The basic structure of Kung Fu is based on the theory of Yin and Yang, a pair of mutually complementary forces that act continuously and without end in this universe.
This Chinese way of life can be applied to anything, but in this article we are interested in its relationship to the art of Kung Fu.
The black part of the circle is called Yin. Yin can represent anything in the universe, such as the negative, passiveness, gentleness, darkness, etc. The other, complementary, part of the circle is Yang, which represents the positive, activeness, firmness, brightness, etc.
A common mistake people make is to identify this Yin-Yang symbol as dualistic, that is, identifying Yang and Yin as the opposites of each other. Actually, all things have their complementary parts; it is only in the human mind and perception that matter is separated into opposites. As long as we separate this "oneness" into two, we will not achieve realization.
The sun is not the opposite of the moon, as they complement and are independent of each other, and we cannot survive without either of them. Similarly, the "oneness" of Yin-Yang is necessary in life.
A person riding a bicycle can not push both pedals at the same time, nor can one progress without pedaling at all. In order to move forward, one has to push one pedal, releasing the other. So the movement of going forward requires "oneness" of pushing and releasing, each being the cause of the other.
In the Yin-Yang symbol, there is a white spot on the black part and a black spot on the white part. This illustrates the balance in life, due to which nothing can survive for long by going to either extreme, be it negative or positive.
According to the principle of "oneness," firmness must be concealed in gentleness, and gentleness in firmness. This is why a Kung Fu fighter must be as pliable as a spring. Notice that the stiffest tree is most easily cracked, while the bamboo will bend with the wind. So in Kung Fu or any other system, one must be gentle without giving away completely; be firm, yet not hard. Even if one is strong, as a Kung Fu fighter, one must guard one's strength with softness and tenderness. Without softness in one's firmness, a Kung Fu fighter cannot be considered strong. Yet if the fighter has firmness concealed in softness, no one can break through the fighter's defense.
YIN-YANG = Moderation and Balance
The principle of moderation provides the best means of preserving oneself. If we accept the oneness of Yin-Yang in everything and do not treat things dualistically, we attain tranquility by remaining detached and not inclining to either extreme. Even if we do incline to one extreme, be it negative or positive, we will flow with it in order to control it.
For example, when one works to the extreme one becomes tired and rests; after resting, one can work again. Flowing with the extreme, without clinging to it, is in fact the true way to get rid of the extreme.
When the movements in Yin-Yang flow into extremes, reaction sets in. When Yang goes to the extreme, it changes to Yin; when Yin activated by Yang goes to the extreme, it returns back to Yang. That is why each one is the result and cause of the other.
The application of the theory of Yin-Yang in Kung Fu is known as the law of harmony, according to which one should be in harmony with, and not against, the force of the opponent.
Simplicity Is the Secret
When a Kung Fu fighter finally understands the theory of Yin-Yang, there is no need to fuss with so-called gentleness or firmness; one simply does what the moment requires. In fact, all conventional forms and techniques disappear, and the movements of the Kung Fu fighter are like everyday movements. Kung Fu practitioners do not have to justify themselves, like so many other masters have, by claiming their spirit or internal power. Cultivation of martial art in the long run will return the practitioner to simplicity; only people with half-way cultivation justify and brag about themselves.
Kung Fu principles and techniques have pervaded and influenced different arts of oriental self-defense, yet Kung Fu has been shrouded under a veil of utmost secrecy. Its history spans four thousand years.
In antiquity, Kung Fu was simply a no-holds-barred type of martial art. Yet as the centuries went by, countless generations of Kung Fu practitioners gradually perfected the art, smoothing out the rough spots, polishing the techniques, until it began to emerge as something definitely superior.
Later on, the studies of anatomy, religion, and psychology were all included in the art, and Kung Fu advanced one more step to a highly scientific and philosophical type of self-defense. This transformation occurred around two or three thousand years ago. Kung Fu has since been used for the promotion of health, cultivation of mind, and self-protection.
The techniques of Kung Fu do not emphasize power, but the conservation of energy and moderation without inclination to either extreme. Thus, true Kung Fu fighters never oppose a force that will create a reaction, nor do they give way completely. They are simply pliable as a spring, seeking to merge harmoniously with the oncoming force of the opponent, to complement and not to oppose.
