquan]], [[Hung Gar]], [[Wing Chun]] and [[White Crane]].
-===Daoist styles===
-Daoist styles are popularly associated with Daoism, the credulous may believe that they were created or trained mostly within Daoist Temples or by Daoist ascetics, which often later spread out to laymen. These styles include those trained in the Wudang temple, and often include Daoist principles, philosophy, and imagery. Some of these arts include [[Taijiquan]], [[Wudangquan]], [[Baguazhang]], [[Liuhe Bafa|Liu He Ba Fa]] and [[Huolongzhang]].
-===Muslim styles===
-Muslim styles are those that were practiced traditionally solely or mainly by the Muslim [[Hui people|Hui]] minority in China. These styles often include Muslim principles or imagery. Some of these styles include [[Chaquan]], [[Xinyiliuhequan]], and [[Qishiquan]].
 ==Training==