Category: Flexible

Apparent Hands - Hidden Feet (明手暗腿 - Ming Shou An Tui): Practical Northern Longfist (長拳 - Chang Quan) Leg Self-Defence Techniques! (29.8.2022)

8/30/2022

Open-Hands Are the Advanced-Guard,

手为先锋 (Shou wei xianfeng)

Feet Are in Command;

脚为帅 (Jiao wei shuai)

Closed-Fists Strike in Six Directions,

拳打六路 (Quan da liulu)

Feet Strike in All Eight-Directions!

脚踢八方 (Jiao tī bafang)

Chinese Language Sources:

https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1706942614626933697&wfr=spider&for=pc
https://www.sohu.com/a/523734355_121119510

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Fuzhou: How a Whooping Crane Master Became Famous During Lockdown! (26.3.2020)

8/19/2022

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Xu Lanyu (徐兰雨) [Right] - Teaching a 'Remote' Student 'Whooping Crane Fist' Who Has Come To Visit!

China News Service, Fuzhou, March 26, 2020 (Reporter: Weng Yumin - 翁宇民) In the days of home epidemic prevention! Pictured to the right is Xu Lanyu (徐兰雨) - the lineage inheritor of ‘Whooping Crane Fist’ (鸣鹤拳 - Ming He Quan) - a native of Fuzhou and perpetuator of the often (historically) ‘hidden’ cultural treasure that is represented by the wealth of martial knowledge developed throughout the area. He is pictured here with a ‘student’ who travelled a long way to train in this unique martial art! (Photograph by Chen Nuan - 陈暖).

During lockdown throughout China, millions communicated with one another using the internet! A young woman (Ling Yun - 凌云) from Sichuan, for instance, entertained untold numbers with her ability to use a traditional long sword which she used to ‘pierce’ bits of paper thrown up into the air! Around the same time, a ‘masked man’ (pictured above) took to the internet and decided to demonstrate the ‘Forms’ and self-defence applications of his family martial arts style! His daily programmes attracted hundreds of thousands of viewers! This activity led to untold thousands starting to practice ‘Whooping Crane Fist’ via their TV or computer screen!

How did this notoriety begin? Well, the ‘masked man’ decided that he would record a video of himself practicing the ‘Forms’ contained within the martial art of ‘Whooping Crane Fist’ - carefully edited to the well-known theme tune from the hit movie entitled ‘Kung Fu Panda’! This interesting mixture of ‘old’ traditional Chinese culture and ‘new’ paradigms in general entertainment, led to a massive interest in the martial art that was being demonstrated! No one could have predicted how popular this blend of serious study with light-hearted entertainment would prove – particularly at the dangerous and unpredictable times that Covid-19 represented to the world!

Master Xu Lanyu (徐兰雨) Practicing ‘Whooping Crane Fist – Twenty-Eight Perches’ (鸣鹤拳二十八宿 - Ming He Quan Er Shi Ba Su).

The reporter learned that this ‘masked man’ is one Xu Lanyu - the lineage inheritor of Whooping Crane Fist – who is a native of Fuzhou and preserver of the ‘hidden’ martial cultural heritage of the area, as well as being a National (First-Class) Martial Arts Referee, and Deputy Secretary-General of the Fuzhou Wushu Association. In the video that became famous, the Form that Xu Lanyu demonstrated is known as ‘Whooping Crane Fist – Twenty-Eight Perches’ (鸣鹤拳二十八宿 - Ming He Quan Er Shi Ba Su).

Xu Lanyu said: "The ‘Twenty-Eight Perches’ Form derives from the ‘Shaolin Arahant Fist’ (少林罗汉拳 - Shao Lin Luo Han Quan) style. This ‘Twenty-Eight Perches’ Form was developed only within the ‘Whooping Crane Fist’ style – and is not part of any other Crane fighting art. It has a unique spirit which is fast, brave, alert and flexible. This represents a sudden and dramatic transformation often observed in the behaviour of the White Crane bird species. The White Crane is usually quiet, calm and deliberately sedate – but is always poised on the psychological and physical ‘edge’ (between ‘tension’ and ‘relaxation’) so that it can burst into action at any time! The flexibility can suddenly become (momentarily) ‘rigid’ (刚 - Gang) and highly destructive – whilst a ‘rigid’ White Crane can disrupt the mind and body balance of an opponent by suddenly losing ALL the ‘tension’ and become fully ‘evasive’ through a sudden and instantaneous ‘relaxation’ (柔 - Rou). Bodyweight is fully applied to a body part (like water rushing into a hollow pot) – or completely withdrawn from a body area (like water being ‘emptied’ from a storage area). This awareness (and ability) generates an instant and terrible (trembling) power which the White Crane uses when applying the cruel techniques of ‘trapping’ and ‘breaking’ the opponent’s fingers, toes, wrists, ankles, elbows, knees and neck, etc!’

