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WHAT IS KUNGFU? Kungfu is a living tradition of Chinese martial arts that has been passed down from generation to generation of dedicated practitioners, for more than 1,400 years.

It is the application of a science of body mechanics and energy dynamics. Its drills, movements, techniques, and forms are the application of a deep understanding of how the body works, how power is generated, how energy is transformed—and of how fitness and longevity can be achieved.

It is a way of life and a way of fighting, a method for total self-development, as well as a collection of effective combat techniques.

It is Chinese. It is inextricably bound with elements of Chinese culture and philosophy, with Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism, as well as with ancient legends, modern heroes, and age-old traditions.

It is both sport and art. Learning kungfu means undertaking rigorous training to learn specific stances, hand techniques, and footwork, while doing kungfu is essentially artistic expression. Beauty and grace are as important as speed and power.

Kungfu is also a community. It is a family of dedicated practitioners who share a love of kungfu and who have committed themselves to one another, to the teachers before them, and to the art and its preservation.

The purpose of this book is to help a new student get started. The chapters of this book are organized roughly in the sequence of a beginner’s experience—from choosing the school, through training, to participating in tournaments. It is meant to cover the material taught in approximately the first three to six months of training, with hints of what comes beyond. We start with history because that explains how the different styles developed and with philosophy because that explains what the art is trying to teach.

We have tried to be complete and accurate, but words can only capture the shadow of the reality. As it is written in the Tao Te Ching, “The Tao that can be described is never the true Tao,” so it is with kungfu: that which you experience is the true essence, and that essence is far richer than words can describe. Good luck!

Jing: Most commonly translated as simply “respect,” this word also includes the ideas of admiration, courtesy, awe, surprise, astonishment, and discipline. With this kind of attitude, a beginner is mentally ready to learn.