Kung Fu is amongst the deadliest and most effective martial arts worldwide. It’s suitable for many purposes, including self-defense and self-improvement. Whether the first or second is your primary goal, you’ll achieve both by studying this art.
However, you can learn more than 20 styles of Kung Fu, which is plenty! So we want to dial down your options, which will help you choose one and stick to it in the near future. You’ll see more results and enjoy the process more if you follow that advice.
And this is why I wrote this article; to help you start learning Kung Fu as soon as possible while removing the fear of missing out (FOMO.) You might begin learning one style and transition to another because you’re afraid you made the wrong choice.
We can avoid that from happening by presenting you with the best options and letting you choose the most suitable style for your personality, goals, and deep purpose.
So without further ado, let’s dive in!
#5 – Snake Kung Fu
The first Kung Fu style we’ll review is the Snake Style. You can probably imagine what it looks like if you read the name again. Indeed, this style resembles the movements of a snake; meaning that you won’t use closed fists as often, for example. Rather, you’ll make a snake shape, which you’ll see very soon.
It’s considered a slow martial art because the techniques aren’t as swift. But, that doesn’t mean that it lacks effectiveness. In fact, the opposite is true.
I find the most effective martial arts to be those with the most interesting stories. For instance, Karate has always caught my eye because its history is profound and intriguing. The people of Okinawa wanted to learn self-defense, so they constructed an entirely new martial art that evolved and keeps on evolving to be what it is today.
But this article isn’t about Karate, so why did I give this example? Because I want you to appreciate the history of the Snake Style. Throughout history, people have constructed it to be what it is today, which is an exceptionally effective fighting style.
Oh, and trust me, you’ll look cool while performing it, especially if you make it work effectively!
I want you to watch the video below. It showcases the movements you’ll learn if you decide to study Snake Form Kung Fu. It can be more than motivating to view, so it’ll be worth your time.
#4 – Tai Chi
#4 in our list will surprise you, but it’s Tai Chi. Again, its history dates thousands of years and it kept on evolving until today, so we want to appreciate this fact.
Let’s get straight to the point. Many of you know that Tai Chi isn’t the most effective martial art for self-defense or fighting. To be frank, although I don’t think it’s useless for fighting, I do agree that other martial arts teach more aggressive fighting approaches, which are better for self-defense and for fighting as a whole.
However, I have a different sense of appreciation for more spiritual martial arts. That means that you’ll be able to become the best version of yourself by consistently practicing Tai Chi. That’s a bold statement, but I completely stand by it!
What you’ll learn is how to control your mind, which in my eyes, is much more important than knowing to throw a punch or grapple. A man who controls his mind has control over his past, present, and future.
What will you learn in Tai Chi? You’ll basically perform various movements that are meant to boost your mindfulness, confidence, self-esteem, and even self-respect. You’ll see the numerous benefits when you begin your training.
And you know what the best thing is? You can start training immediately after you finish reading this article. All you need to do is follow the video below!
#3 – Eagle Claw
Eagle Claw is one of the most popular Kung Fu styles you’ll encounter, as it can be more than effective in many situations. It teaches both grappling and striking, including takedowns, throws, punching, and kicking.
To make this section concise but still as valuable as possible, I want to share principles I stumbled upon when researching for this article. I saw these repeatedly when researching the style of Eagle Claw, which made me wonder if there’s anything I’m missing here.
These principles will make you a solid fighter. The thing I missed was the fact that if you memorize these principles and ensure you follow them without mistakes, you’ll become an exceptionally competent fighter.
Here are the seven principles of the Eagle Claw Kung Fu Style:
- Follow up on your moves
- Your fingers can break your opponents’ bones
- Hit pressure points often
- Utilize your opponents’ movements to lock them in place
- Move with your waist to be more evasive and dominant
- Control your opponents at all times. Use push-pull movements to keep them off-balanced
- Use snake-like movements to absorb blows and fall on the ground smoothly.
The principles are simple to understand, which might make it more attractive to new trainees. One of the principles caught my eye, which is to utilize your opponents’ movements to lock them in place. This is done in so many other martial arts, primarily Aikido.
If you’re interested in learning more about Aikido and whether it’s worth learning, follow the link.
#2 – Wing Chun
The next Kung Fu style we’ll review is called Wing Chun. It’s the most widely practiced style out of all the other ones on this list, which might make it more appealing for you to learn. Indeed, it’ll be easier to find a Wing Chun gym than any of the other ones on this list.
If you didn’t know, most of what Wing Chun teaches is banned in modern martial arts like MMA. Do you know why that’s the case? Because it teaches such deadly techniques that you can’t know how much damage and permanent injuries a Wing Chun fighter will cause by using such techniques.
Wing Chun teaches everything from anything. It’s the art of grappling, striking, and many other techniques that are primarily suitable for self-defense.
If you desire to learn self-defense, I’m confident that Wing Chun is one of the most suitable choices for you. Likewise, if you think your personality type fits the teachings of this art, no part of me doesn’t think you’ll be able to benefit from learning this fighting style.
So give it a try!
#1 – Shaolin Kung Fu
The last Kung Fu style we’ll review is Shaolin Kung Fu. Now, you might look at the name of this style and think that it sounds familiar for some odd reason. Well, I’ll tell you exactly why! This style is practiced by the Shaolin Monks in the Shaolin Temple. In short, they’re basically the most dedicated group of people that exist on Earth!
There’s no other way of describing this martial art other than pure intellect and creativity combined to create what seems to be one of the deadliest and most effective martial arts of our times. It’s very popular and seems to never stop growing in popularity.
You’ll learn everything you can imagine, including grappling, striking, meditating, and being one with your true self. These traits should be enough to get you fired up and ready to commence your Shaolin Kung Fu journey.
I’ve listed it as #1 because it’s the most effective one. It’s the one I can guarantee you’ll (1) enjoy learning and (2) find success and rapid results with.
I want you to watch the following video and tell me you don’t want to start practicing this martial art. Look at how dedicated the Shaolin Monks are!
Here are other articles you’d enjoy reading if the Shaolin Monks intrigue you:
What Martial Art Do Shaolin Monks Practice?
Shaolin Monk vs. UFC Fighter | Who Would Win?
12 Essential Kung Fu Kicks You Must Know (Guide)
What’s the strongest Kung Fu style?
Shaolin Kung Fu is the strongest style of Kung Fu, which includes the Snake, Leopard, and Dragon Forms, the most powerful ones. You’ll learn to use your opponents’ movements to your advantage, including to use takedowns, throws, grappling of all sorts, and striking techniques capable of disabling someone.
Final Words
This is it for this article. Writing about the best Kung Fu styles has made me think a lot about the influence and benefits martial arts have brought to our lives. You’ll be able to change your life for the better drastically by learning martial art, which is the exact reason I keep writing articles on Blinklift!
If you haven’t already, your next move is to choose a Kung Fu style and start studying it. Dedicate yourself and invest a few hours per week to learning and honing your fighting techniques. The best option, of course, is to find a local Kung Fu martial arts gym and start training there.
Take action; it’ll completely change your life and how you view the world. Good luck!
Here are other articles you’d enjoy reading:
The 7 Best Chinese Martial Arts – Complete List
Karate vs. Kung Fu | Which Is the Better Martial Art?
Boxing vs. Kung Fu – Differences | Which One Is Better?
Which Is Better Taekwondo or Kung Fu? Main Differences