Whenever I have seen demonstrations of "Iron-Groin" training within the Chinese community (either inside or outside China) - the men usually expose their groin area. The development in the above video appears to be a nod toward modesty. A "kilt-like" garment is worn so that the genitalia can move "freely" when required to do so - with the spectacle "hidden" from those who might not be attuned to such a remarkable sight. Here, heavy-weights are secured to the penis and testicles by some type of secure cord. When a practitioner first begins this training, a light-weight is added - with the weight steadily increased over-time. The organs, ligaments, and testicles are "strengthened" through a) the application of weight - and b) the "swinging" motion employed. Within TCM - this exercise is thought to build qi (vital-force) and jing (essential-nature) and boost fertility. Within combat - a blow to the groin-area results in minimum pain and does not negatively affect the fight outcome. 

There are other versions which involve the groin-area being systematically struck with ever-increasing levels of power - over-time (see the video). In the old days, when prevailing in combat literally equated to survival within life - groin conditioning made perfect sense. The Ch'an Dao Style involves the groin area being struck - lightly at first (usually with a sword-kick) - with the impact slowly increased over-time. This usually happens as a part of active sparring and is not separated from the act of fighting - as seems to be the case in the two methods above. There are other Daoist methods (involving massage) which are far more gentle in nature and designed as medicinal (for boosting health) - rather than for direct combat effectiveness. Women can also train in this groin-strengthening method - again involving impact of various intensities. 

NOTE: These videos were forwarded to me by friends and colleagues (with permission from their respective Shifu). Therefore, I do not claim to have filmed this footage (or participated in the training) - or personally know the practitioners involved. These videos were not necessarily filmed within the Ch'an Dao Style (although we do practice similar conditioning exercises in private - and can attest to their authenticity). I respectfully present these videos free of charge as a matter of education - and do not claim any Copyright ownership or Exclusive Rights.

Practicing Taijiquan in the early morning (the or evening - when this picture was taken)  is when the air (qi) is at its most inspiring and invigorating! At the moment, although the temperature was -7 last week - today it is +10 degrees Celsius. Whatever the case, the air is cool and fresh and seems to permeate every cell of the body - despite the fact that in reality the breath enters and leaves through the nose and/or mouth. Of course, I am told that a small amount of oxygen leaves and enters through the pours of the skin - but too little for the entire body to exist upon. Still, when breathing deeply (into the lower Dantian) the complete lower lung capacity is utilised giving the feeling that a 'power' or 'entity' is dropping into the lower abdominal area (traditionally two-inches below the naval).

I find it interesting that this special area (which is probably lower than two-inches in reality) coincides with the actual centre of gravity relating to the human (physical) body. The mastering of 'breath' is inherently linked to the mastery of 'balance' and 'movement' all mediated through an enhanced 'rootedness'. The clarified and purified 'awareness' of the mind directs all this activity - which includes the harnessing of the rising (rebounding) force that emanates from the dropped bodyweight impacting with the ground. The dropped bodyweight and rising force is channelled through the epicentre of the perfectly 'aligned' bone-structure (skeleton) which is never lost despite the complexity of the movement involved.

​Of course, part of the qigong used to prepare the practitioner for Taijiquan practice is 'Standing Like a Stake' also termed 'Holding the Ball' - where an individual stands perfectly 'still' both physically and psychologically. We become like a mighty tree which can withstand any weather or unexpected external force! Within the peacefulness of the well-rooted tree is an immense power waiting to be discovered, harnessed and manifest! 

​When running with the weighted rucksack – I use the two broad aspects of Daoist breathing usually termed ‘natural’ and ‘correct’. Bear in mind that this ‘moving’ activity is not the complex seated ‘neidan’ practice and is not subject to that type of control. Instead, as the bodily frame is placed under intense pressure, what is required is deep and full breaths, usually in and out of the mouth. This is because unlike the state of perfect balance that is constructed during the practice of Taijiquan (where the breath is taken in through the nose and expelled through the mouth) - running with a weighted rucksack overloads the biological processes to such a high degree that the maximum amount of oxygen is required to maintain its function. This is achieved by breathing in and out through the mouth. 

