What is a form or a Kata? They are substantially predetermined sequences of techniques: Long or short, they are a learning method of the basic dynamics of a martial art, a way to understand how it is possible to connect the various techniques (kicks, punches, etc.) With or without weapons, single or with a partner, […]
Combat movement In terms of spatial movement, we have already mentioned some of the most important aspects to consider: Static and dynamic balance (read How to improve balance: tricks and exercises and The concept of Dynamic Equilibrium) Rooting (read Kung Fu rooting: the pyramid concept) Basic footwork (read ) … Note – This article has […]
At the base of body manipulation In martial arts terms, one of the most important pieces of knowledge in relation to the human anatomy is the percentual division of the weight of its various compositive elements (and groups of elements). Note – This article has been asked by one of our Core Course practitioners on […]
How to learn Kung Fu starting from a Karate’s base Even if Karate has originally born from Kung Fu, it has taken a totally different path (read What is the relation between Karate and Kung Fu?) and for a practitioner, the switch could easier for certain aspects, harder for certain others. Note – This article […]
Iron Palm development A lot of people write us asking how to develop the Iron Palm skill: Note – This article has been asked by one of our Core Course practitioners on Patreon (see how to attend our home study classes here Learn Kung Fu online: a beginner-to-expert course). Instead of repeating the same things thousands […]
All the martial arts and combat systems, ancient and modern With this guide, we aim to: Note – This article has been asked by one of our Core Course practitioners on Patreon (see how to attend our home study classes here Learn Kung Fu online: a beginner-to-expert course). Important: for now the list is far from […]
Why do so many people get into martial arts through movies? A lot of people, inspired by action movies, mature the idea to start a martial arts path but when they impact reality: everything changes. Note – This article has been asked by one of our Core Course practitioners on Patreon (see how to attend […]
An epic movie but… was Bruce Lee really like that? In the martial arts movies’ environment, the figure of Bruce Lee has been (and is) at the same time hated and loved: Loved because of his incredible skills and fan following (that has passed the decades) Hated because of his contrasts with the traditional martial […]
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A 69 years old Tai Chi “master” vs a 49 years Sanda fighter After the miserable Tai Chi’s figure in the fight between Xu Xiaodong and Wei Li (read MMA vs Tai Chi 10 seconds knock out: an explanation), here we have another episode of the fake-kung-fu’s saga. Note – This article has been asked […]
Why and when Kung Fu is worth learning Kung Fu, in martial terms, is worth to be studied when: Note – This article has been asked by one of our Core Course practitioners on Patreon (see how to attend our home study classes here Learn Kung Fu online: a beginner-to-expert course). When Kung Fu is not […]
Learn martial arts at home: how to subscribe to our Core Course In 6 Dragons Kung Fu, the Core Course represents the full path from beginner to expert (with all the necessary training exercises, techniques, etc., read From white belt to black belt: your path). To get access to the lessons these are the steps: […]
Kung Fu vs MMA: the truth The questions we are going to see have been asked by you (from our Patreon Core Course): Are there effective Kung Fu fighters in MMA? Which is better Kung Fu or MMA? Which is better in a self-defense scenario: MMA or Kung Fu? Can a Shaolin monks win against […]
What do common people think when they hear the word “ninja”? Probably the first image that comes to mind is that of men: Dressed in black (read Invisibility: the best night stealth color) With mask and hood Who throw deadly shuriken Who continuously make acrobatic jumps Who climb between the roofs Who disappear behind clouds […]
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Self-defense: when it works and when not What is self-defense? It is something very difficult to teach and to learn, it is the art of self-preservation (read Personal defense: the S.A.F.E. method) It is not the way to learn to beat someone, it teaches us how to preserve ourselves (nothing more, nothing less) … A […]
10 of the most common questions about sparring With this article, we want to share a selection of the most asked problems, fears, doubts, etc. about martial arts sparring and the relative (rapid) replies. 1. What is sparring? It is a friendly confrontation (read How to do sparring). It is the nearest martial exercise to […]
Is it possible to start training at a high level alone, from home? The answer is not easy, because the real problem is another and the perspective is completely wrong (read also Online learning and martial arts: is it possible?). Note – This article has been asked by one of our Core Course practitioners on […]
