The public has long been fascinated with Kung Fu. Songs have been sung about Kung Fu. Audiences have filled movie theaters, enthralled by the amazing feats of actors such as Bruce Lee. All around the world, people have pondered the power, suspense, and mystery of Kung Fu. But what is Kung Fu? The literal translation of this Chinese word is "work" or "training," or simply the amount of time and effort developing a skill or ability. Since kung fu is required if you want to learn and master martial arts, this terms was has been used in reference to the Chinese martial arts in general. The actual Chinese name for martial arts is Wushu, but because the Chinese government modernized its martial arts to form a universal standard for training and competing over the last few decades, and much more emphasis has been put on aspects such as such as presentation, competition, and acrobatic routines, Wushu is now only used as the term for martial arts adopted by the People's Republic of China. Kung Fu, on the other hand, refers to all traditional Chinese martial arts. In the following pages, we will take a look at the development and characteristics of the diverse Kung Fu.