The Relationship Between Martial Arts / Kung Fu, and Healing Medicine - Part 1

This post is an excerpt of a larger piece I wrote several years ago. I was asked to write about the synergistic relationship between Kung Fu and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and the importance of TCM to those practicing Kung Fu. I wrote about the difference between TCM and ancient Classical Chinese Medicine (CCM), a topic for a different post, and about Kung Fu and CCM not only being synergistic or complementary, but actually one and the same.

Kung Fu - An Element of Ancient Classic Chinese Medicine

During discussions of the relationship between martial arts and healing arts, a common explanation is that the martial artist learns how to harm or kill in combat and as the opposite side of the coin, should learn to heal. Stories abound of the kung fu masters who, after defeating an opponent, proceed to apply acupressure and herbal medicine to restore the attacker to health. As we have already presented, this is an important element in the relationship between kung fu and Chinese medicine in practice and in theory as it resonates with the dynamic between yin and yang, combat and healing.

As a young boy, early in my kung fu training, I heard another concept, one that would be repeated many times by different high-level kung fu masters: “Kung Fu is primarily for health and self development. Fighting skills are a secondary result of kung fu practice.” Through research, investigation, personal examination, and experience, I confirmed that more than a concept, this is a fundamental truth.

Over the years, I heard stories of the many masters who were born sickly or that had acquired some serious disease but through the practice of kung fu, had not only regained their health but had developed outstanding physical ability and gained exceptional skill. I had the opportunity to meet a number of these masters and heard their stories first hand and can say that not only did they overcome serious illness but that their health and skill had reached extra-ordinary levels.

“Kung Fu is for health and self-development. Fighting skills are a secondary result of kung fu practice”. Today, this statement will stir up controversy, as many young kung fu masters and instructors assert, “kung fu is for combat! If you don’t apply your practice in combat, it is not real kung fu!” In a way they are correct, although not completely.

Kung fu and other traditional martial arts suffered a loss of face during the rise of mixed martial arts in the mid-1990’s that persists to this day. This was due to many factors, but mainly to the deterioration of kung fu knowledge, not to the ineffectiveness of kung fu. That however is another subject all onto itself. This caused many kung fu practitioners, instructors, and masters to set out to prove the effectiveness of kung fu and to focus their training, learning, practice and teaching solely on combat.

Most systems and styles of kung fu use combat as the vehicle for teaching the movements and techniques. Furthermore, combat applications are a very important way of teaching the proper detail and exactness of the movements. Yet the benefits of these movements are first and foremost therapeutic. If taught correctly, Kung fu promotes and restores health. Can the same be said for other martial arts? Simply stated, the answer is no. Is kung fu effective for defense and for combat? If taught correctly, the answer is… absolutely.

The design, structure, flow, nature, and intent of kung fu is primarily for the health, well being and advancement of the individual in their path towards self-development. The improvement in health and well-being have specific physiological implications which result in higher skill, and vastly improved physical performance. Since combat is the context and vehicle used for teaching kung fu, ongoing training results in superior combat skill.

The Physiological and Health Benefits of Kung Fu Training

There are many styles and schools of kung fu, so this is applicable to any complete style of kung fu. Kung fu (if taught correctly) that follows a progressive, incremental, repetitive approach that first promotes as strong platform for movement. For example, in the initial stages of kung fu training, the focus is not on any type of combat application, but rather on establishing a strong foundation for proper movement. Movement is a collaboration of the whole kinetic chain starting with proper foot alignment, proper leg stance and correct posture.

Stance training strengthens the muscles, tendons and ligaments of the body’s support framework, the ankles, knees and the hips and waist. The posture strengthens the core muscles and aligns the spine. Movement is directed by the waist and leveraged by the rooting of the feet. The pelvic girdle is the center of gravity. Arm movement follows the turning of the waist and the rotation of the spine.

Stance transitions and deployment further strengthen joint structure in all axis of movement and stance duration promotes stamina, which along with deep controlled breathing increases blood oxygenation. Enhanced oxygenation of the micro-arteries that nourish the brain benefit both alertness and cognitive function, and maintain proper health of the eyes and ears, while the micro arteries that feed the distal appendages nourish and strengthen the toe muscles, which aid in rooting and balance and the fingers sinews the control strength and dexterity.

8 Direction Strikes of Kung fu

Choy Lay Fut Strikes such as Kwa Choy and Sow Choy improve both the strength and range of motion/flexibility of the shoulder girdle and prevent tightness and stiffness of what is one of the primary areas of pain and discomfort in a vast number of adults. Kicks, single leg stances, jumps and low kneeling stances contained in the various forms and training sequences all contribute to better balance, motor function, proprioception, coordination, speed, and movement power and the complete kinetic chain is exercised and fine tune the peripheral nervous system. Memory improves from the learning and repetition of the movement sequences and the study of the concepts, theory and strategy. The regular but incremental stress to the skeletal system increases bone density, and does much more but this is not meant to be an exhaustive coverage but rather an overview of the amazing health benefits that ongoing practice of Choy Lay Fut kung fu.

Benefits of Kung Fu Training According to Chinese Medicine

Chinese medicine focuses on the health and balance of Qi (Chi) and its proper flow through the channels and via the channels to the internal organs and all the body tissues. Proper training of Choy Lay Fut kung fu removes blockages and regulates the flow of Qi, which means that excess energy is sedated and deficient energy is tonified. Balanced Qi flow ensures proper blood flow as blood follows Qi, nourishing the organs and tissues promoting proper function and resulting in health and longevity.

Similar to its physical/physiological effects, initial stance work regulates the Qi of the kidney channel which is often deficient in adult practitioners and which presents as pain and weakness of the ankles, knees and lower back. The basic horse stance is effective at preventing and resolving these all too common problems. In addition to this, the varied stance work in Choy Lay Fut kung fu is derived from the ancient muscle/tendon changing and marrow washing classics attributed to Bodhidharma and the Shaolin Temple as the prototypical movements of all kung fu derived from Shaolin (Siu Lum), designed to strengthen and elongate the muscles and tendons and to maintain healthy bone marrow which is the source of healthy blood and of a strong immune system. In conjunction, contact training such as in applications and sparring also contributes to healthy bone marrow and bone density.

Movement is coordinated with breath, which generates Jing, which we will translate as power. The initial Jing is relaxed, whipping power. From this platform other types of Jing are developed all of which employ breath, qi and movement in different phases. Intention is needed for achievement of Jing and mental clarity and smooth Qi are necessary to achieve pointed intention, all interconnected to create continuity. The ability to draw Jing also allows for optimal movement of qi and fluids along the 3 Jiao (burners), the lower middle and upper Jiao. This all contributes to optimal communication between kidneys and lungs and to the heart invigorating our mind.

Further, the coordinated breath keeps the flow of qi and blood even and provides increased physical yield with equal expenditure of work, in other words, increased efficiency. These are just some of the energetic aspects from kung fu practice and show how kung fu is energy focus by intention turned to action, and it falls in the same continuum as qigong practice but with a different yin yang profile and a different manifestation.

Mario Figueroa All Rights Reserved 2017