Karate has been my first approach with martial arts (read Who is Master Kongling?). Important – What follows should not be interpreted as a positive or negative assessment, neither on Karate (each dojo is different) nor on my master (who has passed away and who I deeply respect). The ones I intend to share are […]
Could Bruce Lee be beaten by Brad Pitt’s character (Cliff Booth)? When I went to watch “Once upon a time in Hollywood”, I was already aware of the controversy about the “sketched” fight between Bruce Lee (played by Mike Moh) and Cliff Booth (an old stuntman, played by Brad Pitt) but I never expected to […]
A small premise In this article we want to talk about the purely martial difference between ancient and modern Shaolin monks but before starting, t is important to stress that: Our school appreciates all kinds of (serious) martial art’s approach (the more “bellicose” ones, the more “aesthetic” ones, the more “introspective” ones, etc.) We respect […]
Frequently asked questions We have created this space to reply to the most common questions of our practitioners and aspiring practitioners. Your questions Kung fu lessons How can I start to learn Kung Fu? We have 4 phases (read ), if you are a total beginner start from here Howto start practicing from scratch. If […]
Is Karate born from Kung Fu? Although the relationship between China and Japan has hardly ever been idyllic, it is correct to say that real Karate is strictly related to Kung Fu. Karate is born from Northern Shaolin and this is easily visible even without any kind of deep historical study. The most visible reason […]
Is Kung Fu a fake? A good question One of the most common questions that newbies ask on the web is the one about if Kung Fu (or any other martial art) is a “fake” or is “real” in terms of effectiveness. The answer is yes, it could be a fake, if trained in the […]
Why professional fighters do not seem to use too many parries and blocks? Before starting, a few premises: After a certain level, every fighter has his own methods (preferred techniques, etc., read A 6DKF for each one) and his tactics are children of his psychophysical attitudes, training and reasoned choices It is not true that […]
What is Master Kongling’s background? A note by Master Kongling – A small premise: as I said many times, I do not like to talk about myself or my experiences (I’m light years away from the type of martial artist I would like to be), if I do it, it is because it can be […]
The way we use our money describes us In any context, the money we are willing to spend inevitably reflects how much we are really interested / attached to that field: We can not say we are true painting lovers if we are not willing to give economic recognition to those who produce them We […]
Punches: the difference between self-defense and sport competitions Let’s start with a few premises in relation to Sports competitions and self-defense. Sports competitions: In most of the full-contact combat sports where striking is allowed (boxing, MMA, etc.), protective gloves are worn (read How to do sparring) The gloves are provided with a padding that serves […]
What is fighting? The first thing to understand is that “fighting” can have a lot of meanings (read The 6 types of martial clash): Warfare fighting? – Made to kill rapidly, in a stealthy way, etc. Armed / unarmed fighting? – With weapons like swords, knives, etc. Self-defense fighting? – Made for civilian safety, prevention, safety, […]
What changes from a real fight to a sporting one? No matter what kind of training the contenders did, a real fight does not look like: Note – This article has been asked by one of our Core Course practitioners on Patreon (see how to attend our home study classes here Learn Kung Fu online: a […]
The rules for a safe and effective martial arts learning All students who want to participate in a 6 Dragons Kung Fu course are required to comply with the rules described in this article. Note – This article has been asked by one of our Core Course practitioners on Patreon (see how to attend our […]
The truth about a fight which has “upset” the foundations of Tai Chi from China to the United States A note by Master Kongling – Initially I was not so much interested in dealing with such a trivial subject but given the number of questions I’ve received, I decided to make a small effort sharing […]
The big problem: few people understand what self-defense is Since there is a lot of confusion on this subject, it is important to start with some distinctions: Note – This article has been asked by one of our Core Course practitioners on Patreon (see how to attend our home study classes here Learn Kung Fu online: […]
What is the difference between martial arts and self-defense? Self-defense is (should be): A way to avoid / limit, as much as possible, violence (read Personal defense: the S.A.F.E. method) A way to preserve us, our properties (and, possibly, also the integrity of all the involved people) A way to solve problems with intelligence (in […]
