Sunday, September 21, 2008

Liang Style Baguazhang

Liang Style Baguazhang is the style of Baguazhang descended from Liang Zhenpu , the youngest disciple of Baguazhang's founder, Dong Haichuan. In general, most lineages of Liang style descend from either Guo Gumin or Li Ziming :

*Dong Haichuan
**Liang Zhenpu
***Guo Gumin
****Gao Ziying
****Liu Jiemin
***Li Shao'an
***Li Ziming
****Ma Chuanxu
****Wang Shitong
****Zhao Dayuan
****Di Guoyong
****Zhang Quanliang
****Wang Tong
****Sui Yunjiang
****Li Gongcheng

In general, Liang style appears somewhat similar to both Yin and Cheng styles.

As its technical basis, Liang style baguazhang has the "eight old palms" , from which more complicated linking forms are derived. Liang style is also known for its large array of weapons .

In general, most Liang style practitioners are concentrated in Beijing.

Jiang Style Baguazhang

Introduction


Jiang Style Baguazhang is the style of Baguazhang taught by Jiang Rong Qiao 1890-1974. Jiang Rong Qiao was a student of both Zhang Zhao Dong and Cheng Tinghua, both of whom were formal students of Baguazhang founder Dong Haichuan . Jiang Rong Qiao's Neijia kung fu is the most widely practiced combined style of Baguazhang and Xingyiquan in the world today. Jiang’s Bauguazhang is distinguished by emphasizing efficiency of movement and an ambidextrous approach.

Influences and Teachers


Zhang Zhao Dong appears to have been the dominant influence on this style, but Jiang had many other influences. Jiang Rong Qiao started his training as a student of the Shaolin Kung Fu art of Mi Zhong Quan with his father, Jiang Fatai. Jiang Rong Qiao later studied more formally with his uncle, Chen Yushan. Jiang also studied Chen style Taijiquan. Eventually, Jiang Rong Qiao became a formal student of Zhang Zao Dong, who had studied with both Dong Hai Quan and Liu Qi Lan. Jiang Rong Qiao also studied with Li Cun Yi, a close associate of Zhang Zao Dong. Li Cun Yi was also student of Dong Hai Quan and Liu Qi Lan. While Jiang Rong Qiao did not become a formal disciple of Li, Li Cun Yi was clearly a significant influence on Jiang. Finally, Cheng Tinghua is also credited as a teacher of Jiang Rong Qiao. While Cheng Tinghua and his emphasis on throwing or Shuai jiao applications must have influenced Jiang's Baguazhang, these disparate influences mean that it is probably not correct to view Jiang's Baguazhang as a branch of Cheng Tinghua's Baguazhang in the same way that Gao Style Baguazhang is a branch of Cheng Tinghua's Baguazhang.

Contributions and Legacy


In 1926, Jiang Rong Qiao began teaching kung fu in Nanjing. Jiang was instrumental in developing sets that combined Bagua, Xingyi, and Taijiquan. This includes a Tajiquan set known as Taiji Zhang Quan , which is based on sequences from Jiang’s Bagua and Xingyi, as well as the Old Chen Style T'ai Chi Ch'uan. Some students of Jiang Rong Qiao point to these combined forms as a legacy of his teacher Zhang Zhao Dong. The practice of internal style Chinese martial arts has been called Neijia kung fu. Because Jiang Rong Qiao taught Baguazhang along with Xingyiquan , it is difficult to categorize the practice he taught as anything other than Neijia kung fu.

Jiang had an accident and went blind. Jiang's adopted daughter, Zou Shouxian, taught classes and helped produce his most famous book, Bagua Palms Practice Method. This was the first Baguazhang book published in China after the 1949 revolution. This book greatly enhanced Jiang's reputation as one of the most famous Chinese Internal style Martial Artists of his generation. Jiang Rong Qiao died at the age of 84. Several of his closest students were: Sha Guozhen, Zou Shuxian, Ji Yuansong, and Yang Bangtai.

Jiang Rong Qiao's Books


Jiang Rong Qiao authored a number of books :

Xingyi Mu Quan ;

Baguazhang Lianxifa ;

Xingyi Za Si Chui and Ba Shi Quan;

Xingyi Lianhuan Quan;

Bagua Myterious Spear;

Qingping Sword;

Tiger Tail Whip.

