Hakka Triple Unity Fist (三合拳 – San He Quan)
Original Chinese Language Article By: Sichuan Online Luzhou News
(Translated by Adrian Chan-Wyles PhD) 
During agricultural rest period on April 8th, 2017, we found in the Huang (黄) Family Village (near Tianxian town, not far from Luzhou city in Sichuan province), Master Xu Zhiming (徐志明) – the 5th generation descendent of the Hakka Triple Unity Fist style of martial arts – together with his son Xu Haisheng (徐海胜), practising ‘Great Flood Fist’ (大洪拳 – Da Hong Quan), the ‘Eight Morals Stick’ (八方棍 – Ba Fang Gun), and ‘Wooden Bench Fist’ (板凳拳 – Ban Deng Quan).
It is reported that the Hakka people, following a number of migrations from Northern and Central China into Southern China, possessed many and varied martial arts styles that were used to protect their families and communities. The Hakka Triple Unity Fist style was first developed during the Kangxi (康熙) imperial era of the Qing Dynasty, during the time of the Hakka migrations into Sichuan province from Huguang (湖广) province (now part of Hubei, Hunan and Northern Guangdong provinces). Hakka Triple Unity Fist style is comprised of an integration of Shandong ‘Yang Family Fist’ (杨家拳 – Yang Jia Quan), Hubei ‘Flood Fist’ (洪拳 – Hong Quan), and Guangdong ‘Yue Family Sect’ (岳家教 – Yue Jia Jiao), as well as other styles. It is designed for efficient self-defence and combat, and contains compact and concise forms of various techniques designed for clarity and direct learning. The movements are fast, fierce and bright, but are supplemented by a number of ‘standing like a pole’ (桩 – Zhuang) exercises (or ‘static stances’), including forms such as ‘Single Hammer Flattens Pole’ (平桩一锤 – Ping Zhuang Yi Chui), ‘Return Block’ (反封 – Fan Feng), ‘Twisting Six Step’ (拗六步 – Ao Liu Bu), ‘Conceal Dragon Stand Like Pole’ (遁龙桩 – Dun Long Zhuang), ‘Golden Oriole Flashes Wings’ (黄莺闪翅 – Huang Ying Shan Chi), ‘White Crane Spreads Wings’ (白鹤亮翅 – Bai He Liang Chi), ‘Iron Ox Cultivates Land’ (铁牛耕地 – Tie Niu Geng Di), ‘Five Tigers Capture Goat’ (五虎擒羊 – Wu Hu Qin Yang), ‘Kuixing Hit Pressure Point’ (魁星点斗 – Kui Xing Dian Dou), ‘Great Flood Fist’ (大洪拳 – Da Hong Quan), ‘Small Flood Fist’ (小洪拳 – Xiao Hong Quan), ‘Unite Eight Hammers’ (连八锤 – Lian Ba Chiu), and ‘Under Four Gates’ (下四门 – Xie Si Men), and so on. As regards to weaponry and equipment, there is the ‘Eight Morals Stick’ (八方棍 – Ba Fang Gun), ‘Wind and Fire Chain Weapon’ (风火条子 – Feng Huo Tiao Zi), ‘Golden Food Fist’ (黄膳拳 – Huang Shan Quan), ‘Double Change Technique’ (双换子 – Shuang Huan Zi), ‘Wooden Bench Fist’ (板凳拳 – Ban Deng Quan), ‘Iron Ruler’ (铁尺 – Tie Chi), ‘Broad Sword’ (单刀 – Dan Dao), ‘Double Sword’ (双刀 – Shuang Dao), and ‘Lord Guan Sword’ (官刀 – Guan Dao). Also practised is strength building through ‘Bodhisattva Force’ (罗汉劲 – Lou Han Jin) technique, together with ‘Forbidden Tooth Law’ (禁齿法 – Jin Chi Fa), ‘Lion’s Roar’ (狮子吼 – Shi Zi Hou), and ‘Wash Hand Power’ (洗手方 – Xi Shou Fang), etc.
Master Xu Zhiming said: ‘Old Chinese martial arts should not necessarily be saved (like a museum piece), but rather rescued and preserved as a living reality.’ According to the Xu (徐) Family Clan Book (家族 – Jia Zu), it was the Xu Family that developed the Hakka Triple Unity Fist martial arts (but during the ‘Cultural Revolution’ Period, the Xu Family ‘Boxing Manual’ [拳谱 – Quan Pu], together with old equipment, was destroyed in the upheaval). However, it is remembered that the Xu Family migrated into the Naxi District of Luzhou during the reign of Qing Emperor ‘Daoguang’ (道光). Therefore, for 200 years, the Xu Family has taught around 1000 students from the Sichuan, Yunnan and Guizhou areas. Master Xu Zhiming further said: ‘Probably around 100 of those students have really dedicated themselves to the true teaching.’ Master Xu Zhiming has dedicated his life to training in the Hakka martial arts, building strength and vigour as well as mastery of all the ‘kill’ techniques. As he has preserved all the numerous skills of his Family Style, he is now busy passing on all this knowledge to his son – Xu Haisheng – whose responsibility it will be to take this great Hakka Triple Unity Fist style on, and teach it to future generations.
Master Xu Zhiming explained: ‘Since he was 4 years old, Xu Haisheng has been practising Hakka Triple Unity Fist style, and when he finished his formal education, he dedicated himself full-time to his martial arts practice. After this, he travelled to Southeast Asia to train with other martial arts masters. I have complete belief in his ability to inherit our family art and pass it on to future generations.’ Master Xu Zhiming is now elderly but practises all the time and has the upmost belief in his son – Xu Haisheng.
©opyright: Adrian Chan-Wyles (ShiDaDao) 2017. Original Chinese Language Text: http://sichuan.scol.com.cn/lzxw/201704/55870369.html 泸州纳溪遗存客家三合拳 百年授技逾千人 四川在线泸州消息(杨涛)4月8日，泸州市纳溪区天仙镇黄家村，客家三合拳第五代传人徐志明在农闲时带着儿子徐海胜练习大洪拳、八方棍及板凳拳。 据悉，历史上客家人经过多次迁徙，为保护家族安全，多有练武习拳者。客家三合拳源于清康熙年间“湖广填四川”的客家移民武师，糅合了山东杨家拳、湖北洪拳、广东岳家教等武术流派之优点，以击杀实战为主，套路简洁补实，刚猛明快。套路有抒桩、平桩一锤、反封、拗六步、遁龙桩、黄莺闪翅、白鹤亮翅、铁牛耕地、五虎擒羊、魁星点斗、大洪拳、小洪拳、连八锤、下四门等。器械有八方棍、风火条子、黄膳拳、双换子、板凳拳、铁尺、单刀、双刀、官刀、钯等。功法有罗汉劲、禁齿法、狮子吼、洗手方等。 “中国功夫不是应该挽救，而是应该抢救。”徐志明这样认为。据徐家族谱记载，徐家所习客家三合拳(拳谱、器械多毁于“文革”期间)为清道光年间迁徙至纳溪，至今200多年，千余弟子遍布川滇黔渝。“勤于练习者却不足百人。”徐志明感叹道，年近花甲的徐志明准备将所习拳法套路、器械击杀技巧全部传授给儿子徐海胜，发扬光大尚存客家三合拳。 “师弟4岁便跟随师公学客家三合拳，大学毕业后又拜会了国内部分门派及东南亚的大师，他有能力将客家三合拳传承下去。”师兄冒文兵虽然不再是职业武者，但对徐海胜依旧信心满满。 |