| Fu origins date back to over four thousand years | | | | present-day Kung Fu. The mystical elements of |
| ago. This is the oldest of all the martial arts and it | | | | Kung Fu philosophy came from I-Ching. |
| was first practiced by Chinese soldiers in combat. | | | | The name Kung Fu was first used during the 6th |
| Legend has it that the hand techniques were | | | | Century AD when Bodhidarma, a Buddhist monk, |
| developed by the Yellow Emperor who began his | | | | arrived at the newly founded Shaolin Temple. |
| reign in 2698 BC. | | | | Although Buddhism had been in existence in China |
| He was a notable leader who had written about | | | | for several hundred years, it was Bodhidarma |
| intellectual subjects such as Chinese medicine, the | | | | who incorporated the martial arts into the religion. |
| martial arts, and astrology. He was the founder of | | | | The Shaolin monks became dedicated to Kung Fu |
| a type of wrestling called Jiao Di. Contestants | | | | and became famous throughout China. They were |
| would wear helmets with horns attached and | | | | involved in many military confrontations and were |
| fought one another with the horns. Apparently, | | | | praised for ridding their province of bandits. During |
| Jiao Di was used on the battlefields with | | | | the 17th Century, people from all over China |
| outstanding results. | | | | visited them to learn more about Kung Fu. |
| Whether the legend is true or not, this type of | | | | Shaolin Kung Fu is physically demanding. The |
| wrestling did exist and is considered to be the | | | | monks therefore completely dedicated |
| first ever martial arts. It went on to include other | | | | themselves to many hours of rigorous training |
| techniques such as pressure-point hits, strikes, | | | | every day. They believed this was the only way |
| blocks, and joint-locks. Apart from being used in | | | | to be better than ordinary men. At this time, rival |
| military battles, Jiao Di became a popular | | | | Taoist monks who lived on the Wudang Mountain |
| recreational activity and regular contests were | | | | practiced varying styles of Kung Fu. |
| held. | | | | In 1966 when the architect of Chinese |
| When the Zhou Dynasty came into power, the | | | | communism, Mao Zedong, began his Cultural |
| martial arts further developed alongside other | | | | Revolution, Kung Fu and many other practices like |
| ancient Chinese philosophies like Taoism, | | | | Feng Shui were forbidden. He aimed to rid the |
| Confucianism and I-Ching. The opposites, Ying and | | | | country of all traditions which he thought would |
| Yang, which were part of Taoism, included the | | | | interfere with the quest to make China truly |
| hard/soft fighting techniques that exist in | | | | communistic. |