III.

Technique and Training

The exponent of kung fu will be adept at a wide variety of combat techniques including open hand and fist strikes, short- and long-range kicks, vital point strikes, holds, locks, throws, and blocks. Many systems have their own unique training methods for developing hand or arm toughness, sensitivity, hand power, balance, and so on. Kung fu styles frequently utilize their own specialized training equipment such as sand bags for hand toughening, wooden dummies for arm toughening and for coordination and solo practice, and cast-iron rings for strength training and arm toughening. Practitioners develop their skill through the practise of kuens (complicated sets of techniques completed in set sequences), pre-set sparring, system drills, and free-sparring.

Kung fu clubs (kwoons) usually have a system of grading to denote a student's advancement in the particular discipline, and this is usually denoted by a coloured sash awarded by the instructor (sifu). Although competition exists in kung fu, like the discipline itself, it is very varied in its format. A practitioner may choose traditional non-contact point fighting, semi-contact fighting, full contact fighting, or (the most historically traditional) San Shou or Kou Shou, which is full-contact fighting with limited rules. They may also choose to compete in open-hand or weapons-form competition.