Ho Ho Choy Baguazhang

Ho Ho Choy Baguazhang is a style of Baguazhang, a .

History


A disciple of Gao Yisheng - He Kecai taught Baguazhang in Hong Kong. His students still teach today.
However the name is now called "Ho Ho Choy Baguazhang" to differentiate from other branches spread from Gao Yisheng.

As Ho Ho Choy was one of the last disciples of Gao, and after Gao's death he compared his art with those of Gao's earlier students and found that although the name and movement of most techniques are the same, the inner dynamics vary considerably; and so Ho's student called the Baguazhang they teach "Ho Ho Choy Baguazhang" to differentiate.

Gao Style Baguazhang

Gao Style Baguazhang is the style of Baguazhang descended from Gao Yisheng , a student of Cheng Tinghua, who founded one of the two main branches of Baguazhang. Gao originally studied with Song Changrong , later studying with one of Cheng's students, Zhou Yuxiang,. Gao style is one of the most widely practiced Baguazhang styles in the West; there are also many practitioners in Tianjin and Taiwan. It has many variations held within various lineages, some which are given below:

*Dong Haichuan
**Cheng Tinghua
***Zhou Yuxiang
****Gao Yisheng
*****Wu Jinyuan
*****Wu Huaishan
******Wu Guozheng
*****
******Wang Shusheng
******Liu Shuhang
******Chen Baozhen
******Han Fangrui
*****He Kecai
******Cheung Sing Tang
*****Zhang Junfeng
******Hong Yixiang
*******Luo Dexiu
*******Su Dongchen
******Hong Yiwen
******Hong Yimian
*****Wu Mengxia
******Wu Min'an
*****Bi Motang
******Bi Tianzuo


The Gao style system is referred to as the Gao Yisheng branch of the Cheng Tinghua system of Baguazhang. Essentially, Gao Style Bagua is a unique subsystem. The Gao style system, because of Gao's own martial progression over time, can be found to have a number of different permutations, represented in these various lingages. All are valid examples of Gao style Bagua because they all represent Gao Yisheng’s progression as a martial artist. Gao was refining and creating sets until he died. He changed his straight line, pre-heaven and weapons sets more than once in his life but at its core it is a complete Baguazhang system.

Gao style divides training into two categories: pre-heaven and post-heaven . Pre-heaven training includes walking the circle and practicing changing palms on the circle; this material is similar to that found in the other Cheng styles. Post-heaven training consists of 64 linear palms said to be passed down by a man known as Song Yiren ; these palms are unique to the Gao system.

Many Gao style practitioners can be found in Tianjin , Taiwan , and Hong Kong .

Fu Style Baguazhang

Fu Style Baguazhang is a style of baguazhang, a chinese martial art.

History


Baguazhang was introduced to southern China and Hong Kong by Fu Chen Sung, who was invited south after becoming chief instructor of the Nanjing Central Martial Arts Institute in the 1920s.

He and the other four who went south were collectively referred to as the Five Northern Tigers.

This style is characterized by a large number of spinning movements and point strikes. This fighting style can also be used to damage internal organs with precise striking methods.

Fu Chen Sung

傅振嵩 Fu Chen Sung was a third-generation baguazhang instructor from Henan, who founded a significant style of that art. He was also a soldier and a supporter of Sun Yat-sen.

=Early Life=
傅振嵩 Fu Chen Sung, also know was Fu Zhensong in Pinyin, or Fu Qiankun 傅乾, was born in 馬Mapo village, 泌陽縣Biyangxian county, in 懷慶Huaiqing City area, Henan province, China. When he was eight years old, the village set up a martial arts school. They hired 賈山 Chia Feng Ming . He was a top student of the founder of ba gua zhang, Grandmaster Dong Haichuan. Also teaching was 陳延禧 Chen Yanxi from the nearby Chen village, . They taught in a local field. After nine years of training, his teachers were encouraging him to move to Peking to learn more. He wanted to learn the tai chi ball, so stayed till he had learned that, then moved to Beijing, where he studied more bagua with Ma Gui and Cheng Tinghua, both first generation disciples of Dong Haichuan.