​Once the parameters are set, what then is ‘Daoist’ about this practice? Natural breathing requires breathing deeply into the lower abdomen – this emphasises the use of the middle and lower-lung capacity – with the minimum of upper-lung capacity. Correct breathing requires the pushing-up of the diaphragm so that the inward breath is compressed from the expanded lower-lung and into the middle and upper-lung. Correct breathing inflates the usually neglected upper-lung capacity which is full of highly dense oxygen-absorbing body-cells. Generally speaking, the upper-lung is often used by the body in ‘emergency’ breathing if the body has become injured, ill, or is inhabiting an oxygen-deficient environment. The ancient Daoists seem to have understood that there is something special about the little used upper-lung within everyday life – and with this understanding they formulated a physical method of breathing that allows a voluntary access of this area. 

​I tend to use ‘natural’ breathing when running with the weighted rucksack – but I switch to the ‘correct’ method when I need to stop to cross the road and/or significantly change direction. I usually take three full ‘correct’ breaths (which oxygenates the body to a greater degree) and then switch back to ‘natural’ breathing which is what I refer to as ‘maintenance’ breathing. Correct breathing in this context is not ‘maintenance’ breathing and should not be confused with the purpose of ‘natural’ breathing. Furthermore, the perspective I am giving here only makes sense when discussing weighted rucksack running. As weighted rucksack running using ‘natural’ breathing dramatically diminishes the oxygen levels in the body (stabilised through fitness levels) – ‘correct’ breathing represents a rapid intake of new oxygen by switching the emphasis of how the breath is managed. 

Video: Five Animal Interplay! (五禽戲 - Wu Qin Yi)

​I was introduced to these movements in my youth - as a foundation to learning 'Old' (Yang) Taijiquan! In those days traditional training from a Chinese teacher was never questioned. The onus was on 'secrecy' - as if no one else possessed the knowledge just shared (today, the emphasis in China is upon an open sharing). I was told that the outer bodily positions-structures guided the qi energy with greater force into (and through) the five sets of corresponding inner organs thus strengthening and purifying them.

​These exercises are established upon the theory of the 'Five Phases' (五行 - Wu Xing) - first found in the 'Classic of History' (書經 - Shu Jing) - probably linked to the five planets visible to the naked-eye of the ancient civilisations:

​Animal         Organ

Tiger             Liver-Gall Bladder

Deer              Kidneys-Bladder

Bear              Spleen-Stomach

Monkey        Heart-Small Intestine

Crane            Lung-Large Intestine

​As the 'Bear' is the central animal influence of our gongfu family style - this practice was seen as establishing (and enhancing) the rooted and central stability (and strength) this animal represents (the 'spirit' of the bear involves the practitioner suddenly standing-up and appearing much bigger and over-powering). According to the English language Wiki-page - this 'Five Animal Interplay' exercise is linked to the development of Hung Gar and Fujian White Crane (Bak Hok)!

​The way I was taught this exercise involved 'morning' practice (yin moving to yang) and 'evening' practice (yang moving to yin) - with the movements staying the same. Unlike the 'connected' flow shown in the above video (a different style or method) - I was taught 'single' structure exercises that started with feet shoulder-width apart and hands by my sides. After assuming and holding the required position - the structure was completely dropped away back to the 'ready' (neutral) position - in preparation for assuming the next (different) position. I was taught that all these five movements exist implicitly in the Taijiquan Form - and so eventually I was no longer required to practice them separately. 

​These ideograms are written in Old Chinese Script - but pronounced using Japanese and Okinawan language.

[square] brackets = Chinese pronunciations
(round) brackets = Japanese-Okinawan pronunciations

​a) 補 (Ho) = [bu3] - increase, aid, repair, supplement, mend, compensate and nourish

​b) 助 (Jo) = [zhu4] - help, support, augment and assist

​c) 運 (Un) = [yun4] - transport, carry, utilise, revolve, buoyancy and fate

​d) 動 (Do) = [dong4] - move, act, alter, momentum and touch

​It seems that the four ideograms are deployed using two couplets:

​1) 補助 (Hojo) = supplement and auxiliary [Buzhu]

​2) 運動 (Undo) = sporting and competitive vigorous movement [Yundong]

​The following is a contemporary webpage from Taiwan (auto-translated into 'English' entitled '法規內容-教育部運動發展基金補助各級學校運動團隊作業要點') continuously uses the term '補助運動' (Hojo Undo - Buzhu Yundong) - which is used exclusively to refer to 'supplementary sporting exercises':

