Routines of Kungfu

The bare-handed fighting routines take such fighting skills as kicking, hitting, wrestling and holding as basic offence and defence techniques. They are then organized in line with the needs of the physical exercis es for different parts of the human body into different routines for offence and defence, incorporating actions and stills, substantial and insubstantial blows, charge and retreat, fast and slow movements. The shadow Chuan routines have a long history and are seen in urban and rural China in various forms, such as Tctiji Quan, Xingyi Quan, Bagua Zhang, Shaolin Quan, Nan Quan, Chuqjiao, Xiangxing Quan, etc. Some routines have long programs while others have short ones. Some are particular about forcefulness and valiantness whereas others stress gentleness and smoothness. Some emphasize agility and speed while others pay attention to variation and changes. However, most fighting routines stress fluent continuity of movements, changes of actions, alteration of tempo, clear-cut acts and speed and agility. The Tai Chi Quan emphasizes slow and soft movements.

Routines are one of the major forms of Chinese Wushu. When doing the exercises, practitioners are required to execute all acts with offence and defence implications; a close cooperation of eye and hand is demanded and eyes should follow the movements of hands, which should also cooperate with the feet to complete the coordination of the upper and lower body. Practitioners should let the mind lead the body, let inner circulation of air flows generate forces so as to achieve unity of mentality, breathing and action and the combination of mentality and physique. When moving, it should be fast and forceful; when standing still, it should be steadfast like a rock, definite rhythm is asked for in both exercises.