Classification of Chinese Martial Arts

There is a saying in Chinese, “All styles of martial arts share a common source, and all styles belong to the same family.”  Although the numerous systems and schools in Chinese martial arts make it seem complex, careful study shows that there is orderliness to it. If we follow the below classification, we can see that it is a systematic study deserving of scholarship.  The classification also goes a long way towards eliminating the prejudice that exists between different schools and styles.

The study of Chinese martial arts encompasses five major fields; these are:

1. Fist Forms

2. Weaponry

3. Training

4. Theories

5. Aesthetic Education

FIST FORMS

There are eight types of fist forms, organized according to the movements, rhythm, and training methods.

1. Soft Movements and Relaxed Type – These belong to the soft arts type in Chinese martial arts; the movements are slow and continuous without sudden stops and breaks.  The upper and lower body move gently and slowly in unison.  The emphasis is on relaxed and natural movements with no sudden, hard or explosive power emissions.

2. Soft Movements with Occasional Explosive Power Emissions – These also belong to the soft arts type in Chinese martial arts. The movements in this type of fist forms are gentle, slow, relaxed and natural with occasional emissions of sudden, sharp or explosive power.

3. Soft and Quick-moving Type – The movements are soft, relaxed and continuous without being slow.  The body follows the movements of the feet.  There are a lot of turns, but no sudden, sharp or explosive power emissions.

4. Total Explosive Power Type – These forms are generally simple with lots of repeat movements and few variations.  The emphasis is on demonstrating the use of the entire body in generating the sharp, sudden explosive power known as Total Force or Six Harmony Force.

5. High Stance and Short Strike Type – Stances are high and narrow with short and fast-changing hand techniques.  The emphasis is on rapid upper body movements and short, sharp or inch power emissions.  Generally speaking, there is less emphasis on leg movements.

6. Low Stance and Solid Type – Stances are generally low, wide and solid with interchanging long and short hand techniques.  The emphasis is on large upper body movements, long, hard-power emissions and firmness in lower body movements.

7. Mobile Attack Type – This type is characterized by the interchanging use of high and low stances with quick-changing steps.  Hand and leg techniques are given equal importance.  There is much emphasis on turning, ducking, jumping, sliding and side-stepping.  The movements are large and full of variations.

8. Ground Movement Type – The emphasis is on falling, dropping, rolling, somersaults and combat movements on the ground.

Within the types, there are different branches of study:

1. Hand Techniques – The techniques for the fists, palms and upper arms.

2. Leg Techniques – The variety of techniques for the legs and the feet.

3. Pressure Points – The art of attack and defence involving the various pressure points of the human body.

4. Grappling Techniques – The study and use of the techniques of grappling, capturing, holding and locking.

5. Falling Techniques – The art of how to stay on one’s feet despite losing one’s balance.

6. The Six Body Parts – The techniques for using the head, shoulders, hips, back, elbows and knees.

7. Foot Techniques – The study of different kinds of steps and footwork.

8. Multiple Techniques – The study of a variety of techniques for use in actual combat situations.

WEAPONRY

There are three types of weapons:

1. Hard, explosive

2. Soft, flexible

3. Combined hard and soft

Within the three types, there are nine different branches of study:

1. Long weapons

2. Medium length weapons

3. Short weapons

4. Paired weapons

5. Soft weapons

6. Unique weapons

7. Hidden weapons

8. Two-fighter set weapons

9. Combat weapons

TRAINING

There are three types of training.

1. Qigong (Energy Training) – The harnessing of the body’s energy (qi).

2. Spirit and Mind Training – The control of the spirit and the mind.

3. Strength Training – The use of one’s strength and power.

Within the three types of training, there are six fields of study:

1. External training

2. Internal training

3. Combined external and internal training

4. Medical training

5. Sports Medicine and osteopathy

6. Daoist and Zen Studies

Within the fields, there are ten different branches of study:

1. Hard training

2. Soft training

3. Light body training (qing gong/light kungfu)

4. Ingenious tactics

5. Stamina and strength training

6. Sports medicine, osteopathy

7. Herbal medicine

8. Healthful living

9. Supplementary training

10. Meditation

THEORIES

There are two types of theoretical studies:

1. Corporeal – Theories of mechanical and physical movements.

2. Spiritual – Theories of spiritual and self cultivation.

Within these, there are twelve branches of study:          

1. Physiology

2. Physics

3. Human dissection

4. Sports mechanics

5. Fundaments of Chinese medical theories

6. Pressure points and theories of channels and collaterals

7. Basic diagnosis

8. Basic acupuncture

9. Philosophy, martial ethics

10. History of martial arts

11. Fist theories

12. Military strategies and tactics

AESTHETIC EDUCATION

There are two types of aesthetic education:

1. Martial arts

2. Traditional arts

There are six branches of study:

1. The art of the Dragon Dance

2. The art of the Lion Dance, including the Northern Lion and Southern Lion

3. Qi Lin 麒麟

4. Pi Xiu 貔貅

5. Musical instruments – drum, gong, cymbals, etc

6. Calligraphy and painting