​The inclusion of the terms 'buoyancy', 'touch', 'transport', 'momentum' and 'fate' - all suggest an 'internal' management of the 'external' (physical) body (through the attainment of an 'effortless momentum'). Therefore, although this term is common-place in China - the mastery it refers to is certainly not common-place. On the one-hand, a man or woman might train to win a Gold Medal or World Title - but these achievements (as important as they are for the 'Nation') only fall inside the 'external' component of this term. On the other-hand, Karate-Do Styles such as Goju Ryu exemplify the principle of the 'internal' superseding the 'external' - even though a lifetime must be spent subsumed in the 'external' whilst attempting to understand this relationship and transition into the infinitely powerful 'internal' position. Of course, ultimately, both the 'external' and the 'internal' integrate into a perfect, functioning 'whole' - as can be seen during a perfect execution of a Kata.  

Our Chinese grandfather - Chan Tin Sang (1924-1993) fought as part of the 'People's Militia' (with his Section also known as the 'Hakka Resistance') in the Hong Kong and New Territories region. When he recalled these events years later – he often described this time period (1941-1945) as ‘The years covered in blood.’ - as there was never a time that he was not covered in his own blood or the blood of his enemies. Hong Kong had been under the imperialist rule of the British from 1841-1941 - when the Imperial Japanese Army successfully overran the area - killing thousands of ethnic Chinese POWs and civilians in the process! Thousands of ethnic Indian and 'White' British soldiers were killed in combat, wounded and taken into captivity (where many were tortured). What follows is description of what the ethnic Chinese people experienced throughout Hong Kong and the New Territories – a reality either deliberately ignored or simply not known by Western historians and biographers. Part of the problem is not simply political bias or historical preference (although these two issues undoubtedly play their part) - but rather that not ALL ethnic Chinese people understood fully what was happening! The ‘White’ British Administration did not trust the ethnic Chinese population – as they were afraid of homegrown uprisings – but positively detested the Imperial Japanese! This is why the British Authorities ‘refused’ to arm the ethnic Chinese population at the beginning of the Japanese troubles! Rumours of a fifth column in Kowloon turned out not to be true (these groups were comprised of Japanese sleeper cells activated to meet and assist the incoming Japanese troops). 

As the British Authorities did not arm the local ethnic Chinese populations with modern firearms – these people (comprised of the Cantonese, Hakka, Hokkien and Teochew ethnic groups amongst others) had to rely upon their traditional martial arts skills to fight the Japanese invaders. This was NOT a problem as the ethnic Chinese attitudes were still very ‘feudalistic’ at the time and the martial arts incredibly effective on the battlefield and in self-defence encounters! How did (modern) British arms enter the area? This seems to have been through a behind-the-scenes agreement between the CPC and the British government. The People's Militia was organised by the Communist Party of China (CPC) - as the Nationalist government had no interest in Hong Kong being part of a united China again (for the British this must have been a tricky business as the CPC was not formally in power in China - nor was it ‘recognised’ by any ruling government outside the USSR). It is remarkable that given CPC troubles being experienced in Central and Northern China at the time (fighting the Nationalists and the Japanese) that it was able to 'project' its power into what was then a very distant and remote area – but the understanding that had been reached between the CPC and the British allowed a small trickle of UK arms into the region to be used by the local Chinese people! This 'Resistance' movement against the Imperial Japanese was permitted providing the CPC power structure (together with the British arms) be 'withdrawn' from the region following the eventual defeat of the Imperial Japanese!  

Our Hakka Chinese family clan in Sai Kung suffered terribly at the hands of the brutal Japanese - with women and girls routinely 'raped', 'tortured' and 'murdered'! Not only do we possess eye-witness accounts of this barbarism - but long before the internet the Japanese liked to 'photograph' (and sometimes 'film') their crimes for all to see! These are crimes that the Japanese committed all over China and Asia - and which the Japanese government has yet to properly acknowledge and apologise for! Chan Tin Sang was 17-years old in 1941 and 21-years old in 1945 - when the war ended. During that time, he lost most of his immediate relatives and was accustomed to fighting ‘hand-to-hand' with the fanatical Japanese soldiers - using his Hakka martial arts skills to survive (his father died fighting in this manner in 1944). Later, in search of a better life - Chan Tin Sang came to England in 1956 when he was 32-years old. He worked hard for 10-years in what became London's 'new' Chinatown and finally saved up enough money to bring his wife and daughters to the UK (as they already possessed 'British Citizenship') in 1966 (when he was 42-years old). He passed away in 1993 when he was 69-years old - which was quite old at the time - but many believe that the years of deprivation (and continuous violence) he experienced between 1941-1945 definitely shortened his lifespan. Sometimes - as individuals and groups - we possess no choice. By the time the Western allies were landing on Normandy 79-years ago – the Japanese Occupiers were still strong and effective throughout Hong Kong and the New Territories! It would be with the entry of the Soviet Red Army (during late 1945) into Manchuria that begin the demise of the Imperial Japanese Army and signal the return of the British to Hong Kong! 

