gongfu

Gongfu, or kung fu, is a Chinese term with several related uses. In its broad sense, gongfu means “work accomplished” or “skill gained through effort” and is used to refer to a person’s competence in any field. In English, kung fu most often denotes Chinese martial arts, though the term can be applied to crafts and arts learned by practice.

Within martial arts, gongfu refers to a vast set of traditional Chinese fighting styles developed over centuries across China and in diaspora communities. It is not a single school but a family of styles and lineages, with training typically emphasizing physical conditioning, forms (taolu), applications, sparring, and weapons. Styles vary widely in technique and emphasis, ranging from internal schools focusing on qi, breathing, and body mechanics to external styles emphasizing speed and power. Commonly referenced traditions include Shaolin, Wudang, Hung Gar, Choy Li Fut, Wing Chun, and numerous regional systems. In the 20th century, the term wushu came to denote the standardized Chinese martial arts practiced in modern competition, while gongfu or kung fu is often used to refer to traditional or practical practice.

Gongfu is also used in other Chinese contexts, most notably gongfu cha, the tea ceremony that emphasizes skill, timing, and attention to detail when brewing and serving tea with small vessels.