Five Immortals Temple as Wudang Kung Fu academy
The term ‘Kung Fu’ was not used commonly in ancient China. It is a term which has developed in more recent times. There are records dating back 2500 years which document the use of skills such as bare-hand fighting and swordsmanship but Kung Fu as we know it today, is a much more evolved and refined art form. In the last two millennia, an evolution has occurred in the combat skills and many hundreds of schools developed all across China promoting the practice and cultivation of these old skills which were being referred to in this new era as the Martial Arts. As the ages progressed, the skills finally developed renown as the ‘Kung Fu’ or more precisely, Gong Fu which is in itself an expression of the refinement of Chinese combat. ‘Gong’, meaning ‘Skill’ and ‘Fu’, which is loosely translated as ‘Time’ or ‘Effort’, together represent the nature of the devotion involved in the cultivation of these art forms. One must spend years, decades, entire lifetimes, devoted to the refinement of these practices which have been passed on by grand masters throughout the ages.
The four major applications for ‘Gong’ (‘Skill’)
• Performance Purpose
• Increasing physical vitality
• Protection and subjection of the enemy
• Cultivation of virtue and nourishment of inner nature
The two main divisions of teachings which can be collectively referred to as Gong-Fu are as follows:
Wai Jia (External) Cultivating bone, skin and tendon strength.Developing body strength, fierceness and hardness / endurance.
Neija (Internal) Cultivating the One Breath, circularity and softness. Cultivating emptiness and agility.
The combination of both Wai Ji and Neija are used concurrently by many masters in their teachings today so that hardness and softness can be cultivated together.
Li Shifu is the Abbot who resides at the Five Immortals Temple on Heavenly Horse Peak Mountain where our Wudang Kung Fu academy was established. He has received transmissions and teachings from many lineages of grandmasters and continues to teach Gong Fu in the more traditional ways imparted by the ancient masters. Li Shifu guides his students through the very essence of Wai Jia and Neija cultivations. The forms and practices are taught in accordance with the ancient methods of cultivation and all values and morals of the grandmasters are honored in the teachings. The Five Immortals temple honors the character of each of its students by striving always to impart teachings in a way which will nurture the virtuous nature of each individual disciple.
To view which Wudang Kung Fu skills are transmitted and taught in our temple please click here.
Please note that we are Daoist temple which teach ancient Chinese Martial Arts and advertising our self as Wudang kung fu academy have only one purpose – to draw your attention.
