How Effective Are Chinese Martial Arts?

by

Tai Chi, Wing Chun, Jeet Kune Do, and others are highly popular Chinese martial arts. But some are obviously better for self-defense than others, so overall, how effective are Chinese martial arts?

The vast majority of Chinese martial arts are not effective if one is looking for a self-defense system that is adaptable and reliable. Most have elements of showmanship. However, there are a few, such as Wing Chun, Luan Ying, and Shaolin Kung Fu, that are highly effective.

In effect, it depends on the style you choose to learn, as there is an array of styles that make up Kung Fu.

But there’s a lot more to know. In this article, we’ll find out how effective Kung Fu is in street fights and the most effective Chinese martial art. And we will look at which style of Kung Fu is the most effective.

Let the fun begin.

How effective is Kung Fu in a street fight?

Some forms of Kung Fu, such as Wing Chun and Lung Ying, are highly effective in a street fight, while others, such as Tai Chi, are practically useless.

It’s vital to note that Kung Fu is actually an umbrella term for any discipline or skill attained through hard work, martial arts inclusive.

It’s not really the name of one singular martial art. As such, it encompasses an array of martial art styles.

So, it depends on the style of Kung Fu one employs and the skill level of one’s opponent.

If the opponent is an equally skilled fighter, perhaps someone who has also mastered a martial art such as Muay Thai or BJJ, it may be hard to predict the outcome.

But if you had to pick one?

Truth be told, it’s unlikely that Kung Fu would be what I would opt for. But if the opponent is unskilled, all things being equal, they would get a gruesome beatdown from someone who is proficient in lethal styles of Kung Fu such as Wing Chun and Lung Ying.

The latter is deadly as it is a combination of forearm trapping techniques, palm strikes, elbow strikes, low kicks, and punches.

And the former, Wing Chun, is the style initially used by the iconic Bruce Lee.

What is the most effective Chinese martial art?

Kung Fu encompasses all Chinese martial arts and the style of Kung Fu that is the most effective is known as Lung Ying. But Shaolin Kung Fu or Wing Chun are also highly effective.

We will look at Shaolin Kung Fu here and check out Lung Ying in a bit.

Shaolin Kung Fu, interestingly, also has sub-styles. So, we will focus on the common elements. There is great emphasis on attacks, throws, punches, and strikes.

Some wrestling techniques are also employed in Shaolin Kung Fu, so some form of grabbing is used. And there are many blocking techniques that make it ideal for self-defense.

So, can Kung Fu be used in a real fight?

That’s what I got into in a recent article. In it, I revealed whether Kung Fu is effective in a real fight, and I shared a lot more about Shaolin Kung Fu. But I also shared the most effective martial art.

Just click the link to read it on my site.

Which style of Kung Fu is the most effective?

Lung Ying is the most effective style of Kung Fu. One of the techniques that makes it effective involves locking up an opponent, preventing them from being able to defend themselves.

It involves techniques such as elbow strikes, hammer fists, punches, low kicks, and forearm trapping.

The stance adopted in Lung Ying is similar to that used in wrestling, with slightly bent knees and arched backs, which makes it difficult for the opponent to effectively execute strikes and takedowns.

And the hands are also held protectively in front of the face.

Nimble footwork is used a lot, which comes in handy when trying to avoid hits from the opponent and for making deceptive movements. It also involves knee strikes, which on its own is highly lethal. In fact, a properly executed knee strike can subdue most opponents seeing as it’s not only excruciating but also disorienting.

Wing Chun is also an effective style of Kung Fu.

Wing Chun is the style that Bruce Lee learned under Ip Man. Later, he developed Jeet Kune Do. Jeet Kune Do is a style that many regard as the precursor of MMA because its essence is the focus on what works and not on following traditional patterns.

Want more info on how to learn Kung Fu at home?

Check out a recent article I published. In it, I looked at how long it would take to learn Kung Fu at home and whether you can learn it online. But I also revealed the best Kung Fu moves to learn at home.

Just click the link to read it on my site.

How many types of Chinese martial arts are there?

There are hundreds of different types of Chinese martial arts. They are often classified in terms of whether they originated in the northern or southern part of China. And they are also classified as “external” or “internal” martial arts.

They are also classified according to the religious traditions that influenced them. So, there are Buddhist, Taoist, and Islamic styles. And there are also historical classifications.

External styles are usually focused on physical strength and agility and are characterized by fast and explosive movements. Most Chinese martial arts fall under this category.

They are the type we often see in movies, such as the ones starring Yip Man, Bruce Lee, and Jackie Chan (who trained in Jeet Kune Do and other martial arts.

Speed, spectacular aerial movements, and muscular power define these styles. Two examples are Shaolinquan and many Wushu forms.

Internal styles, on the other hand, are focused on leverage rather than brute force and seek to harness the spirit, mind, and qi (energy).

Their key components include stance training, stretching and strengthening of muscles, and empty hand and weapon forms, which could be quite demanding.

A defining characteristic is that internal styles are done at a slow pace, which is believed to improve balance and coordination. But at advanced levels and in actual fighting, internal styles are also performed at a relatively fast pace.

What is China’s deadliest martial art?

Lung Ying Kung Fu is China’s deadliest martial art. It stresses a combination of fighting techniques that can be employed at close quarters, such as elbow strikes, punches, hammer fists, low kicks, and palm strikes.

Apart from techniques for attacking an opponent, Lung Ying also encompasses those that restrict the other’s capacity to move so that their capacity to defend themselves is curtailed, as they are then punched, struck, and kicked!

The stance employed is akin to those wrestlers use. So, it’s not so easy for opponents to reach them. And they are nimble and fast on their feet.

In fact, practitioners of Lung Ying are adept at footwork, as this allows them to easily control the distance between them and their opponents and to evade hits. They also employ it to easily deceive their assailants.

Say you’re torn between Kung Fu and Karate, which one is better?

In a recent article, I explored 9 key differences. I revealed which one is better and whether Bruce Lee did Karate or Kung Fu. I even shared some info on the style that Bruce Lee created.

Just click the link to read it on my site.

What is Kung Fu? | ART OF ONE DOJO

Conclusion

In the article, we found out how effective Kung Fu is in street fights and the most effective Chinese martial art.

And we looked at which style of Kung Fu is the most effective. Then, we considered how many types of Chinese martial arts are there.

Lastly, we looked at China’s deadliest martial art.

Image by Douwe Geluk from Pixabay

Leave a Comment