Literary meaning of kungfu is hard work. It means ones expertise in any skill. The exact meaning of the word is rest time. Kungfu does not mean practicing any Chinese martial art. Instead, it refers to the process of ones training and strengthening of mind and body. ie; perfection of skill rather than what is being trained. It refers the excellence achieved through long practice in any endeavour. You require motivation, self-discipline, and time to reach this higher level of skills.

But in modern world, when someone say that they are practicing kungfu, it means practicing one or many styles or systems of Chinese martial art.

Many people believe that Shaolin temple is the only place for learning kungfu. However, this is not the fact. Some kungfu styles originated in Shaolin temple and many other kungfu styles developed in different part of China even before the Shaolin temple was ever constructed, under family systems or other ways. But Shaolin temple played a vital role in popularising kungfu. It is a concept consisting of most effective and devastating methods of self-preservation known to man. Chinese martial arts are divided into two categories.