Read Time: 4 mins 30 secs

Introduction

China’s vast territory spans a geographical diversity with an incredible variety of topographies and climate zones.   This diversity is matched by an equally impressive number of social and cultural expressions which have been reflected in the Kung Fu styles which developed across the ages from this vast array of people, their values, cultures, philosophies, and religions.   Although the exact number of Kung Fu styles existing today is unknown it is estimated to be at least a few hundred.  This number is contested because of disagreements in the definition of what a style consists of.

Classification schemes which focus on the different aspects of Chinese Kung Fu have been developed to try and give some order to this large number of different styles and schools. Geographical, philosophical, and religious ones are the most frequently used.  For instance, the geographical classification makes a distinction between Kung Fu styles depending on whether they are located north or south of the country.  Alternatively, the philosophical classification is concerned with Qi (the inner energy flow) and whether the style is classified as ‘internal’ or ‘external’ will depend on whether it seeks to tame Qi internally or externally.  Finally, the religious classification gathers styles based on whether they are most influenced by Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism.

Over the course of three articles I will explore these classification schemes in more detail to contextualise where Wing Chun sits within these. In this first article I will look at the north vs south classification.

Northern Versus Southern

A common way to classify Chinese martial arts styles is by geographical region. There is an adage in Chinese martial arts that characterises distinctions between southern styles and northern styles –  “Southern fists and Northern kicks” 「南拳北腿. This saying emphasizes the difference between the two groups of Chinese martial arts.

There are many notable differences between northern and southern China.  Not only is this true when it comes to food, the arts, architecture, and language, but it is also true of martial arts.   The geological differences between Northern and Southern China and the physiological differences within the Chinese people in these regions contributed to the development of contrasting combat approaches. 

Martial arts from northern China are referred to as 北派 (Běipài) and include well-known schools such as Baguazhang, Bajiquan, Chāquán, Chuojiao, Eagle Claw, Northern Praying Mantis and Taijiquan.  These styles are known for incorporating high kicks and acrobatic elements.  Southern martial arts styles are called 南派 (Nánpài) and place more emphasis on arm and full-body movements.  Southern styles include Choy Gar, Hung Ga, Lau Gar, Ng Ying Kungfu, Li (Lee) Family, Mok Gar, Choy Li Fut, Fujian White Crane, Dog Style Kungfu, Five Ancestors, Southern Praying Mantis, Hak Fu Mun, Bak Mei, Dragon and Wing Chun. 

The traditional dividing line between the northern and southern Chinese martial arts is the Yangtze River.   The northern regions of China suffer harsh winters which requires its people to wear many layers and thick clothing to stay warm.  The traditional heavy leggings worn made it difficult to kick with a snapping motion that uses the knee as a hinge.   It is understood that to accommodate for this higher, straight-legged kicks were used.   This also resulted in the development of wide, sweeping motions and floor rolls, all done with the legs extended. 

The Chinese in the north were usually taller and have longer limbs than those in the south.   This is attributed largely to their grain and meat-heavy diets.  Having longer bodies and limbs it would be natural that the Northern Chinese would take advantage of their extended reach and develop long-distance fighting techniques with emphasis on leg work.  Another reason for stressing leg work was that the Northern Chinese, especially those descended from nomadic tribes, were excellent horsemen, which meant that they had particularly well-developed lower bodies.  Northern China has a much rockier terrain, and it is likely that constantly climbing up and down hills would have developed exception leg strength.

Exploiting their longer bodies and strength in the legs lead into developing a fighting style that included higher kicks, deeply extended postures, and quicker, more fluid transitions.   Northern styles are characterized by their long-range techniques, quick advances and retreats, agility, and whirling or circular motions.  Northern styles exhibit distinctively different characteristics with more focus on legwork, kicking and acrobatics.  Northern styles typically feature deeply extended postures connected by quick fluid transitions and changes of direction. 

In contrast,  people in the Southern regions of China were often shorter than those in the north.  The terrain they occupied was noticeably different, with cities cropping up comprised of densely packed buildings.   Fighting occurred in areas of restricted mobility, usually in very close proximity to one another in alleyways and streets with buildings surrounding them.   Acrobatic kicks and whirling blocks would have been restricted in the environments and southern styles adapted to meet these conditions by focusing more on close combat techniques.   Also, in the South, much activity happened on junks and sampans, so a strong stance was necessary to maintain balance when fighting on the rocking vessels.

The southern systems stress close in-fighting, with a strong, firm stance as a base for generating powerful hand techniques.  The focus is more on the use of the arm and full body techniques associated with low stable stances and short powerful movements that combine both attack and defence.  Many of the strikes are designed to get as much power out of as little motion as possible.   Much of the fighting philosophy was geared towards economy of motion and restricting any unnecessary movement.   By focusing on developing full-body power, this allowed a smaller person to overcome a larger opponent which would be a natural approach to counteract some of the physiological disadvantages of those in the south.    

Although these styles do have characteristic differences these are not absolute and there are many Northern styles that excel in hand techniques and many Southern styles that incorporate ticking techniques.

If you have found this investigation into the classification of Chinese Kung Fu interesting and want to read the next article in the series Internal versus External click on the link here and start reading: Link

Copyright @ Craig Sands