In 1900 he moved back to home village to teach. He became well known in that part of China for defeating a gang of bandits who attacked his village. 1911, Fu Chen-Sung became a caravan guard/body guard in Shantung and Henan at the request of the Kai Kung Hsin Shan Protection Service. After the Xinhai Revolution of 1911, Fu began to travel around the cities of Fu Chou and Cheng Chou, as well as Shan Si Province and elsewhere. In 1913, Fu was hired by the Revolutionary Army as a martial arts instructor, holding this post for just a few years. Sometime around then, Fu met the Wudangquan grandmaster, Sung Wei-I 宋唯一 in Liao Ning Province . He was famous for his “lightning palm??" and “rocket fist." He taught Wu Tang sword and taiji to Fu, and subsequently to this these elements were added to Fu’s forms. According to Lin Chao Zhen, the bagua Dragon form and liang yi chuan were created after Fu studied tai chi with Song Wei Yi.

=Military Career=
In 1920 he joined the central army. The then Brigade Commander , Li Jinglin , made Fu head of the 100 person strong martial arts company after he demonstrated tiger fist, leopard fist, connected fist, bagua “cyclone?? broadsword and bagua “four sided" spear. Li Jinglin had also learned sword from Sung Wei-I, and taught Fu further sword techniques. The company transferred to Beijing in 1926. During a martial arts demonstration “God spear" Li used his famous spear and Fu used his “four faced" bagua spear in a friendly bout. The match ended in a draw. This increased Fu’s fame and both men exchanged their knowledge of spear tactics. Fu Chen Sung was married to Han Kun Ru, who practiced the spear and had a powerful technique. Her father was also a famous kung fu master China.

In Beijing, Fu met Sun Lu Tang, Yang Cheng Fu, and many other skilled practitioners, who exchanged knowledge. This exchange continued when the Zhongyang guoshu guan was founded in Nanjing. After heavy competition, Fu Chen Sung was made Chief Instructor of Bagua, emphasizing in his teachings fast precise footwork and waist strength. Here, he taught Sun Lu Tang the Wu Tang sword and in exchange, learns the Sun style of h'sing yi chuan and tai chi.


Later , at General Li Jinglin’s urging, the Central Gymnasium sent Fu south to teach at the Kuang Hsi and Kuang Tung provincial school . This school, which was located in Kuang Chou , was called the Liang Kuang Kuo Shu Kuan 兩廣國術館. Fu Chen Sung became the school's director. The others who were sent to the south were Ku Ju-Chang, Wang Shao-Chou, Wan Lai-Sheng, and Li Hsien-Wu. They were constantly being challenged by southern Chinese martial artists, but beat all challengers. They thus earned the respectful nickname, the “Five Northern Tigers". Fu Chen-Sung was the only one who stayed permanently in Canton, and was the first master to teach northern internal styles like tai chi and bagua in Canton .


In 1937 the Second Sino-Japanese War broke out with Japan and the Provincial Martial Arts Academy and the Ching Wu Association schools were closed down. Fu moved his family further into the countryside for safety, and traveled around the south teaching the Chinese army troops. After the war ended in 1945, Fu began to teach in various schools in Canton province. He supported General Sun in his unsuccessful attempt to unify China under a republican form of government. He devoted his life to developing the Fu Style Wudangquan.


In 1953 martial arts exhibitions were held in Canton Cultural Park. Fu Chen Sung was to demonstrate the dragon form to the audience. Thousands of people packed the park, and crowds of people blocked all entrances. After the first demonstration of the form, the cheering crowds called for encores, and Fu returned to perform the form, faster and faster. Of this event, a local newspaper said afterwards “words could not describe the speed he moved.?? This exertion overcame him, and later that night, Fu died in the local hospital. He believed in constant innovation and continual improvement. The forms he developed express this, incorporating the most useful and practical principles of other styles, and progress from simple to advanced.

Lineage


Baguazhang


Dong Hai Chuan developed pa kua after learning circle walking from the "Complete Truth" Daoist sect. Fu spent 8 years learning pa kua from Jia Feng Meng, then 3 years in Beijing learning from Yin Fu's top student Ma Gua, and from Cheng Ting Hua at the same time. All were first generation students of Grandmaster Dong Hai Chuan.