The techniques of a superior system of Kung Fu are based on simplicity. It is only the half-cultivated systems that are full of unnecessary and wasted motions. Simplicity is the natural result of profound and long study of the way of movements, and a good Kung Fu fighter is a simplifier.
Tips on Practicing Self-Defense
Every movement of Kung Fu has a continuity that flows without dislocation. As soon as one movement is completed, it begins to flow into another one. Because of this, the movements in Kung Fu are faster than other ordinary methods.
Kung Fu is a mind exercise. The combined application of mind and body is especially important in the higher stages of Kung Fu. Try to use the imagination (mental movement) to influence every physical movement.
Cooperate with your opponents. Do not resist or interrupt their flow of movement. Instead of stopping their force, complete it by following them. In other words, you should help others to destroy themselves. Remember this: What you will do depends on your opponent; that is why we say, complement and do not oppose the opponent's force.
The waist is very important in the art of Kung Fu, as it plays a major part in both striking and dissolving away the opponent's force. The practitioner is required to dissolve away the opponent's force by side-stepping only after turning the waist first.
It is better to learn to endure than to learn how to fight. However, if you are compelled to oppose, make use of force.
Waist Is Power
The waist plays a vital role in the art of Kung Fu. You can try the following exercises to extend the range of your motion and to make the waist flexible.
Bend forward till palms are touching the ground, keeping legs straight at all times.
Bend forward and grasp both ankles, touching the head to the knees. Later on, with practice, the head should touch the shin or, even better, the instep.
Turn your body to the left and bend down without moving the lower trunk. Touch palms on the ground, and come up and repeat the same to the right side.
Leg Training
The kick is the best means of attack; however, one must be aware of the danger of using it recklessly. The legs are much more powerful and have a longer reach than the hands, but we must also consider that when we lift one leg and kick, our whole balance is involved and may be lost.
In training kick as high as you can, but in combat kick as fast as you can. If you use sandbags to kick as practice, your legs will have power and will be strong.
Conclusion
With Kung Fu and self-defense you will be more self-confident, healthy, and firm, and you will possess other positive traits that you will discover during practice. Kung Fu can thus be enjoyed as a Chinese view of life, an interesting art, and self-defense at the same time.
This Chinese way of life can be applied to anything, but in this article we are interested in its relationship to the art of Kung Fu.
The black part of the circle is called Yin. Yin can represent anything in the universe, such as the negative, passiveness, gentleness, darkness, etc. The other, complementary, part of the circle is Yang, which represents the positive, activeness, firmness, brightness, etc.
A common mistake people make is to identify this Yin-Yang symbol as dualistic, that is, identifying Yang and Yin as the opposites of each other. Actually, all things have their complementary parts; it is only in the human mind and perception that matter is separated into opposites. As long as we separate this "oneness" into two, we will not achieve realization.
The sun is not the opposite of the moon, as they complement and are independent of each other, and we cannot survive without either of them. Similarly, the "oneness" of Yin-Yang is necessary in life.
A person riding a bicycle can not push both pedals at the same time, nor can one progress without pedaling at all. In order to move forward, one has to push one pedal, releasing the other. So the movement of going forward requires "oneness" of pushing and releasing, each being the cause of the other.
In the Yin-Yang symbol, there is a white spot on the black part and a black spot on the white part. This illustrates the balance in life, due to which nothing can survive for long by going to either extreme, be it negative or positive.
According to the principle of "oneness," firmness must be concealed in gentleness, and gentleness in firmness. This is why a Kung Fu fighter must be as pliable as a spring. Notice that the stiffest tree is most easily cracked, while the bamboo will bend with the wind. So in Kung Fu or any other system, one must be gentle without giving away completely; be firm, yet not hard. Even if one is strong, as a Kung Fu fighter, one must guard one's strength with softness and tenderness. Without softness in one's firmness, a Kung Fu fighter cannot be considered strong. Yet if the fighter has firmness concealed in softness, no one can break through the fighter's defense.
YIN-YANG = Moderation and Balance
The principle of moderation provides the best means of preserving oneself. If we accept the oneness of Yin-Yang in everything and do not treat things dualistically, we attain tranquility by remaining detached and not inclining to either extreme. Even if we do incline to one extreme, be it negative or positive, we will flow with it in order to control it.
