China has one of the longest histories of continuously recorded martial arts tradition of any society in the world, and with hundreds of styles probably the most varied. Over the past two to four thousand years, many distinctive styles have been developed, each with its own set of techniques and ideas. Chinese martial arts training consists of the following components: basics, forms, applications and weapons. Each style has its own unique training system with varying emphasis on each of those components. In addition, philosophy, ethics and even medical practise are highly regarded by most Chinese martial arts. A complete training system should also provide insight into Chinese attitudes and culture.

No, you don’t have to go to China to learn kung fu. You can learn Kung Fu with the available resources. Find good books on Chinese methods of self defense or kung fu. Read as much books as you can to know the basics, learn meditition. Try to find a good instructor to teach you basic kung fu. because basics are a vital part of the training, as a student cannot progress to the more advanced stages without them.