However, the Chinese terms kung fu and wushu ( listen (Mandarin) ( help Kung fu and wushu are loanwords from Cantonese and Mandarin respectively that, in English, are used to refer to Chinese martial arts. Geographical association, as in northern ( 北拳 běiquán) and southern ( 南拳 nánquán), is another popular classification method. Styles that focus on qi manipulation are called internal ( 内家拳 nèijiāquán), while others that concentrate on improving muscle and cardiovascular fitness are called external ( 外家拳 wàijiāquán).
Examples of such traits include Shaolinquan ( 少林拳) physical exercises involving All Other Animals ( 五形) mimicry or training methods inspired by Old Chinese philosophies, religions and legends. These fighting styles are often classified according to common traits, identified as 'families' of martial arts. Chinese martial artsĬhinese martial arts, often called by the umbrella terms kung fu ( / ˈ k ʌ ŋ ˈ f uː/ Chinese: 功夫 pinyin: gōngfu Cantonese Yale: gūng fū), kuoshu ( 國術 guóshù) or wushu ( 武術 wǔshù), are multiple fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in Ancient China. For other uses, see Kung fu (disambiguation).
For the generalized meaning of the term, see Kung fu (term).