For example, when one works to the extreme one becomes tired and rests; after resting, one can work again. Flowing with the extreme, without clinging to it, is in fact the true way to get rid of the extreme.
When the movements in Yin-Yang flow into extremes, reaction sets in. When Yang goes to the extreme, it changes to Yin; when Yin activated by Yang goes to the extreme, it returns back to Yang. That is why each one is the result and cause of the other.
The application of the theory of Yin-Yang in Kung Fu is known as the law of harmony, according to which one should be in harmony with, and not against, the force of the opponent.
Simplicity Is the Secret
When a Kung Fu fighter finally understands the theory of Yin-Yang, there is no need to fuss with so-called gentleness or firmness; one simply does what the moment requires. In fact, all conventional forms and techniques disappear, and the movements of the Kung Fu fighter are like everyday movements. Kung Fu practitioners do not have to justify themselves, like so many other masters have, by claiming their spirit or internal power. Cultivation of martial art in the long run will return the practitioner to simplicity; only people with half-way cultivation justify and brag about themselves.
Kung Fu principles and techniques have pervaded and influenced different arts of oriental self-defense, yet Kung Fu has been shrouded under a veil of utmost secrecy. Its history spans four thousand years.
In antiquity, Kung Fu was simply a no-holds-barred type of martial art. Yet as the centuries went by, countless generations of Kung Fu practitioners gradually perfected the art, smoothing out the rough spots, polishing the techniques, until it began to emerge as something definitely superior.
Later on, the studies of anatomy, religion, and psychology were all included in the art, and Kung Fu advanced one more step to a highly scientific and philosophical type of self-defense. This transformation occurred around two or three thousand years ago. Kung Fu has since been used for the promotion of health, cultivation of mind, and self-protection.
The techniques of Kung Fu do not emphasize power, but the conservation of energy and moderation without inclination to either extreme. Thus, true Kung Fu fighters never oppose a force that will create a reaction, nor do they give way completely. They are simply pliable as a spring, seeking to merge harmoniously with the oncoming force of the opponent, to complement and not to oppose.
The techniques of a superior system of Kung Fu are based on simplicity. It is only the half-cultivated systems that are full of unnecessary and wasted motions. Simplicity is the natural result of profound and long study of the way of movements, and a good Kung Fu fighter is a simplifier.
Tips on Practicing Self-Defense
Every movement of Kung Fu has a continuity that flows without dislocation. As soon as one movement is completed, it begins to flow into another one. Because of this, the movements in Kung Fu are faster than other ordinary methods.
Kung Fu is a mind exercise. The combined application of mind and body is especially important in the higher stages of Kung Fu. Try to use the imagination (mental movement) to influence every physical movement.
Cooperate with your opponents. Do not resist or interrupt their flow of movement. Instead of stopping their force, complete it by following them. In other words, you should help others to destroy themselves. Remember this: What you will do depends on your opponent; that is why we say, complement and do not oppose the opponent's force.
The waist is very important in the art of Kung Fu, as it plays a major part in both striking and dissolving away the opponent's force. The practitioner is required to dissolve away the opponent's force by side-stepping only after turning the waist first.
It is better to learn to endure than to learn how to fight. However, if you are compelled to oppose, make use of force.
Waist Is Power
The waist plays a vital role in the art of Kung Fu. You can try the following exercises to extend the range of your motion and to make the waist flexible.
Bend forward till palms are touching the ground, keeping legs straight at all times.
Bend forward and grasp both ankles, touching the head to the knees. Later on, with practice, the head should touch the shin or, even better, the instep.
Turn your body to the left and bend down without moving the lower trunk. Touch palms on the ground, and come up and repeat the same to the right side.
Leg Training
The kick is the best means of attack; however, one must be aware of the danger of using it recklessly. The legs are much more powerful and have a longer reach than the hands, but we must also consider that when we lift one leg and kick, our whole balance is involved and may be lost.
In training kick as high as you can, but in combat kick as fast as you can. If you use sandbags to kick as practice, your legs will have power and will be strong.
Conclusion
With Kung Fu and self-defense you will be more self-confident, healthy, and firm, and you will possess other positive traits that you will discover during practice. Kung Fu can thus be enjoyed as a Chinese view of life, an interesting art, and self-defense at the same time.
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