Xu Lanyu explained to our reporters that the developmental history of ‘Whooping Crane Fist’ - including the oral history as well as the legends and myths - is all described in detail in the book entitled ‘Crane Technique – Fujian Whooping Crane Fist’ (鹤法—--福建鸣鹤拳 - He Crane – Fu Jian Ming He Quan) - written by Master Yu Danqiu (余丹秋) - the teacher of Xu Lanyu! This book is full of very interesting and important historical data and is currently in preparation for publication!

The Founding Ancestor of Crane Fist is believed to be the semi-legendary woman martial arts expert known as ‘Fang Qiniang’ (方七娘) during the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties. This original Fujian White Crane Fist style developed within the Fuzhou area – and eventually diversified into the ‘Whooping Crane’ (鸣鹤 - Ming He), the ‘Perching’ (or ‘Sleeping’) Crane (宿鹤 - Su He), the 'Ancestral Crane’ (宗鹤 - Zong He), the ‘Trembling Crane’ (纵鹤 - Zong He), the ‘Flying Crane’ (飞鹤 - Fei He) and the ‘Feeding Crane’ 食鹤 - She He), as well as many other branches! Indeed, there are several White Crane Fist lineages all preserving and transmitting their interesting histories! For example, during the Daoguang (道光) era of the Qing Dynasty (reigned 1820-1860) - there lived a White Crane Fist teacher known as Master ‘Lin Shixian’ (林世咸) who was well-known in the Yixu area of Fuzhou! He would take on and defeat anyone who challenged him and one day his White Crane skills were observed by a Shaolin Buddhist monk who was travelling through the area! His name was ‘Shi Mingyu’ (释明余) - that is ‘Venerable Bright Intensity’ – and he was a respected expert in the martial art of ‘Shaolin Arahant Fist’ (少林罗汉拳 - Shao Lin Luo Han Quan). After both men were properly introduced, a large crowd gathered - and following demands for a sparring competition - each man demonstrated his respective art for all to see! It soon became apparent, however, that both men were equally matched despite the technical differences in their martial systems, and that neither could prevail. Furthermore, each man recognised the equal mastery of the other and both became firm friends!

Watching in the crowd that day was one ‘Lin Dachong’ (林达崇) who came from the Pan Yu area of Fuzhou! He was a disciple of the eminent Shaolin monk and was astonished and impressed when he saw the beauty and technical skill of the White Crane Fist! He requested that Lin Shixian accept him as a disciple and stay to teach him in the Pan Yu area – a request Lin Shixian accepted! Whooping Crane Fist was subsequently developed by Lin Dachong after he combined the movements of Fujian White Crane Fist with those found in the style of ‘Shaolin Arahant Fist’! These two well-known styles form the technical foundation of ‘Whooping Crane’! This is why the Pan Yu area of Fuzhou has become recognised as the birthplace of ‘Whooping Crane Fist’ both in China and abroad!