Blogger's Note: The Chinese martial arts manual mentioned in the below referenced article is termed the '易筋經' or the 'Yi Jin Jing' (or the 'Change Muscle-Tendon-Energy Channel Classic'). Within myth and legend, this manual is said to have been brought to China from India c. 520 CE by the Indian Buddhist monk known as 'Bodhidharma' (who is believed to have 'transmitted' the 'Dhyana' or 'Ch'an School of Mahayana Buddhism to China). My personal opinion is that the data contained in this manual may have been passed on orally - between Master and Disciple - for centuries BEFORE finally being written down and then evolving into the form known today. If this is not the case, then the Yi Jin Ying is a Qing Dynasty construction reflecting key elements of ancient Chinese martial arts practice - ascribed to mysterious and exotic origination! Perhaps the reality is a bit of both. Whatever the reality, the idea of the (Putonghua) '點穴' (Dian Xue) or 'Strike Point' concept and the '點脈' (Dian Mai) perhaps more readily known in the West by its 'Cantonese' expression of 'Dim Mak' (or 'Strike Channel') are well-known concepts within traditional Chinese martial arts. Within Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) - these two terms refer to the same gongfu process of striking the exterior (and 'interior') of the opponent's body in such a manner that the 'Qi' (氣) vital force energy flow is either temporarily or permanently disrupted. This is designed to cause injury along a sliding scale of inflicted damage ranging from a minor (and short-lived) disruption of bodily functions - to devastating damage caused to the internal organs and deep bodily structures - designed to cause 'death' (indeed, it is believed that a true Master can 'strike' a specific medical point even without the opponent knowing - causing death many hours later). It may well be that '精' (Jing) or 'essential nature' and '神' (Shen) or 'expanded empty consciousness' are also 'disrupted' by using this gongfu method - but in different ways. An opponent may be psychologically 'unbalanced' by the presence of his adversary (disrupting 'Shen' with no actual blows being struck) or have the 'Jing' flow disrupted (if opponent is 'male') through a blow delivered to the genitalia or anywhere along the 'Conception' and/or the 'Governing' Vessels, etc. Of course, a powerful blow may be intended to only hit the 'outside' of the physical body structure of the opponent - or be designed to 'penetrate' through these external structures and 'pierce' the inner organs and deep bodily structures. This type of 'hitting' is a routine requirement in the mastery of traditional Chinese martial arts. The concept of '導引' (Dao Yin) or to 'Direct Stretch' - is the traditional foundation for the modern practice known as '氣功' (Qi Gong) or 'Vital Force Energy Cultivation'. ACW (13.4.2023)

2023-04-12 Ecns.cn Editor: Zhao Li

​(ECNS) -- In Chinese costume dramas, people often see a miraculous martial arts skill called Dian Xue (acupoint), which uses pressure points to control or immobilize an opponent. Dian means to strike with a finger and Xue means an acupuncture point.
During fights, martial arts experts use their two fingers to swiftly and forcefully press on a certain part of the opponent's body, immediately immobilizing them.

Compared to Dian Xue, the Yi Jin Jing in martial arts novels is even more miraculous. Yi Jin Jing is known as a classic book about Muscle and Tendon Changing. “Yi” means to change, “Jin” means tendons and muscles, and “Jing”, methods.

Legend has it that anyone who masters the skills in this book can become a master of martial arts and even save others' lives, so martial artists eagerly pursue it.

According to legend, credit for Yi Jin Jing's development is given to Da Mo (Bodhidharma), an Indian monk who lived in the Song Mountains in central China.

