On the beginning we have to clarify what does KUNG FU mean as well like that name is understand in up-to-date world. Universally Kung Fu is associated with Chinese martial arts, this is mostly because of motion picture. Yet , on Chinese language Kung Fu is a term, which should be consider on context variations. Ideograph consists with two notes: "Kung" means high level of specialization in particular area and "Fu" means human. As a whole phrase it could means top level of specialization in any field. But "Kung" has another meaning that is: energy, and "Fu" means: time. In this meaning we could translate is as skill that needs persistence and hard work to achieve desirable results, for example to achieve mastery in particular area.

Why expression kung fu it was assigned for martial arts if he has this way wide meaning? Martial arts are determined in Chinese language as "Wu Shu", Wu - that is war, Shu is indicating the generally comprehended art. Therefore the proficiency or the high level of the specialization in martial arts are determined as "kung fu wu shu". Therefore, the term "kung fu" that top level of the specialization should be used together with the expression which its concerns, e.g. Hung Kuen Kung Fu, Hung Kuen is indicated the proficiency and mastery of the system named Hung Gar Kuen In the end it should underline, that term kung fu could have very wide applying, however it is very probable that in western culture this term permanently was assigned for Chinese martial arts

If we are already talking about Chinese martial arts, one should be said, it is lot of types (styles) compound on. So attempts to systematize, making of divisions of all styles into smaller subgroups, to the purpose of its better characterizing.
Most often met divisions:
- north and south systems,
- internal external systems,
- Taoist, Buddhist and different systems (mixed).

Below are listed the main centers of the evolution of Chinese martial arts:

The Shaolin Temple was made of times of the Wei dynasty in the mountain massif Sung, in the Henan province. It was established by the emperor Su Wen for saint Bhadra Master. The Master wanted to train there young Buddha's adepts , so he called this place “Young Forest” (Shaolin Si). Bodhidharma made the Temple very famous, but his life is a legend. Chinese people regard him as the father of kung fu. In China the most different wu shu schools are not questioning the Bodhidharama as a historical person, granting only different names of him Da Mo, Dat Mor, But Tor. Some movements techniques assigned to him are coming from wuqinxi (games of five animals, connection of elements that giving longevity for man who practice it, identical with more late "yoga of animals"). At first, monks living in Shaolin took up translation of scriptures from the Sanskrit to the Chinese Some sources are announced that Da Mo seeing that Monks were physically weak and they had a problem with the concentration and with meditation, he implemented 18 exercises improving their physical condition. However creating of Chinese martial arts we should not to assign to one person, but for entire generations of masters which developed and improved kung fu. Shaolin Temple is a symbol kung fu for the ages. It was an excellent space of the skill-sharing for different experts of the fight, an organized training academy. Movement exercises practiced in Shaolin Temple did not put in the real fight at first applying. Techniques should helped to better taking control of the own body and keeping the health. In notes dated on the year 581 we can find the elements of the fight against the stick and the attack techniques. For many centuries the Shaolin Temple had been constituted as excellent pattern. In the XVI century Shaolin Kung Fu developed up to 172 techniques, which are known under the name of Shaolin-Shu. Being composed of 5 animal styles with three fundamental directions which became current at the Temple.

A Wudang Temple was the second important centre of the learning of martial arts. It was a Taoist Temple putted in Wudang mountains in the north Hebei province. At this Temple three styles arose: Hsing I, Bagua Zhang and Tai Chi Chuan. Contemporary Tai Chi Chuan was differed from that we know nowadays, which at present became the kind of the health gymnastics. In those times it was unusually danger fighting style. The Monk named Zhang Sanfeng exploiting his own abilities (supposedly he was a master at Shaolin at first) created fighting style based on philosophical-ethical principles of the Taoism. He observed the fight of the crane against the snake at one time. In spite of the crane was a favorite of this battle it is however a snake won, thanks to the fluidity of moves and agility and fast ducks. This fight inspired Zhang Sanfenga for creating the style, in which the main pressure put to the speed and the agility, rather than to power and the endurance. According to him one should parry blows with liquid and soft moves. For increasing strengthening the "internal work" was needed for the effectiveness, being based on three factors: shen (spirit), jing (essence of the life), qi (internal energy).

The Emei is third centre in the Sichuan province (Syczuan). Amongst experts of Chinese martial arts, systems connected with Emei are also pleased with great respect. From the lyrics of the "Song about the art of the fist of the Taoist from Emei", (author: Tang Shunzhi), dated to the Ming dynasty, concrete characterization of the style appears. We learn that contemporary martial arts from Emei constituted the synthesis of Buddhist and Taoist elements. Using elements of different origin, combining hard and soft techniques, internal and external training, remained the principle and a distinctive feature of the systems arising in Emei. For many of them also preferring hands techniques, wide applying of catches and levers, fight in the short distance, frequent pushing with body. It is also characteristic of the part of systems coming from south Shaolin.