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Kung Fu: Origins, History & Getting Started
Immerse yourself in the world of Kung Fu, from ancient Shaolin to modern practice. Gain the background knowledge and practical skills to earn your second belt.
Capable · 15 levels · 2 free · Created Jul 2026 · Professionally curated by levelupwith.com
What's inside
- Level 1: What Is Kung Fu? Origins and DefinitionFree
Learn the broad meaning of Kung Fu, its Chinese origins, and the distinction between hard and soft styles. - Level 2: Legendary Origins: Bodhidharma and ShaolinFree
Explore the myth of Bodhidharma and his role in creating the Shaolin martial arts tradition. - Level 3: Core Principles: Qi, Jing, and Shen
Understand the internal energy concepts of Qi, Jing, and Shen and their role in Kung Fu practice. - Level 4: The Five Animals of Shaolin
Discover the characteristics and movements of Tiger, Crane, Leopard, Snake, and Dragon styles. - Level 5: Tang and Song Dynasties: Martial Arts Flourish
Examine how Kung Fu evolved during the golden age of Chinese martial arts. - Level 6: Ming Dynasty: Military and Civilian Styles
Learn about the Ming dynasty's contributions to systematized Kung Fu and weaponry. - Level 7: Qing Dynasty: Suppression and Secret Societies
Understand how political oppression shaped Kung Fu into a secretive art and gave rise to styles like Wing Chun. - Level 8: Modern Era: Bruce Lee and Global Spread
Explore the 20th-century transformation of Kung Fu into a global phenomenon through Bruce Lee and media. - Level 9: Basic Stances: Rooting and Posture
Learn foundational stances (Horse, Bow, Cat, Crane) and their importance for stability and power. - Level 10: Fundamental Hand Strikes
Practice the core hand techniques: punch, palm strike, knife hand, and finger jab. - Level 11: Basic Kicks and Legwork
Introduce front kick, side kick, and roundhouse kick, along with basic footwork patterns. - Level 12: Training Methods: Forms, Drills, and Conditioning
Understand the core training tools: forms (taolu), partner drills, and conditioning exercises. - Level 13: Integrating Techniques: Flow and Combinations
Learn to combine stances, strikes, and kicks into fluid sequences and basic combinations. - Level 14: Philosophy and Application
Explore the deeper philosophy of Kung Fu and its practical self-defense applications. - Level 15: Final Challenge: Comprehensive Review Exam
A comprehensive review of all course material: history, principles, and basic techniques, with a final assessment.
Access
The first 2 levels are free with a free account. Every level, the podcast edition and the AI tutor come with All Access at £4.99/month or any Creator plan — see pricing.