I’ve seen some book recommendation posts here before, but I have a specific twist.

I’m in the camp that you need a sifu to learn technique, so when I grab a new kung Fu book, I’m less interested in learning techniques and more interested in reading about kung Fu history, philosophy, and culture.

With this caveat in mind, what are your favorite kung fu culture books?

Mods, please delete if not allowed!

Hi all, I have an odd request. I am finally ready to bite the bullet and start my journey learning Kung Fu. I've always wanted to since I was younger, but could not afford any classes of any kind. Now that I can, I am highly skeptical of the local teachers. I'm wondering if it's possible for someone to look at the Youtube channel of a local teacher to tell me if it's legit. I don't want to drag anyone's name through the mud, so I'd rather DM the link to a willing party. He claims to teach Baguazhang, Taiji, and Chaquan. Thanks!

Hello Kung-Fu community.

I've been interested in especiallizing the Staff through Kung-Fu.

I'd like to know... WHAT KUNG-FU STYLE IS HEAVY ON THE USAGE OF STAFF(any type of wooden stick)?

Thank you.

Hello Kung-Fu community.

I've been interested in practicing a Kung-Fu (wushu?) style but I found to be a world of information that seems to be above my reach so I wanted to ask this.

My Goal is mostly to combat a depression I'm experiencing and to improve health conditions.

So, from what I looked I got very interested in this thing called 5 animal style Kung-Fu that from what I saw it's called Ng Ying Kung Fu (Chinese: 五形功夫). I believe related to the Southern Chinese Styles.

After I took that decision to try to study it I found literally nothing about it, or at least nothing that brought me any trust on the sifu.

However, I saw good content coming regarding this topic from Hung-Ga and Choy-Li-Fut.

So... is there are anything even called 5 Animal Style Kung Fu // Ng Ying Kung Fu?

If such a thing exist who actually teaches that on a Global Stage? Who teaches that in the US? Are there any Sifus in the West? Most espicifically California? What is their governing body, even if it is just an association of individuals than an actual regulated body?

Any information about it would help. I'm really interested in knowing it.

Thank you.

Hi!

Thanks for reading this through! I’ve been longing to train at a Shaolin Temple in China since I first heard of it’s existence, 6 years ago. I’m looking to spend three months there, learning as much as I can about kung-fu, meditation, moving with the natural flow of energy energy and about Chinese culture.

I cannot tell whether it is wisest to go to the original Shaolin Temple in Henan, or the different Shaolin Temple in Yennan, which I’ve been looking at for years now too. Perhaps there are better alternatives to both of these?

I am also a type 1 diabetic. It’s well managed, but is it possible to go through the rigorous full days of training, or even get accepted to a temple? I’d also need to be somewhere not too far from a hospital, just to be safe in a worst case scenario.

Any advice is much appreciated, as I’m trying to see if I am able to go for the second quarter of next year!

Best, Jacob

Hi I did some training while in China and have been looking for another traditional teach that goes slow and really makes sure you know the material and are physically conditioned. However, I am also looking for a teacher who implements some light sparring into their teaching like my last teacher did. I studied 八卦掌，醉拳，and 长拳. Would love to continue these, bu am looking for the right teacher for me. If you have any suggestions on where to look that would be amazing! Thanks!

Anyone knows something about the kung fu mao chuen style?

Does anyone know where you could get a custom ordered Broadsword? I am pretty tall and have really long arms and find that most swords are made for folk shorter than me. Im looking for something with a blade length with around a 85 cm length blade. Most premade swords I see are less than a 70 cm blade and haven't found a single one over 80cm. Anyone got a hook out there?

The style of Kenpo I practice has historical connections to Hung Gar Kuen and I'd like to research this further. Are there any schools currently open near me? I live in Central Indiana, but am willing to travel.

https://preview.redd.it/e8jmfb5lmhxd1.jpg?width=1920&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0ad0f852829d0a2481a9bbb54e4d18198ffd317b

I've seen an increasing number of people asking about this on social media so I spoke extensively with Master Shi Xing Jian (aka Master Bao), a wúsēng (martial monk) of the Shaolin Temple, and wrote a blog about the subject. In this article, we explore the process of becoming a Shaolin monk, explain the differences between the kinds of Shaolin monks, clarify misconceptions, and explain how foreigners might pursue this path.

Key Take-Away: it is very uncommon, but not impossible, for foreigners to become 'monks' of the Shaolin Temple.

https://shaolin-kungfu.com/how-to-become-a-shaolin-monk/

I just started training in kung fu and I have decided to make some dietary changes. I used to eat too much sugar and starch (white bread, white rice). I am now trying to eat more: roasted nuts , fruits, vegetables, bone broth soups and plain Greek yogurt as well as whole grains and beans.

I’d love to hear about your dietary changes and how it’s affected you because I am struggling with the changes. Frosted Flakes to fennel and leeks.

I’m a 45 year old man and studied kung fu when I was younger. I stopped because life took me in some other directions. Now I have the old guy problems (high blood pressure, diabetes and bad knees) and want to get them in check, exercise is a way to do this and my initial thought was start doing kung fu again but the closest kwoon is like an hour and some change away (and I don’t think my knees can handle it anymore) so I thought chi kung would be an option since it is generally low impact but again: nowhere to go to learn. I’ve found some things (eight broadcades) on YouTube but I’m not sure if it’s a good idea or not (learning kung fu from the internet is generally a bad idea). I remember some breathing exercises that my sifu taught me years ago but I’d like to expand on it and maybe/hopefully be able to at least practice my forms again…and (more importantly) get my blood pressure under control.

Looking for some online Kung Fu training, as there are none in my area. I was looking at Shaolin Online. Not too worried about price as long as it’s good. Any suggestions or guidance? Thanks guys!

Just started kung fu for the first time. The class kicked my ass. I’m an overweight 35 year old female. I haven’t heard of the style “choy lee fut” before. I put my kids in Fang Shen Do kung fu and he has a few belts but this system seems different (no belt and more fast paced). Any feedback is welcome.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCZCr4xJA9c

Ido Portal does this whipping technique with his arms at 1:15 in the video. I've seen him do variations of this a couple of times now and cannot find out where it comes from. Anyone familiar with this? I'm curious if it comes from a traditional Jung fu practice and if there is anymore information on this particular movement.

Hi! Anyone know a place to learn kung fu in Nashville (I’m actually looking for hung gar or choy Lee fut) but at school who sparred? I’m asked a few kung fu places around here and they get offended when I asked if they sparred (some ones said “anyone from here can kill you in a sparring 🙄) I used to training sanshou and kyokushin but a long time ago, in trying to get in martial arts again but don’t want a go to a mc dojo and can’t found nothing around this area.

If are another styles of wushu with sparring here, please send me the info!