WHAT IS KUNG FU?

Kung fu is a Chinese word that means “high skill”. It also means day-to-day tasks, like housework. Bruce Lee liked to use this term to describe Chinese martial arts because it takes consistent repetitive training on a daily basis to achieve the “high skill” of martial arts. Most people are exposed to kung fu in movies and television, which while bringing kung fu to a worldwide audience, has exhibited it as mere entertainment. The camera must capture exciting images and movements that elicit awe, rather than true martial skill. In the history of Chinese martial arts, the performing and theatrical aspect of the martial arts became the basis of classical opera. Both the Northern and Southern forms used martial art situations and movements to excite and entertain an audience. However these theatrical displays although quite athletic, are like today’s martial arts movies actually the opposite of true kung fu which relies on stealth to be effective. If an opponent can see the attack, he will try to stop it. If the attack is unseen, disguised, obscured, or invisible, the opponent cannot defend against it.

Wu Mei Kung Fu does not block attacks. When attacked, we launch a simultaneous counterattack without giving the opponent time to react. When attacking, the Wu Mei Kung Fu player moves with stealth in what we call formlessness “Mo ying”, a way of moving without giving any information as to the origin, shape or direction of the attack. The battle is a game in which the Wu Mei Kung Fu player leads the opponent into death traps and dead ends. We give the opponent several choices to lose. Our energy is like a river flowing - when the opponents’ energy pauses or stops, we strike. We watch the opponent intently and let them command our response, each attack becomes another opportunity to defeat them. In this way we relish battle rather than fear it.