Legend said that Yi Jin Jing was left behind by Bodhidharma after he departed the Shaolin Temple. However, there is some debate about the true origin.

But Zhou Weiliang, professor at Hangzhou Normal University, believes that in reality, Dian Xue and Yijin Jing are not as mysterious as they are portrayed in television dramas.

Yi Jin Jing includes the Dao Yin exercises and martial arts exercises. It emphasizes that the core of martial arts lies in internal strength, which is manifested from the inside out. There are no specific martial arts movements in the book. It mainly introduces some exercises to cultivate inner strength. The Dao Yin exercises are related to health preservation via meditation and practicing breathing.

In Qing Dynasty (1636 -1911), some stories mentioned the book Yij Jin Jing. Zhou said that many Qing Dynasty notes are similar to novels, and recorded events are more like stories, in which Yi Jin Jing was described as a "secret martial arts manual".

Zhou believes that some of the descriptions of Yi Jin Jing in current Chinese martial arts novels may have adopted this setting from historical materials of the Qing Dynasty while adding more rich and complex plot lines.

Yi Jin Jing also introduces finger strength training, which involves placing mung beans in a container and repeatedly inserting fingers among the beans to strengthen the hand. Over time, the fingers become as hard as stone and no one can resist them

Some people believe that this may be one of the legendary Dian Xue techniques. However, Zhou believes that the ability to immobilize people with this technique may not actually exist. The miraculous effects are mostly exaggerated in novels and movies.

English Language Article:
​http://www.ecns.cn/m/news/cns-wire/2023-04-12/detail-ihcnkeae0516413.shtml

Comment by ‘Meng Bin’ (梦斌) - 22.5.2020 

This 'Comment' was added to the referenced video (below) designed to ridicule the reputation of Master Ma Baoguo. Interestingly, although many still criticised his movements - all agreed that he showed the true bravery expected by an ex-member of the PLA!

Chinese Language Source: 

https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1iv411z7ks/?spm_id_from=333.337.search-card.all.click 

真的，挺感动的！泪水从眼里止不住地涌了出来，马保国，一个快70岁的老同志，面对一个不到50岁的壮汉的挑战，还勇敢的接了下来，虽然30多秒被干倒三次，但是前两次马老师都用毅力坚强地站了起来！第三次，在我心中，马老师也站起来了！这份坚韧、这份勇气，一定来源于平日的刻苦训练，这一股浩然正气代表了中华传统武学的一个时代，马老师简直就是黄忠的化身！把中华民族这种坚强不屈、老骥伏枥的精神散发得淋漓尽致！试想成功的路上必定充满艰难困苦，失败的苦涩侵蚀着动摇的心，要是没有明确的目标和坚定的信念以及坚忍的意志，很难通过苦难的大门走向成功！虽然擂台上马老师输了，但在我心中这场比赛马老师赢了，赢那个壮汉太多了！这片赛场，永远属于马老师！ 

Dear Tony

​It turns out that the Wing Chun KO I forwarded earlier occured around 17.7.2020 in Guangzhou:

​I was a little confused as to who was doing the knocking-out (I still do not know their names or 'why' the fight took place) - as the termed used is '拳击爱好' (Quan Ji Ai Hao) - literally 'Fist-Striking Love Admire' or more succinctly - 'Fist-Hitting Enthusiasts' - which turns-out to be how Mainland Chinese people refer to Chinese practitioners of Western Boxing! As this is not my area of expertise within Chinese culture (I only discuss Boxing in English) - I was not used to seeing it! There is a movement within modern China that views Western Boxing as pragmatic and vastly superior to indigenous Chinese martial arts (which are interpreted to be ineffective and steeped in useless and pointless superstition).

​This attitude probably began with the British cannons and muskets of the First Opium War (1839) and was confirmed in the massive casualties inflicted upon the Imperial Chinese military forces by the modern armies of Japan, Russia and the West during the so-called 'Boxer Uprising' (1898-1901)! Invincible qigong (dao-yin) turned-out not to be that 'invincible' after-all - when (Chinese) human bodies were struck by cannon-balls, grape-shot and musket balls! Those who managed to close the 'distance' between competing armies (surviving the incoming fire) were usually so psychologically and physically debilitated that they were useless as a fighter upon reaching enemy lines - being easily killed. 

