Have you ever watched any kung fu movies? Do you like this type of movie?
What comes to your mind when you think of kung fu? Maybe Shaolin monks (和尚) with a serious look in their eyes. But does it really show the meaning of kung fu?
Laurence J. Brahm, a documentary filmmaker from the United States, looked for the answer in Searching for Kung Fu. In the movie, Brahm traveled to cities in China and the US to search for the value of kung fu.
Brahm himself is a kung fu lover. He has been practicing the art for more than 40 years. For him, it is more than fun. Ages ago, Brahm was unable to use one of his legs for two years. But by practicing kung fu, he was able to get well step by step. Now, kung fu has become a daily activity for him and also the way he begins the day.
Still, there are other deep meanings in the practice. Peace is one value, which is shown both in the name and practice of kung fu. The Chinese character Wu (武) has two parts — ge, meaning "to fight", and zhi, meaning "to stop". So, the meaning of kung fu in Chinese is the art of stopping fighting. Kung fu artists always greet people with baoquan. This lets each person know that there are no hidden weapons (武器) and shows trust.
"The lasting values of kung fu, actually, are in the minds of all Chinese people," Brahm said.