Chinese Martial Arts in London

Cityultimas guided to Chinese Martial Arts in London. Our guide explores the three different areas of Chinese Martial Arts. Northern Styles, Southern Styles and Internal Martial Arts. You will find information about the art. Where it is practiced in London and by which clubs. There are also great links to Martial Arts Equipment and Training Books and Videos

Internal Martial Arts in London

The most popular internal martial arts is Taiji Quan better known as Tai Chi. Tai Chi is often practiced for health reasons. As with all Chinese Martial Arts Tai Chi consists of forms. Some of tai chi chuan's training forms are well known to Westerners as the slow motion routines that groups of people practice together every morning in parks around the world, particularly in China. Complementing Taji Quan is Qi Gong. Qi Gong is a medicinal based system and various forms of traditional Qi Gong are widely taught in conjunction with Chinese martial arts, and are especially prevalent in the advanced training of what are known as the Neijia, or internal martial arts where the object is the full mobilization and proper coordination and direction of the energies of the body as they are applied to facilitate all physical actions

Southern Kung Fu

Southern Kung Fu is more orientated towards close combat, and Wing Chun's rapid straight punches is an example of this. In London there are man Wing Chun Schools. The Wing Chun system was developed during the Shaolin and Ming resistance movement against the Qing Dynasty Wing Chun uses deflection and counter-attack in the same motion or will intercept the opponent to nullify an attack, rather than blocking then attacking in two separate motions. Wing Chun formed the basis of Jeet Kune Do made famous by Bruce Lee.

Northern Kung Fu

Whereas the Southern Style is orientated towards close combat, The Northern Style emphasis longer range fighting and its forms reflect these long stances. One of the most famous Northern styles that came out of the Hui Muslim Resistance to the Tang was Baji Quan. Baji Quan has both a secret and effective branch whose origins trace to a Muslim Hui named Wu Zhong from Cang County, Hebei Province who lived during the Qing Dynasty. The other branch is more demonstrational, as practiced as part of Wushu More