The Chinese Kuoshu Institute (CKI) is a non-political, non-profit making and voluntary organisation. The CKI was formally constituted in the United Kingdom in 1990, as an organisation to promote Chinese Martial Arts and Culture with a particular interest in the practice of Chinese Kuoshu (National Arts) traditional Chinese martial arts, known as: Kuoshu; Traditional Wushu; and more popularly known as Kung Fu. Although self-governing, the CKI is a member of: the British Council for Chinese Martial Arts (BCCMA); the European Chinese Kuoshu Federation (ECKF); the European Kuoshu Federation (TEKSF); the United Kingdom Kuo Shu Federation (UKKSF); and the World Kuoshu Federation (TWKSF).

Working in partnership with other traditional Chinese martial arts groups in the United Kingdom, the CKI is responsible for putting students forward for selection to both: the British Kuoshu (National Chinese Martial Arts) Team, in association with the British Chinese Kuoshu Federation (BCKF) and the United Kingdom Kuo Shu Federation (UKKSF); and the British Shuai Jiao (Chinese Wrestling) Team, in association with the British Shuai Jiao Union (BSJU) Candidates for the teams are therefore required to go though a selection process if they want to join the national team training sessions. Successful candidates, as students, will have the opportunity to: train alongside both national and international champions; learn from Masters with World-renowned reputations in Tien Shan Pai, Bao Ding Shuai Jiao, and Chen Pan Ling Taiji Quan who will instruct you in the practice of Chinese martial arts.

Although the CKI has a reputation for excellence and working with the elite of Chinese martial arts, the CKI also maintains a foundation to excellence policy and is responsible for the One Community Project, based in Luton, Bedfordshire. The One Community Project was developed to help young people from disadvantaged and/or disaffected backgrounds to realise and achieve their potential through the medium of Chinese martial arts. Students will attain qualifications in Chinese martial arts that are recognised by the appropriate International governing bodies and valid Worldwide. The training regime will include the practical application of the skills acquired during the lessons.

Students will be trained in the five elements: Da (打) – kicking and striking; Shuai (摔) – wrestling and grappling; Na (拿) – joint and pressure point manipulation; Dian (點) – point striking; and Cui (摧) – breaking and dislocation. Although there is ground work within the system, it is primarily designed to effectively devastate the opponent not stand toe to toe at length or roll around on the ground with them. Students will learn five sparring ranges Si (思) – thinking; Ti (踢) – kicking; Da (打) – striking (with forearm, fist and palm); Shuai (摔) – grappling (and striking with knee, elbow and head); and Na (拿) – seizing (and choking), to optimise the defence and attack strategy. As the students knowledge of the basic exercises increases they will be trained in martial combat, be taught Forms and also how to use weapons.

Self-defence simulation such as two-person choreographed sequences will enable the student to take part in contact training. Tao Lu (Forms) training, including the use of weapons, will also allow the student to develop co-ordination and sparring tactics. There are also internal and external body training methods to condition the body in line with martial arts training demands. In the intermediate to advanced stages of training, student will commence sparring practice: semi contact initially and then full-contact sparring, if desired and when ready.