There was also a very great ‘Generational Grand Master’ (一代宗师 - Yi Dai Zong Shi) who was named ‘Xie Zongxiang’ (谢宗祥)* and also known as ‘Xie Ru Ru’ (谢如如)! He was a very great martial arts teacher, practitioner, fighter and healer who was known far and wide in Fuzhou and a long way beyond! Indeed, he had trained as the leading disciple of ‘Lin Dachong’ - who later became known as ‘Pan Yu Ba’ (潘屿八)! Local people in Fuzhou used to call him ‘Ru Shi’ (如师), and in his hands, ‘the ‘Whooping Crane Fist’ style was repeatedly improved and developed, so that its good reputation spread across China and out into the wide world – becoming known far and wide for its combat effectiveness! Xie Zongxiang was very famous and had countless students and disciples! He met many people from around the world – and the record books state one of them was from Okinawa! This is significant as Fuzhou now receives a continuous stream of visitors that are researching the Chinese origins of the Okinawan Goju Ryu style of Karate-Do. They all arrive with their stories concerning Higaonna Kanryo (东恩纳宽量 - Dong En Na Kuan Liang) - a very strong and brave young man who visited Fuzhou in 1877 – where he studied Fujian White Crane Fist under ‘Xie Zongxiang’! Furthermore, travellers from Japan and Okinawa all state that ‘Whooping Crane Fist’ has had an important influence on the development of Goju Ryu Karate-Do! Quite often, there are also many doubts as the origination stories tend to differ at various points in their telling – whilst all agreeing on certain significant facts! Whooping Crane Fist is a superb cultural treasure that is like a beautiful flower growing out of the brickwork of a wall – but the fragrance of which reaches far and wide! Xu Lanyu's teacher - Yu Danqiu - has often been invited to teach martial arts overseas. Nowadays, there are foreign disciples learning genuine ‘Whooping Crane Fist’ in Europe and Oceania. Xu Lanyu's generation of ‘Whooping Crane Fist’ practitioners now have transnational brothers and sisters – as the Masters of this art want to spread its secrets far and wide!

Affected by the recent epidemic, many planned Chinese and foreign martial arts exchanges have been understandably postponed. With the development of the Internet, however, this has made it possible to ‘spread martial arts through the air’, and the White Crane martial arts Masters in Fuzhou intend to continue the communication, learning and teaching of martial arts through ‘live’ internet broadcasts, and video recordings! Due to the epidemic, staying at home has made many people interested in practicing martial arts again. Therefore, Xu Lanyu's ‘Whooping Crane Fist’ video has been retweeted by many fans as soon as it was released. Xu Lanyu said: ‘Epidemic prevention also requires regular exercise at home. A strong body is the strongest line of defence against any illness!’

*Also referred to as 'Xie Chongxiang' (謝崇祥) [1852-1930].

Chinese Language Article:

https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1662227579974127318&wfr=spider&for=pc

疫情期间福州有位“蒙面侠”走红网络
中国新闻网
2020-03-26 19:52
福州本土的非遗拳种鸣鹤拳的传承人徐兰雨（右）和慕名而来的“粉丝”一同练功。　陈暖　摄
中新网福州3月26日电 (翁宇民)在居家防疫的日子里，四川火了一个“提剑扔垃圾女侠”—--凌云。福州本土的非遗拳种鸣鹤拳，最近也火了一位“蒙面侠”。
近日，一段视频在福州网友当中火热传播，在《功夫熊猫》主题歌背景下，一位戴着口罩的“蒙面”侠客表演了一套虎虎生风的鹤拳，让网友们纷纷点赞！
记者了解到，这位“蒙面侠”是福州本土的非遗拳种鸣鹤拳的传承人、国家一级武术裁判员、福州市武术协会副秘书长徐兰雨。在上述视频中，他展示的这一段套路名叫“鸣鹤拳二十八宿”。
徐兰雨说：“二十八宿套路是少林罗汉拳的招式，鹤拳中只有鸣鹤拳有二十八宿套路。它风格与众不同，迅速勇猛、机警灵活，改变了白鹤拳原来的恬静神态，可以施展短打、劈破等狠招，是鸣鹤拳先祖师父传授的武学中，刚与柔的精巧组合。”
徐兰雨告诉记者，有关鸣鹤拳及其传奇的故事，在他师父余丹秋所著的《鹤法—--福建鸣鹤拳》一书中有详尽的记述。这本书目前正在准备出版。
鹤拳始祖师父是明末清初的一位传奇女性—--方七娘，这门武学在福州地区还分为鸣鹤、宿鹤(宗鹤、纵鹤)、飞鹤、食鹤几个分支。
几经传承，在清道光年间，鹤拳的一位高手林世咸在福州义序游玩时，以白鹤神技折服少林罗汉拳高僧释明余，二人在切磋中成为挚友。高僧之徒、盘屿人林达崇目睹二人较技之后，对鹤拳神技崇拜不已，恳请林世咸留在盘屿教授功夫，由此盘屿成为福州鸣鹤拳的发源地而闻名海内外。也正是林达崇结合了少林罗汉拳与鹤拳的招式，成就了鸣鹤拳独特的风格。
鸣鹤拳还出过“一代宗师”谢宗祥(谢如如)，人称如师。在如师手中，鸣鹤拳再度得到提高与发展。他威名显赫，收徒甚众，其中有一位是日本人，名叫东恩纳宽量。
这位来自冲绳的日本徒弟，1877年到福州拜如师学习鸣鹤拳，回日本后以勇猛、刚柔相济的拳术而扬名，后来更成为日本刚柔流泊手空手道的中兴之祖。
也正因为东恩纳宽量，日本刚柔流至今仍常有弟子来福州参访鸣鹤拳，探究武学渊源。
作为福州本土的非遗拳种，鸣鹤拳近年也是“墙内开花墙外香”。徐兰雨的师父余丹秋经常受邀赴海外授武，如今在欧洲和大洋洲都有学习鸣鹤拳的洋弟子，徐兰雨这一代鸣鹤拳修习者有了更多跨国的师兄弟。
近来受疫情的影响，原计划中的不少中外武学交流都被迫延后。但如今网络的发达，令“隔空传武”成为了可能，福州的武林高手们也计划通过视频，让武术学习与交流得以继续。
也因为疫情，全民宅家让不少人萌生了习武锻炼的兴趣，因此徐兰雨的鸣鹤拳视频一发布，就被不少爱好者火热转发。徐兰雨说：“防疫居家也要勤运动，身体强健才是抵御病毒的最强防线。”(完)

