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CAN KUNG FU BE USED FOR SELF DEFENSE
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The primary purpose of kungfu, including shaolin, is for combat. If someone has practised kungfu for a reasonableperiod of time, say two years, and yet cannot apply what he has practised to defend himself, he has defeated the purpose ofpractising kungfu. Such an art, which is generally used for demonstration but cannot be used for combat, is sometimesreferred to in idiomatic Chinese as "flowery fists and embroidery kicks". The objective of this section is to enable students to have a better understanding of the combat application of kungfu. Whatis shown here is mainly combat techniques. It is significant to note that techniques constitiute only one factor in effectivecombat, other factors include force, timing, judgement and temperament. In other words, merely knowing techniques alonecannot make you into a competent fighter. Nevertheless, the combat techniques shown here often reveal the beauty andprofundity of kungfu that many students nowadays may have missed.
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