​I have also read Chinese language descriptions of accomplished Chinese martial artists coming unstuck when confronted by well-trained (but quite 'ordinary') British Infantrymen fighting with bayonets (and no ammunition)! These tough working-class men just 'stood their ground' and kept to their basic training (lunge, penetrate, twist and withdraw)!

​Apparently, this British ability so impressed the Allied Japanese at the time that a special 'Bayonet Art' was established in the Imperial Japanese Army and may well have been the motivating force behind what would become known as the 'Banzai' charge famous throughout the Pacific War (1941-1945)! Although the Japanese would later give some flannel about 'Sanurai' charges and the like! I gather that the mass produced Samurai Swords of WWII often harmlessly bounced-off opponents - or snapped the first time they were used to strike! 

​Interestingly, all the way through the above clip, the taller (Wing Chun) man is repeatedly landing 'training slaps' to the face of the shorter 'Boxer' - demonstrating where his opponent is 'open' in defence! This approach works in a disciplined training hall - where the point is collective self-improvement - but obviously NOT in a situation like this where the 'Boxers' are attempting to prove a point regarding effectiveness. If the Wing Chun practitioner had landed full-powered shots instead of slaps - the outcome might have been different. 

According to the People’s Daily the consensus is that Ma Baoguo is NOT a genuine martial arts ‘Master’ - but rather a highly effective ‘Front Man’ deliberately employing comedic routines – to ‘sell’ (at extortionate prices) made-up (and seemingly ‘random’) movements falsely presented as ‘Ancient’ elements of traditional Chinese martial arts! As numerous unseen individuals and business entities supported Ma Baoguo – he was compelled twice (during 2017 and 2020) to put his health and well-being on the line by ‘sparring’ (full contact) with much younger men despite already being in his mid to late 60s! As can be imagined, since becoming a media sensation the biography of Ma Baoguo is well-known in China! Despite the ‘Official Line’ emanating from within China (and echoed outside of China) stating that Ma Baoguo is ‘fake’, nevertheless, he does possess a martial background (which varies in degrees of legitimacy from ‘possible’ to ‘spurious’) – but which can be substantiated through a mixture of verifiable ‘Personal’ and ‘Public’ Records. This Record maybe summarised as follows: 

a) The Ma Family Martial Arts Style is known as the ‘Shandong Ma Family Martial art’ (山东马家功夫 - Shan Dong Ma Jia Gong Fu) and has been passed down as follows: 

i) ‘Ma Zhongyi’ (马忠义) taught his son ‘Ma Defeng’ (马德峰). 

ii) ‘Ma Defeng’ (马德峰) taught son - Ma Baoguo - from around 7-years of age (during 1959). 

iii) ‘Ma Baoguo’ (马保国) has taught his son - ‘Ma Xiaoyang’ (马晓阳). 

b) Ma Baoguo served for six-years in a PLA (Shandong) Garrison – stationed between 1970-1976 (where it is likely that he trained in militarised ‘Longfist’ [長拳 - Chang Quan]). 

c) Between 1982-1984 - Ma Baoguo (who was aged between 30-32 years old at this time) attended Xi'an University. Here, Ma Baoguo trained under Master Shang Ji (尚济) - a teacher who is universally recognised as a legitimate Xingyiquan (形意拳) practitioner. 

d) During 1987, Ma Baoguo met one ‘Guo Daxia’ (郭大侠) of ‘Wudang’ (武当) - a self-proclaimed lineage successor and ‘Great Hero’ of the ‘Wudang’ and ‘Emei’ (峨眉) martial traditions! This person is also known as ‘Guo Shanghai’ (郭升海). Ma Baoguo studied with this teacher – and later became a ‘Disciple’. 

e) During the summer of 1997, Ma Baoguo met Wang Changhai (王长海) - the second-generation descendant of Hunyuan (混元) Taiji (太极). Wang Changhai taught martial arts in the local park, and Ma Baoguo is recorded as participating in just ‘their’ (public) Push-Hands Classes. Although Ma Baoguo has claimed that Wang Changhai was his ‘Master’ and transmitted his Style to him - Ma Baoguo is not included amongst the ‘Official’ thirty-nine ‘Inheriting’ Disciples of the (Official) Hunyuan Taiji genealogy. 

