Wushu - Modern Chinese Martial Arts

History
The real martial art as we know today can be traced back to Bodhidarma's (also known as Damo in Mandarin) preaching of Buddhism (after 523 ad) at the Shaolin Temple during the Tang Dynasty (approximately 1500 years ago). When he saw the monks were not healthy and often attacked by bandits, he taught the monks some moves which I think could be from some Indian martial art such as kalari payat or it could possibly originated from Bodhidarma (Darmo) himself since it was reported that he spend 9 years meditating in a cave on top of Mount Soong.. By watching the movements of animals, he further added more moves. Very soon the Shaolin Temple becomes well know for their martial arts skills. There might be other martial arts schools which might exist earlier but become extinct due to various reasons such as unable to compete with other schools and got beaten up by other schools.
In the ancient time, China had a system of hsiah ( like samurais and knights) whose existence were to study martial under well known masters. They had the noble aim of helping the oppressed and support the righteous path. The modern days organized triad and secret societies were off shoot from them (and many still have similar rules). They fight against each other for honor to elevate their own or their martial art school's standing. The top schools would try to destroy the others that they feel are perpetrating evil deeds (sometimes more as a pretext than a social obligation to eliminate a competitor). From these established schools they select their supreme leader of the Wu Lin (Martial Art World). The supreme leader would most of the time be from the school with the best fighter. The established organizations were invited to select a nominee to represent them. These nominees would vote for the supreme leader. In the event of a stalemate, the nominees would fight it out with the eventual winner proclaimed the supreme leader (Men Ju) of the Wulin (martial arts world). The Wah San Clan, Iron Palm Clan (Tieh Chang Pai), Chuan Chern Pai (Taoist Priest) and etc were the elite then. Normally monks and priests would not be involved in the Wu Lin as they were deemed to be detached from worldly interest. However, the Shaolin and Wudang (Chuan Chern Pai was integrated into Wudang) have always been in the forefront of Chinese martial arts. In fact there is a saying in China that Shaolin is the leader of external martial art while Wu Tang is the leader of internal martial arts. Because of their fame, almost any tom, dick and harry would want to challenge them but most of them never came out alive as these places were normally heavily guarded by skilled disciples. In ancient time, learning a martial art without the permission of a master is tantamount to stealing and would be severely punished (such as breaking your collar bones purportedly to disable your ability to use martial art.

During the Ching Dynasty, the Shaolin temple was burned down by the Manchu Emperor for harboring famous rebels such as Hung Shi Kuan (or Hung Hei Kun in Cantonese) who managed to escape. Hung Shi Kuan was the founder of the Hung Chuan. This was passed down to his son before it reached Wong Kei Ying (one of Canton 10 Tigers) and later on passed down to his son Wong Fei Hong (also one of Canton 10 Tigers). In fact most of those studying Shao Lin or Hung Chuan (Hung fist) today can be traced to Lam Sai Weng (a disciple of Wong Fei Hung). Shaolin Kung Fu is mainly external kung fu. Hard Chi is Kang (hard like metal) as oppose to Rou (soft like water) which uses deliberate soft and slow movements. You will also notice that breathing follows the movements. External martial arts will let out a sharp noise in order to enhance the force of the strike . You barely hear anything from from an internal martial artist as he regulate and manipulate his chi with his yi. Most people can play with chi but do not know anything about yi (will/mental power). When you are capable of using yi you are already a step ahead of those who cannot. In fact there are many masters who are unable to use yi. See my other articles on meditation and spiritual path for more information.