Wudang Sword


Sung Wei Yi introduced the sword form to the tai chi system, firstly to Yang Pan Hou, then Li and Fu. From Yang Pan Hou's students it spread to Wu style and back to Chen style. Yang Pan Hou's father, Yang Lu Chan, did not use a sword to fight, his favourite weapons were the staff and even his wooden tobacco pipe. This system was called "Wudang" even though it did not come from Wudang mountain. Fu taught Sun Lu Tang the sword in Nanjing, and in exchange was taught h'sing yi ch'uan.

Taijiquan


Fu learnt Chen style tai chi as a youth, while simultaneously learning pa kwa chang . He later learnt Sun style from Sun Lu Tan and Yang style from Yang Cheng Fu. From all these styles he synthsized his own form, and balanced left and right.

Xingyiquan


Fu taught Sun Lu Tang the sword in Nanjing, and in exchange was taught h'sing yi ch'uan.

Deer Horn Knives

Deer Horn Knives , also known as crescent moon knives, are specialised bladed weapons consisting of two steel crescents crossing. They are used in Chinese martial arts. This crossing produces four curved, clawlike points, one of which is extended as the "main" blade. The practitioner grips the wrapped middle of the lengthened crescent with the other acting as a hand guard. Relatively short weapons that were easily concealable in traditional Chinese clothing, they are usually trained in pairs, one for each hand, hence the plural title of the article.

Deer Horn Knives are especially associated with the soft style Chinese martial art Baguazhang, which is known for its diverse weaponry. They are mainly used in trapping an opponent's weapon in aid of tying up or breaking the opponent's weapon, disarming the opponent and other close combat applications.

The Deer Horn Knives are normally used against longer weapons such as spear, sword, broadsword, or any weapon which uses safe distances to attack from. One advantage of the Deer Horn Knives in comparison to a longer weapon is that seeming the deer horn knives are direct appendages of the hand they can be moved with great speed and precision, and along with their ease of concealment, can easily be used to catch their opponent off guard.

Variations


Some Variations of the Deer Horn Knives include some with one crescent being longer than the other resulting in an appearance similar to the standard Deer Horn Knives but with the exception of the visual appearance of a protruding blade

Cheng Style Baguazhang

Cheng Style Baguazhang is the style of Baguazhang descended from Cheng Tinghua, the fourth disciple of Baguazhang's founder, Dong Haichuan .

Cheng Tinghua was from Shen County; he later moved to Beijing where he had an eyeglasses shop located next to the Fire Spirit Temple on Si Shuai Street in the Flower Market Plaza. Therefore, he was called Eyeglasses Cheng.

During the boxer Rebellion Cheng swore to defend his country from the enemy. One day, around the government buildings near the Yong Ding Gate, Cheng met ten of the enemy and subdued them all and none dared to advance. The officers were furious, and ordered a large patrol with rifles to surround Cheng. Cheng calmly used piercing palm to evade them. Then he turned around, leaped up on top of a wall and walked away. They did not have pity on him when he was on the wall and he perished in a hail of bullets.

The special characteristics of Cheng Style Baguazhang are:
*The stepping method are the hook step and the swing step. Their qualities are: the hook step must be small, and the swing step must be big.
*The Dragon Claw palm as follows: the thumb is spread wide. The tiger's mouth is curved and pushed up. The second, third and fourth fingers are slightly spread apart. The little finger and the fourth finger are in contact with each other.

Due to Cheng Tinghua's extensive background in shuaijiao throwing techniques before learning baguazhang, Cheng style tends to emphasize throwing techniques, while Yin style tends to emphasize striking techniques.

Each Cheng substyle uses as its technical basis eight basic palms , from which more complicated linking forms are derived.

Of the eight basic palms, only the first three are considered to be the oldest and passed down by Cheng Tinghua himself before his death in 1900.

These three palms are:
* Single Change Palm
* Double Change Palm
* Smooth Posture Palm

Cheng style has many substyles, some of the lineages for which are given below:

*Dong Haichuan
**Cheng Tinghua
***Cheng Youlong
****Sun Xikun
***Liu Ziyang
***Cheng Youxin
***Cheng Yousheng
****Sun Zhijun
***Yang Mingsheng
****Wang Rongtang
***Liu Bin
****Wang Wenkui
****Liu Xinghan
***Sun Lutang
****Sun Cunzhou
****Sun Jianyun
***Li Wenbiao
****Luo Xingwu