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Quanzhou: The Birthplace of Yongchun White Crane Fist – A World Famous Chinese Martial Art!

8/15/2022

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Pay Attention to Gathering the 'Inner' Spirit (魂 - Hun) of the Crane - This is the Strength the Crane 'Manifests' (道 - Dao) in the Outer World! Therefore, the Crane is Self-Confident Because It Naturally Buildes the 'Inner' (内 - Nei) and the 'Outer' (外 - Wai) in a Perfect Harmony!

Translated By Shifu Adrian Chan-Wyles PhD ( © )

Yongchun (永春) White Crane Fist (白鹤拳 - Bai He Quan) is one of the seven major martial arts styles developed in Fujian Province. It was created during the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties and has spread throughout China, Southeast Asia, Europe and the United States. It is a national heritage of immeasurable cultural importance!

The Southern Shaolin Fighting Method (南少林拳法 - Nan Shao Lin Quan Fa) - which developed during the Tang and Song Dynasties – was popular in Fujian by the middle of the Ming Dynasty. In the Fujian area of Yongchun - no matter whether in the city or the countryside - there were countless practitioners of martial arts! The Southern Shaolin System was prevalent but with such styles as ‘Taizu’ (太祖) or ‘Grand Ancestor’ and ‘Houquan’ (猴拳) or ‘Monkey Fist’ being very prevalent! The area was economically and culturally prosperous! The ‘History of the Ming Dynasty’ (明史 - Ming Shi), Volume 91, Martial Aspiration Three (兵志三 - Bing Zhi San) - Recollections (记载 - Ji Zai) states: ‘The people of Yongchun possess tremendous fighting-spirit and are highly skilled in martial arts practice!’ Therefore, it can be historically proved that the Yongchun people's practice of martial arts has been highly developed as early as the middle of the Ming Dynasty!

Yongchun White Crane Fist Focuses Upon Dextrous Upper Body Movements! Attacks Are Deadly and Direct!

