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| Insects know a thing or two about kung fu fighting |
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| One type of Oriental martial arts is known by the Chinese name “kung fu.” Kung fu fighting, it seems, began with the monks of the Shaolin monastery. Around year 610, the monks used such fighting techniques to ward off bandits. Certainly by the 16th century, the monks of Shaolin were learning and practicing martial arts known today as kung fu.
By the mid 1970s, a kung fu craze was running wild in the United States. Martial arts films had existed in the Orient for some time, but in 1973 kung fu martial arts appeared on the small screen in the United States.
Produced by Warner Brothers, the television series was called “Kung Fu.” David Carradine starred as Kwai Chang Caine, a Shaolin monk who had fled to the United States. Caine used his kung fu skills to fight his way across the Wild American Old West in search of his half brother.
In 1973, Bruce Lee starred in “Enter the Dragon,” the first kung fu film produced by a Hollywood studio. This film is probably one of the most important martial arts films ever made.
“Kung Fu Fighting,” a song performed by Carl Douglas, was released in 1974. It topped the charts in both Britain and the United States.
Even if you weren’t around in the 1970s and don’t listen to oldies radio, you might still recognize the song. It recently was featured in an advertisement. The GEICO gecko sings “Kung Fu Fighting” while on a road trip with several human companions.
Kung Fu-type fighting is common among insects. Like the martial arts, insect battles are fought without weapons. It’s legs, mouths and wings in this appendage-to-appendage combat. Take, for instance, crickets. In battles for territory, male crickets kick, bite, bluff and head-butt opponents into submission. Cricket battles sometimes leave combatants without a |
| 4/18/2007 |
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