Chinese martial arts ,also referred to by the Mandarin Chinese term Wushu and popular as Gongfu ,are a number of fighting style that have developed over the centuries in China .
Fighting style 功夫门派
The fighting styles are often classified according to their common traits ,identified as "families ","sects"or "schools"of the martial arts.Examples of such traits include physical exercises involving animal mimicry ,or training methods inspired by Chinese philosophy ,religions and legends .
External and Internal 外功和内功
In Chinese Gongfu ,however ,a distinction is made between "external "and "internal "Gongfu .It is said that "In external Gongfu ,you exercises your tendons ,bones ,and skin ; in internal Gongfu ,you train you spirit ,your Qi, and your mind ." Taijiquan is Taoist internal martial art.