Yongchun White Crane Fist is one of the seven major fighting styles developed in Fujian Province. It was founded during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. It takes the ‘White Crane’ bird as its spiritual, psychological and physical inspiration (形 - Xing) or ‘Form’ (‘Kata’ in Japanese martial arts) and manifests this inspiration in its general fighting method! The White Crane practitioner understands how to ‘move’ and remain ‘still’ - and how to transition between these two states with a smooth and non-confused accuracy controlled by an underlying higher knowledge that embraces the practitioner, the opponent and the environment! Furthermore, a White Crane practitioner fully comprehends the ‘empty’ (虚 - Xu) and the ‘full’ (实 - Shi) and how and when each is to be used so that the opponent is continuously ‘uprooted’ - whilst the White Crane practitioner is continuously strengthened! All the energy channels in the body (the eight extraordinary and the twelve ordinary) are opened, unified and fully functioning (transporting and strengthening Qi 精, Jing 氣 and Shen 神)! As this is the case, the mind, body and spirit are unified, just as the bones and joints are aligned (allowing the bodyweight to drop into the ground – and effortlessly rebound back up and out of the body – through the relevant striking areas). All movement is perfectly timed, and the speed is so fast that an opponent has difficulty discerning the blows as they are naturally ‘released’ from the limbs of the White Crane practitioner! The hands and feet alternate with a perfect timing and balance that is bewildering to encounter! The White Crane practitioner can ‘vary’ the 'speed’ of each blow so as to bypass the habitual (and expected) movements of an opponent’s defensive reactions! The White Crane practitioner can be as solid as a mountain or as light a feather – depending upon the ‘intention’ of the practitioner and the necessity of the moment! Those who master these ‘internal’ Shaolin martial arts can appear to ‘manifest’ and ‘disappear’ at will – as they manipulate the perception of the opponent! This is why there is said to be a blend of ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ martial techniques! This style has been circulating in China and Southeast Asia for more than 300 years, and it is popular in Europe and the United States. As a consequence, this type of Chinese martial art is considered a quintessential manifestation of Chinese martial culture!

Foreign Friends Learn White Crane Fist in Yongchun (Photo by Yao Dechun [姚德纯])

According to research - Ip Man (叶问 - Ye Wen) who is well-known at home and abroad as the teacher of the great Bruce Lee – taught his style of ‘Wing Chun Fist’ (咏春拳 - Yong Chun Quan) which was heavily influenced by the fighting techniques of Yongchun White Crane Fist. Bruce Lee used all this martial arts knowledge to later develop his system of fighting termed ‘Jeet Kune Do’ (截拳道 - Jie Quan Dao)! Furthermore, Chinese, Okinawan and Japanese scholars all agree that the style of fighting known as ‘Goju Ryu Karate-Do' (刚柔流空手道 - Gang Rou Liu Kong Shou Dao) has its theoretical and technical roots firmly embedded in the fertile martial ground that is Yongchun White Crane Fist!

Chen Hong (陈弘) - the President of the China Yongchun White Crane Fist Research Association - pointed out that there are many technical similarities between Fujian Yongchun White Crane Fist and the Guangdong martial style known as ‘Wing Chun Kune’ (咏春拳 - Yong Chun Quan)! For instance, before issuing a blow, the Yongchun White Crane Fist practitioner must first centre his or her own mind, body and spirit – gather up the accumulated energy and direct this ball of power toward the ‘centre-line’ of the opponent’s body! This gather and emitting ‘internal’ and ‘external’ power through the Conception Vessel 任脉 - Ren Mai) - whilst targeting the Conception Vessel of the opponent! This is the real meaning behind the ‘Centre-Line Theory’ which many only pay lip-service to. This is identical to the ‘Centre-Line’ theory as found in Wing Chun (and many other martial systems)! Furthermore, Wing Chun is also famous for the power its practitioners produce during their ‘one-inch punch’ demonstrations! This is termed ‘寸劲’ (Cum Jin) or ‘inch strength’ or the ability to generate ‘explosive short-range power’! Within Yongchun White Crane Fist, this same ability is known as ‘寸劲节力’ (Cum Jin Jie Li) or ‘inch power direct energy’! In both systems the feet are generally rooted with the knees remaining flexible to accommodate a dextrous upper body which delivers fast and massively powerful blows of all descriptions, landing at all levels! These include open and closed hands, fore-arms, elbow-strikes, upper-arms, shoulder and blows with the head! The torso ‘twists’ left and right through the pelvis and around the spine – whilst swaying and leaning left and right (forward and back at oblique angles) – all through, around, away from and back to the ‘centre-line’! The famous ‘chi-sow’ (黐手 - Chi Shou) or ‘stick hand’ technique of Wing Chun is very similar to the ‘pan shou’ (盘手) ‘enveloping hand’ technique found in Yongchun White Crane Fist! Although Wing Chun has been developed for more than 100 years, and is a renowned style of fighting, nevertheless, the shadow of Yongchun White Crane Fist still clearly looms in the background!

