There are two divisions of Kung Fu (translation=a mans skilled work). The first is the Shaolin style, the other being the Wu Tang. There are virtually over 360 diffrent styles. However, there are only three that are considred the internal styles. These are: Tai Chi, Pa Kua and Hsing-I and they belong to the Wu Tang school of thought. Some historians attribute the founder of Hsing-I to be General Yueh Fei, a very famous general in China. Kung Fu is believed to be at least 4,500 years old. So you can see that there is an extensive history behind this art.
This system is based on the movements of the Wu Hsing (five elementals, or styles). These elements are Metal, Water, Wood, Fire and Earth. Within these styles there are specific internal organs directly connected with each movement, therefore by doin the movements you can place the body in a state of harmony. It is a process by which we become ill when the body is in disharmony, so therefore by excersing the Wu Hsing we can obtain optimum health.
The Chinese have broken down nature to the following categorys: Yin=Female, dark, moon and Yang=Male, light, sun. Everything in life has a definate division of the two. So in essence our everyday living is nothing more than existing "chi" (intrinsic energy).
Other categorys taught in Kung Fu are Accupressure massage (the stimulation of specific pressure on certain "points"), Bone setting (the ability to touch or look at a bone misplacement or break and be able to set it by hand) and Herbal medicine (the study of herbal remidies for poultices and for specific illinesses or training). All of these things make up the total process of Kung Fu (the art of being skilled at what you are doing).
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