Kungfu May 2026

In Mandarin, the formal term for Chinese martial arts is wǔshù (武術). The shift toward "Kung Fu" as a label for fighting styles occurred primarily in the late 20th century, largely due to Westerners adopting the vocabulary of Southern Chinese masters (like Bruce Lee) and the influence of movie subtitles. According to Wikipedia , the first known use of "kung fu" in English print appeared in Punch magazine in 1966. 2. Historical Context