During 2019, the Students and Lecturers of Kyoto University of Culture and Education visited Yongchun for a Cultural Exchange and to Study Martial Arts!

Chen Hong (陈弘) has been researching the theory and practice of Yongchun White Crane Fist for many years, particularly with regards to practitioners living or taking refuge within Guangdong! During the Qing Dynasty reign of emperors Xianfeng (咸丰) [reigned 1850-1861] - and the Tongzhi (同治) emperor (reigned 1861-1875) - there lived a couple of Yongchun White Crane Masters named ‘Lin Jun’ (林俊) and Chen Hu (陈湖) who took an active part in the Peasant Uprisings! Indeed, many such martial arts Masters participated in these uprising! Hong Xiuquan (洪秀全) led the ‘Taiping Heavenly Kingdom’ uprising which engulfed large parts of China – including Fujian province! ‘Lin Jun’ (林俊) was personally appointed by Hong Xiuquan (洪秀全) as one of the ‘Strong Kings of Three Thousand Years’ - stationed in the Fujian area! This gave him command of thousands of Taiping troops! Despite many early victories and tremendous battles – the Taiping were defeated, and the surviving rebels had to flee! Many of these fugitives fled all over China whilst being pursued by a Qing Army led by ‘Zou Zongtang’ (左宗棠) - which drove them out of Fujian and into the Guangdong and Zhejiang areas – where the Yongchun White Crane Fist practitioners had to adopt disguises and live secret lives (whilst teaching disciples behind the scenes – often at night)! These survivors were inspired by ‘Lin Jun’ (林俊) - where his reputation is still bright and shining in China today!

During the mid-Qing Dynasty, with the increasingly frequent unofficial cultural exchanges between Okinawa (Ryukyu), Japan and Taiwan, some White Crane Fist disciples went to Dongying (东瀛) to teach martial arts; many Japanese merchants who travelled to the Mainland for business and employment, also began to learn White Crane Fist and transmitted it back to Japan. During 1877, Higaonna Kanryo travelled from Okinawa to Fuzhou and studied Yongchun White Crane Fist. After three years of intense training, Higaonna Kanryo returned to his home in Okinawa – transmitting White Crane Fist as he went! After integrating White Crane Fist with Okinawan fighting techniques – the art of ‘Goju Ryu’ Karate-Do was eventually developed (by Miyagi Chojun – the key disciple of Higaonna Kanryo in Okinawa). It is clear from this example that White Crane Fist rejuvenated the Okinawan fighting arts! Another example lies with ‘Wang Xiangui’ (吴贤贵) who used to work for the Fuzhou Tower River Water Ministry (福州台江水部的 - Fu Zhou Tai Jiang Shui Bu) - but in 1912 he travelled to Okinawa where he met Higaonna Kanryo – who had established the ‘Eternal Light’ (永光 - Yongguang) Tea Shop (茶行 - Cha Xing). As he saw that Higaonna Kanryo and his disciples already knew ‘Yongchun White Crane Fist’ - he decided to teach the Okinawans the ‘Whooping Crane Fist’ (鸣鹤拳 - Ming He Quan) variant! It was the disciples of Higaonna Kanryo who had trained with Wu Xiangui that formed the ‘Okinawa Strong Foundation Association’ (冲绳刚泊会 - Chong Sheng Gang Po Hui)! Tokashiki, the President of Japan's Okinawa Goju Ryu Karate-Do Association, has been searching for many years to find the identity of the Chinese Masters who taught Higaonna Kanryo! Finally, the source of Yongchun White Crane Fist in Okinawa was discovered in Fujian - and a "remarkable monument" was raised in the Fujian Provincial Sports Centre (in 1990)!