He was born during 1952 in the Linyi (临沂) area of Northeast China’s Shandong province – but was raised further South - in Central China’s Henan province. His father was ‘Ma Defeng’ (马德峰) - who served in the Eighth Route Army, whilst his grandfather was ‘Ma Zhongyi’ (马忠义) - a bona fide martial artist. The Family Style passed down from ‘Ma Zhongyi’ (马忠义) to his son ‘Ma Defeng’ (马德峰) - was known as ‘Shandong Ma Family Martial art’ (山东马家功夫 - Shan Dong Ma Jia Gong Fu). Ma Baoguo started learning this martial art from his father at around 7-years of age (during 1959). At the end of 1968 (at 16-years old) - Ma Baoguo enrolled in Neixiang County Senior High School (Neixiang No. 1 High School) in Henan Province. During December 1970 (at 18-years old), Ma Baoguo, (who had successfully graduated from high school), joined the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and served in the Shandong Long Island Fortress for six-years (until 1976 – when he was 23-years old). Before the Spring Festival in 1976 (when he was 24-years old), Ma Baoguo married his fiancée - Chen Shumin (陈淑敏) - a good women who worked hard in the countryside. During March 1976, Ma Baoguo was demobilized from the PLA after six-years of Service - returned to Neixiang County. In May, he was assigned to Nanyang City as a worker. Despite the intrigue that developed during his later life, Ma Baoguo did have a youth immersed within martial arts and military study. 

A typical narrative suggests that in 2001, Ma Baoguo’s son – Ma Xiaoyang – enrolled to study for an academic Degree (Master of Business Administration) in the UK. Ma Baoguo was required to borrow a very large amount of money to finance this venture, and this created a large family debt. Ma Baoguo travelled to the UK in 2002 to assist his son through teaching Taijiquan to the British people – and it is here (and not in China) - where Ma Baoguo began to find fame and admiration! Between 2002-2007 he attracted thousands of British students all willing to pay for his instruction! This is how Ma Baoguo became very rich and managed to pay-off all his family debt! During February 2004, he founded the "British Hunyuan Taijiquan Association"! This was his first organisation which fed-back into his native China! On the strength of this achievement, during the Summer of 2013, Ma Baoguo, (together with his son - Ma Xiaoyang - and his fellow disciples) co-founded the ‘Hunyuan Xingyi Taiji Gate’ (浑元形意太极门 - Hun Yuan Xing Yi Tai Ji Men) - whilst still claiming a ‘hidden’ transmission from Wang Changhai (王长海) - an assertion that has not yet been convincingly ‘denied’ by the established followers of Wang Changhai. Ma Baoguo describes this organisation as an ‘Advanced’ Internal Chinese Martial Arts School. During the Autumn of 2015, Ma Baoguo assisted his son - Ma Xiaoyang - in founding the ‘Shanghai Hunyuan Martial Arts Temple’ (上海浑元国术馆 - Shang Hai Hun Yuan Guo Shu Guan) - serving as the ‘Honorary’ curator. 

On March 12, 2015, the then 64-year-old Ma Baoguo was in the UK once again on a short visit. During this time, he ‘hired’ a local MMA fighter turned-actor – ‘Peter Irving’ - for an hour of work. This involved set-piece photography and video scenes designed to highlight the Style of martial arts Ma Baoguo had developed! There was no fighting or conflict. Later, however, the footage was released on the internet claiming that Ma Baoguo had ‘challenged’ and ‘defeated’ an MMA European Champion! (There were also further spurious claims of another British fighter being defeated - supposedly later the same day).  

In 2017, the 65-year-old Ma Baoguo appeared in the public eye (in China) for the first time, He achieved this feat by agreeing to ‘fight’ the 37-year-old MMA fighter - Xu Xiaodong (徐晓冬) in Shanghai on June 26th! However, as the fight was about to start, the Police arrived and stated the venue was not suitable for such an event and that everyone was to peacefully leave! Many accused Xu Xiaodong of only agreeing to fight ‘old’ men and never anyone who could genuinely challenge him. The interest surrounding this intended event attracted thousands of people to the cause of Ma Baoguo and assisted in the boosting of his business interests! Meanwhile, Ma Baoguo implied that he had ‘won’ the 2017 fight by using ‘hidden’ spiritual powers that manipulated physical matter and took away Xu Xiaodong’s ability to fight – whilst rumours surfaced that in fact Ma Baoguo had ordered his nephew (‘Ma Bin’ - 马斌) to telephone the Police and ‘Report’ the venue for safety failings (the intercepted text is believed to have read ‘Quick - tell the Police before he kills me’)! Ma Baoguo denied this allegation – stating that he did not have a nephew named “Ma Bin”!  