Wu Tang was founded by a Taoist Priest Chang San Fung (Cheong Sam Foong in Cantonese) during the Soong Dynasty. That would be around 800 years ago. Taoism is based on Lao Tze's Tao Te Ching (The Way which is about 2 to 3 thousand years old). Its followers will always try to be like the water which is soft yet able to penetrate through rocks that happen to be in its way. It have the Ji Xing Jen (seven stars swords formation), Ba Gua Chuan, Tai Yi Chuan, Tai He Chuan, Tai Chi Chuan, Tek Fa (kicking skills) and etc. Wu Tang 's kung fu is internal martial art at its best (based on the soft overcoming the hard while Shaolin Kung Fu concentrate more on hard overcoming the soft). The Taoist gather Yin Chi at night and it is not uncommon for Wu Tang students to gather at burial grounds (is considered the highest concentration of Yin Chi as dead people are Yin) to gather Yin Chi. Such mysterious practices is often view by the Shao Lin and others with skepticism since these people learn to absorb the Sun's ray which is full of Yang Chi. Many people think Tai Chi Chuan is only an exercise and not for combat. Tai Chi Chuan was founded by Chang San Fung in his golden years and probably one of his greatest contribution to mankind. Tai Chi Chuan means the ultimate martial art. Its deliberate slow movements belies a superior martial art which can absorb and redirect the opponent's energy to hit back at the attacker. If properly trained, the master can beat almost everyone. Many Tai Chi masters were undefeated in combat. In the original form Wu Tang Tai Chi Chuan founder Chang San Fung was undefeated and call it the ultimate martial art. Many Shaolin people would like to think that Chang San Fung was a Shaolin monk. There are several stories on how he escaped from Shao Lin to Mont Wu Tang and eventually establishing the Wu Tang Kung Fu. Personally I think it is very mischievous since in the ancient days you can only learn from a single master and kungfu school. The Shaolin monks would not be that forgiving to allow him the luxury to open his own school at Mont Wu Tang without their blessing and to add salt to injury the opening of a Taoist Temple. At that time the Chuan Chern Pai was the main Taoist martial art clan. He would have been hunted down and killed or at least disabled his martial art ability (by breaking his collar bones making him harmless). Beside Taoism and Buddhism do not mix. Chang San Fung would not change from Buddhism to Taoism overnight. Chang San Fung should be the best fighter of his time since no Shaolin attack on Wu Tang has ever been recorded. Many of the lesser school would have been over run and looted for their Kung Fu manuals. Any school that was deemed a threat to the security of the martial art world would be hunted down and their martial art manuals confiscated by the supreme leader of the martial art world (Wu Lin). It is not much different from the way former US President George Bush hunted down former Iraqi President Sadam Hussain purportedly for hoarding weapons of mass destructions.

Currently there are many Wu Tang clans at Mount Wu Tang. You have the Xuan Wu Pai under Grandmaster You Xuande (the Chief Priest of Wudang) who is the most well known among them, San Fong Pai have Master Chen Shixing and Grandmaster Zhong Yunlong, Chung Yang Pai, Chuan Chern Pai and etc. Many new Wudang schools crop out with new masters due to overwhelming demand for Wu Tang kung fu.

The Tai Chi Chuan we know today can be traced to Chen Chia Kow (Chan Kar Kui in Cantonese) or Chen Ravine (Village) which is said to have 3000 peoples with 2500 learning Tai Chi Chuan. It suddenly appeared during the 19th century Ching Dynasty. Chen Chia Kow was famous for Chen Tai Chi Chuan. It was described as punching into a bag of cotton. The Chen Tai Chi Chuan were only taught to male family members until Yang Lu Sian (Yeong Low Sim in Cantonese) managed to become a disciple. Yang Lu Sian then modified the Tai Chi Chuan to make it the more graceful Yang Tai Chi Chuan. Today you have all types of Tai Chi Chuan. Of course the original Tai Chi Chuan is from Wu Tang and is Taoist in nature. The people from Wu Tang is still doing it the original way oblivious of what other Tai Chi clans are doing. In recent years many people have the impression that Tai chi Chuan is only some exercises for the sick and elderly. Anyone seeing Grandmaster Chen Xiao Wang's Chen Tai Chi would agreed he is hell of a fighter. If it can help even the sick and elderly surely it can be useful for everyone. The only reason why it does not appeal to the younger generation is its deliberate slow movements. The reason for the slow movements is to learn to move your chi. You also learn to use Yi (mental power). Therefore you cannot have fast moves. When you fight you automatically moves quickly in tandem with your opponent. When you train you moves slowly in order to train yourself into using yi to move and feel your chi.

In China almost every mountain is occupied by a clan or temple famous for martial arts. Shaolin is on Mount Soong, Wutang is on Mount Wutang, Emei is on Mount Emei, Kunlun on Mount Kunlun, Wahsan is on Mount Wah and etc. There are thousands of martial arts schools in China. Of these the most famous are Shaolin and Wutang. They have schools and performances all over the world.