During October 1928, the first national martial arts examination was held in Nanjing since its abolition in 1911 – following the overthrow and abolition of the Qing Dynasty and its feudalist and imperialistic system! Yongchun County in Fujian sent a martial arts expert known as ‘Jin jing’ (晋京) - who placed first in every category and won every available award! Indeed, Yongchun as a place was awarded with the title ‘Central Hall of Martial Arts Execellence’ (中央国术馆 - Zhong Yang Guo Shu Guan)! This meant that a government-sponsored centre of martial arts practice was established, legally protected and funded in the Fujian area! The advent of Yongchun White Crane Fist in the 20th century served to strengthen China not only in the eyes of its own people – but also in the eyes of those across the world – a view held and expressed by Mr. Tan Kah Kee (陈嘉庚) - who further stated, ‘China as a country has been strengthened by the vigour of our own martial arts!’ He also said, ‘Promote the strengthening essence and eradicate the weak!’ During August 1929, in his honour, he requested that the Yongchun White Crane Fist School contribute to the formation of a ‘Central Martial Arts Hall Southern Fujian Martial Arts Touring and Exhibition Group’ be formed to travel around China and to do so abroad! Its first performance was at ‘Xingma’ (星马) - but became the first martial arts delegation to go abroad in the history of Chinese Martial arts - creating a precedent for overseas cultural exchanges focusing upon martial culture!

Mr. Tan Kah Kee met with all the members of the martial arts troupe many times to promote the concept of ‘strengthening the country by promoting martial arts’, and on the spot, he gave the correct title to the Southern Fujian Martial Arts Troupe: ‘Who is the sick man of East Asia – Certainly not the Chinese people! This shame is eradicated by the mastery of Wu Weiyang (武维扬)! Do not forget that the grandsons and granddaughters of the Yellow Emperor can be reborn anywhere – even as fishes! Perhaps the Heros of the Central Plane Create Cities that are dry!’

Contrary to Western Propaganda - Students from The Taiwanese Region of China Visit Fuzhou Throughout the Years to Study Martial Arts!

In 2008, Yongchun White Crane Fist was included in the national heritage list as being of immeasurable cultural value! Today, there are an estimated 100,000 practitioners of Yongchun White Crane Fist, with thousands of experts and hundreds of top-class Masters! Fuzhou has also successfully held the first World Conference for Yongchun White Crane Fist – which attracted thousands of diverse people from all over the world – including many hundreds of Karate-Do practitioners! Yongchun White Crane Fist has also been a vehicle for good-natured and friendly exchanges across the straits! Throughout the martial arts competitions of the world - Yongchun White Crane Fist practitioners won more than 1,000 awards in various competitions at all levels! This style of martial culture is deeply rooted in Okinawa and across the world! As the theoretical and technical foundation for Okinawan Karate-Do – particularly GoJu Ryu – Yong Chun White Crane Fist has inspired a rich academic research genre, that has spread from educational facilities and on to the internet, as well as in books and in films! There have even been theatre performances, plays and other ‘live’ action and educational activities! At the same time, Yongchun White Crane Fist is entering the fields of health, culture and tourism, etc., and its comprehensive and all-round positive effect is becoming increasingly apparent. The United Kingdom, France, Germany, Russia, Moldova, Poland, the United States, Sweden, Switzerland, Iran, Malaysia and other countries, as well as Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, have all established professional organizations for the inheritance and practice of Yongchun White Crane Fist - in order to establish the ‘World Yongchun White Crane Fist Association' - which now has now laid a solid foundation.

Reporter: Ceng Guangtai (曾广太)
Correspondents: Chen Hong (陈弘) & Zhou Lili (周莉莉) - Text & Photographs (Except Signatured)

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Bag Work for Taijiquan Impact-Training

4/26/2021

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Foundational Taijiquan is practiced by those with health or mobility issues. This is a gentle set of physical movements designed to get a person moving around in a dextrous manner. Taijiquan can be very useful for those who are not fit and need some type of co-ordinated physical movement combined with deep and full breathing. With repetition this training process can build strength in the legs, improve balance and dexterity, and enhance the circulation of oxygen throughout the body by relaxing any and all unnecessary muscular tension. Through aligning the bones (and dropping the bodyweight into the ground), the bones, joints, ligaments and tendons are made more ‘robust’ through correct weight-bearing! Many people spend years working on this practice and quite often gain a considerable suppleness through this relaxation and the sharpening of ‘awareness’ in the mind!

