Generally speaking, the kung fu is one of the most complete martial arts, was born and grew up at a time when the fighting had to be the most effective and complete as possible, in all levels. Here then that the baggage of more traditional styles are a very wide range of shots, taken with virtually every part of the body: the hands, feet, elbows, knees, shoulders and head. The large family of kung fu styles is divided into South and North and depending on the characteristics of different peoples and places have developed the second case. It is used for example to say that the North styles are characterized by broader positions and kicked high and acrobatic, while those from South kick low and small positions, with a predilection for short trips and techniques of hand, but this is a generalization is not always confirmed. Another division, which dates from a few centuries ago, is between external styles (called wai) and interior styles (in calls). In the first start favouring el'atletismo muscle strength, while in the second inner energy and concentration. With the progress of the practice, however, this division will tend to disappear. In strict hand may take different forms in imitation of the animals or philosophical principles, so we leg of the dragon, or the leopard Tigre, dell'aquila claws, beak crane, the hooves of the horse, ol'uncino muzzle of the serpent of the praying mantis. The hand can also represent the blade of a sword or the tip of a spear, and so forth. Dell'arte of shots is also the study of vital points (tien hsue and dim mak), drawn from traditional Chinese medicine, that if beaten in particular can give results fearsome, up to legendary techniques and esoteric, like " palm that vibrates, "which seems to cause the death of a person over time, only sfiorandola with his hand. The kung fu includes several key techniques articulate, with breaks or dislocations resulting (chin na), the projections, the fight hand-to-hand, the one on the ground (not infrequently, however, overlooked by some Orthodox tradition) and falls. Some schools have specialized in the techniques of breaking distinguished from those of other martial arts for more soft and natural, body conditioning, which generally does not provide for the formation of calluses or bone deformations of the anatomical structure.
Once you have reached a certain expertise in the techniques with bare hands, we can approach to the study of weapons, which are traditionally 18, but depending on the styles can be more. Among them are: the sword (chien), the most noble and difficult weapons, and the sabre (tan tao), associated with the Tigre, a symbol of strength and courage; spear (chiang), archery (kung), 'halberd (Kuan Tao, in honor of the great General Kuan Yu), the trident (ch'a), typical of the South and also used for hunting tigers; sticks, in various shapes and sizes (pang, kun, chang kun etc.), sticks snodati two, three or four pieces (shuang and St ask kun, szu asked t'ang), steel chains (kang pien) and the double swords uncinate (shuang kou). Do not separate from all this are the breathing techniques, movement of chi (energy internal) and meditation, to varying degrees in different ways including in practice. That's why "to learn kung fu is not just a lifetime."

Stefano Pernatsch
(Dall'Enciclopedia stretch of martial arts for sale through the portal)

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