Is it legit to ask if… On the web, one of the most frequently asked questions about the various martial arts is the one relative to their legitimacy. Masters and combat systems are often evaluated in terms of: Overall efficacy Effectiveness in self-defense contexts Effectiveness in a ring / cage Technical effectiveness Effectiveness against other […]
Is the iron palm practice good for a woman? Hands conditioning is not a matter of gender, we have to choose our training path in relation to our specific goals: Gain breaking-related abilities Be able to sustain a real self-defense situation … The problem is not being male or female, Kung Fu does not make these kinds […]
Why if Kung Fu is so good, it is (apparently) not used in MMA? A little misunderstanding The question is legit but it is a bit like asking: “Why if pizza is really that good, it is not served in Japanese sushi restaurants?” It is the perspective that is wrong. Note – This article has […]
Is it true that all martial arts derive from Shaolin Temple’s Kung Fu? No. It’s purely false. The only thing that all martial arts share is the fact that they prepare their practitioners for combat. Combat has existed since man has appeared on this planet (in every time and everywhere); understood this, it is more […]
What is the impact of natural talent in martial arts? The first thing to stress is that, when we talk about martial arts (or even sports in general), natural talent is a widely used excuse to justify an absence of real discipline, concentration and preparation. Note – This article has been asked by one of our Core […]
Why don’t we see many elite soldiers in MMA competitions? Between an elite soldier and a professional fighter, there are huge differences in terms of: Training – One trains to kill quickly without limitations, the other for a bloody but sporty show / competition, one for example to march for a long time, the other […]
Should we use legs in a street fight? Let’s forget for a moment our legs and let’s imagine talking about a bazooka. Does it make sense to use a bazooka in a battle field (against similar war machines)? Of course yes, but only if: We are able to use it in the right way It […]
Finding a guan: the place where we will train One of the questions most often asked to us (by e-mail, [email protected]) is the one related to the choosing of the training area (the “guan”): How big should it be? Where can it be located and where not? … In general terms, we have already replied […]
How to tell if an instructor is worth or not When a total beginner wants to start to practice, no matter the chosen martial art or his / her will: if the instructor is the wrong one, that inevitably makes all the difference; the reason is that from him / her depends: The quality of […]
I am nothing After so many articles, courses and videos, I think it is time to introduce who I am: my martial name is Kongling, I do not like to talk about myself but I want to: Note – This article has been asked by one of our Core Course practitioners on Patreon (see how […]
How Kung Fu can transform us into a totally new person: the physical changes Kung Fu is not only a martial art (read 6 Dragons Kung Fu: what does it teach?), it is also a style of life and if we truly focus on its rational path of self-discipline (read Discipline is the key to […]
Can a total beginner learn Kung Fu (or any other martial art) online? The first thing to say is that: the answer cannot be universal. There are cases where it is possible and cases where it is not but before asking ourselves this, we have to focus our attention on a few other important questions: […]
Are you a fighter or a warrior? Martial arts have been practiced for centuries, serving not only as a means of self-defense or war (read The 6 types of martial clash) but also as a pathway to personal growth and mental enlightenment. Note – This article has been asked by one of our Core Course […]
Train fingers and toes In the economy of typical martial arts physical conditioning (read Physical conditioning: how it works), toes and fingers are almost always ignored. Note – This article has been asked by one of our Core Course practitioners on Patreon (see how to attend our home study classes here Learn Kung Fu online: a […]
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6 Dragons Kung Fu encourages new experiences Every martial art (traditional or modern) has something to teach us: New methods and principles New ways to see the practice and the fight What our personal strengths and weaknesses are What other combat and training system’s strengths and weaknesses are … Note – This article has been […]
Why learn to use real martial weapons? If 6 Dragons Kung Fu strictly refuses violence (read for example The 6DKF’s diagram about the use of violence), why a practitioner should learn to use real martial weapons? The reply is to reach the excellence of the practice. In any kind of martial practice (for an expert), […]
Being taller, offers more advantages or disadvantages in terms of combat? Note – This article has been written to reply to a question of a 6 Dragons Kung Fu Core Course’s practitioner (ChumaGora, to participate read From white belt to black belt: your path). Apparently being taller offers only advantages: long arms, long legs, (often) […]