This all fed into in Ma Baoguo’s clash with the 49-year-old ‘Wang Qingmin’ (王庆民) - a ‘folk martial artist’ (in fact, this former PLA soldier is an expert in Xingyiquan) - which occurred on May 17th, 2020, in the Zibo area of Shandong (although neither participant received any payment for taking part). This fight lasted no longer than 30 seconds and involved a 68-year-old Ma Baoguo being knocked-down three times by series of straight right punches landed by Wang Qingmin! Throughout the contest Wang Qingmin was ‘orthodox’ (with his left-hand and left-foot always forward) - whilst Ma Baoguo fought exclusively in ‘south-paw’ - with his right-hand and right-foot forward! This left Ma Baoguo continuously ‘open’ to Wang Qingmin’s straight-right' - which Ma Baoguo was unable to defend against! The first punch knocked Ma Baoguo’s head around four to six inches ‘backward’ from the vertical position and probably did all the damage – irreparably jarring the brain (in fact, these blows were two straight punches landed in quick succession). Momentum was added to Wang Qingmin’s blows by Ma Baoguo moving forward and slightly to his left (running on to the punches). ft It is remarkable that this 68-year-old man - ‘fake’ or not - managed to get straight to his feet to continue (with no ‘Ten’ count being administered at any point during the contest – although this might have been due to Ma Baoguo getting-up too quickly). In an attempt to avoid this straight-right – Ma Baoguo attempted to move backwards and to his right.  

However, as he was unable to move quickly enough, Wang Qingmin stepped into the empty space created (covering more ground) – landing a type of ‘sling-shotting’ (single) straight-right that was partially blocked by Ma Baoguo’s raised left-arm – but which still landed to the side of Ma Baoguo’s face. This set of combined movements effectively ‘knocked’ Ma Baoguo head and pelvic girdle quicker to his right than his legs could carry him (fatally altering his centre of balance) – and he fell once again (although I suspect his legs were still not working properly following the first knock-down). Yet again Ma Baoguo got to his feet – although by now he was looking very much like the old man he was. As there was nothing coming back from Ma Baoguo – Wang Qingmin had been allowed to establish the habit of ‘walking forward’ with virtually no guard – and this is exactly what he kept on doing. Ma Baoguo, on the other hand, continued to circle to his right – and it is at this point in the fight that the only kicks were thrown. As Ma Baoguo is ‘double-weighted’ (a habit seen in all beginners which causes a cognitive ‘delay’ between ‘preparing’ the body to throw a kick – and ‘actually’ throwing the kick) - he launches a front (heel) kick off his right-lag – but he does this by momentarily placing his left-leg forward (presumably in an attempt to gain momentum), a desperate move which missed its target (again, even taking into account his poor technique, I suspect his legs were not working properly following the accumulative effects of the knockdowns).  

Interestingly, Wang Qingmin appeared to block this attack by ‘kicking’ Ma Baoguo’s attacking kick with a right front (heel) kick of his own (thrown off his reverse-leg). Wang Qingmin then momentarily lands in a ‘southpaw’ stance (the only time he would do this during the entire contest) - simultaneously throwing a straight-right jab (which landed flush to Ma Baoguo’s chin). As Wang Qingmin is uncomfortable fighting in ‘southpaw’ - he immediately switched to his usual ‘orthodox’ stance – throwing yet another (reverse) straight-right punch which also landed flush on Mao Baoguo’s chin! Ma Baoguo absorbs the first ‘jab’ apparently unscathed – but as soon as the second punch lands (the two punches are about one-second apart) - his stunned and traumatised brain ‘switches-off’ all voluntary control of his body and he falls unconscious to the ground. Official and Medical personnel rush to the aid of the now supine Ma Baoguo – concerned that he may be seriously hurt. He remained unconscious for two-minutes.  

Chinese Language Sources: 

https://baike.baidu.com/item/马保国/50106525 
https://www.nanmuxuan.com/sport/ZLKeihvEUT.html 
https://freewechat.com/a/MzI3MzYwNTA2Ng==/2247485822/1 ​