For many practitioners in the West, Taijiquan is encountered only later in life, and quite often is not the common spectacle it is in China and throughout many diasporic Chinese communities. The popularity of basic Taijiquan (even in China) relies on quick courses which involve a ‘coach’ who has learned a Short Taijiquan Form over a six-week time period and is then tasked with conveying these movements to two or three classes of students a few times a week! This approach certainly gets the basic techniques ‘out there’ and gives dedicated individuals a training platform which they can build upon at a later date. This can involve longer and more complex Taijiquan Forms (of which there are many Styles), and can even include competitions, seminars and demonstrations, etc. However, even if this type of practice results in winning a World Title for ‘moving about effectively’ - this is still not the complete Taijiquan practice.

If you want to master the proper and in-depth practice of Taijiquan, you will have to find a genuine gongfu Master who is knowledgeable in Daoist self-cultivation technique and knows how to ‘fight’ in real life without compromising the sublime spiritual vision that underlies the Chinese martial arts. Following decades training with Master Chan Tin Sang (1924-1993) - I now occasionally have the honour of meeting the odd male or female Taijiquan Master through ‘invitation’ so that my physical and spiritual understanding of Taijiquan can be ‘tested’ and ‘confirmed’. Such encouragement ‘dissolves’ difficult to see ‘habitual blocks’ in the mind and body and moves onward or deeper into penetrating the empty essence of the Dao – as all movement is equally ‘empty’ and ‘still’ - this is why an immense power emanates through the channels that connect the ‘broad earth’ to the ‘divine sky’. This is why every perfect technique is both immensely ‘powerful’ and equally ‘empty’ from beginning to end – and within this freedom is vibrating a positive light that is a combination of wisdom, loving kindness and compassion for the entirety of existence!

Advanced Taijiquan is a product of a perfected state of mind and body that expresses the perfect Taijiquan technique – but which is no longer ‘limited’ to the practice of the physical Taijiquan Form - which naturally manifests every moment of everyday, whether formally training, lying in bed, going to the toilet, meditating, making love or carrying-out your work! As many of you reading this either have a low opinion of Taijiquan or believe Taijiquan cannot be used for combat (viewpoints that are a product of a lack of direct cultural knowledge), the manner in which Taijiquan technique is used on a kick-bag is simple and straightforward.

Advanced Taijiquan expresses the entire ‘bodyweight’ through any part of the body without any undue effort. Just as the bodyweight ‘drops’ into the ground through the aligned bone-structure – a re-bounding force naturally rises up continuously and without a break in the circuit. This remains true just as long as a practitioner is stood within a strong gravitational field. I start a suitable distance from the kick-bag and carry-out a mini-form set of co-ordinated movements that brings my body nearer the kick-bag and sets-up the power-technique! Today, I started with the left leg forward and threw on the spot a left-lead punch, right-reverse punch and left-lead punch. Weight shifted back onto the reverse right-leg (with bent left-leg forward in ‘cat stance’) and I throw a front-snap kick – landing forward on my properly placed left-foot and bringing the weight onto the left-leg. The power-shot is the reverse right roundhouse-kick – which swings through the air and impacts the bag with considerable and unhindered power! The process is repeated on the other side of the body and I repeat this for three-minutes.

Any combination of techniques can be used that test the ‘smoothness’ of Taijiquan technique on the one-side – and the unbroken (and considerable) power on the other. Obviously, being ‘rooted’ is important as is continuously changing sides so that left and right are properly trained and tested (as true combat is unpredictable unlike fighting with rules during sporting encounters). The mind should be calm, still, aware and all-embracing so that it is ‘reflective’ of all phenomena (like a mirror). The Buddhist Surangama Sutra explains this principle, as do various Daoist texts such as the Laozi and Zhuangzi, etc, and the ‘Book of Changes’ (Yijing). Not everyone is trained to this depth of Taijiquan attainment, and not everyone wants to be trained to this degree – but it is an option with the proper training and instruction.

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Bag Work for Taijiquan Impact-Training

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