This kung fu gesture Is a form of respect performed In various situations: when students eager and leave the school, as a gesture of thanks to their teacher or a senior student, before and after a performance and as a greeting lo fellow kung fu practitioners.

It Is performed to bringing the right fist and the left palm together up to the chest level while bowing at the same time. If someone wants to show the other person the great respect sad admiration he has for that person he brings his palm and fist lo chin level and bows while lowering his eyes to the ground. Some people cup the left palm over the right fist. This variation, which evolved out et the kung fu respect, is used generally by non kung fu practitioners, especially stage performers, to say thank you.

Under the Ch'ing dynasty (1644-1911) established by Manchus who had overthrown the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), Chinese loyalists who hoped to restore Ming rulers on the throne used the kung fu respect as a secret sign of recognition between members of underground rebel movements. The fist stood for the Chinese character sun and the palm for moon. Together sun and moon make up the character for ming, which not only means "brightness" but also refers to the Ming dynasty.

When used by kung fu practitioners, the kung fu respect means "I shall not fight" - the fist representing combat, the palm meaning self-control. In the old days, when a kung fu practitioner was challenged by an opponent, he had the option of saluting three times, saying, in effect, that he wanted to avoid violence and leave his opponent a chance to back out. But if forced to fight after the third salute, he had no qualms about fighting, to the death if he had to.