The traditional Chinese martial art known as Eagle Claw (Yīng Zhuǎ Pài 鷹爪派) is thought to be one of the oldest and most complex of the surviving Northern Shaolin kung fu systems.[citation needed] Along with the long strikes and kicks that typify Northern systems, the Eagle Claw system is distinguished by its gripping techniques and system of joint locks, takedowns, and pressure point strikes, which represent one of the oldest forms of the Chinese grappling known as Chin Na.
History
While the details of the history alter according to the teller, with names and places shifting as they tend to do in any oral history, in essence the story of Eagle Claw began in the Shaolin Temple and in Chinese military training, became a family tradition passed on from parent to child for generations, and eventually shed its air of secrecy with the advent of public martial arts schools.
[edit] Yue Fei
Eagle Claw is said to have been created by General Yue Fei who lived at a time of warfare between the Southern Song Dynasty and the Jurchen tribes of the Jin Dynasty. Yue credited his victories in battle to his martial arts training under a monk named Zhou Tong at Shaolin.
Zhou Tong taught Yue Fei a style of joint-locks called "elephant" and the General later expanded it to create the "108 Chinna locks" (一百零八擒拿) of his Eagle Fist style (Ying Kuen). He taught this new style to his soldiers and they were victorious in battle.
[edit] Elephant Fist
In Chinese, elephant is pronounced Xiàng (象). However, the same character can also mean "shape, form, or appearance". The elephant style in question is believed to be a mistranslation of xiang, which actually refers to Xiang Xing Quan (象形拳 - "Imitation Boxing"), a fighting technique which emphasizes the imitation of the offensive and defensive actions of a certain animal or celestial personage.
[edit] Shaolin
In the late Ming Dynasty Yue Fei's material is said to have made a re-appearance at a Shaolin. Lai Chin (麗泉) an expert in the Fanzi boxing encountered soldiers practicing the hand techniques they called Ying Quan (Eagle Fist).
After taking the time to learn and master these skills he undertook the daunting task of combining them into his pre-existing Fanziquan sets.
[edit] Ming - Qing Dynasty
In 1644 the Ming Dynasty was overthrown and replaced by the Qing Dynasty. Many royal family members of the Ming house went into hiding, with several becoming monks, scholars and artists. On such monk was Zhu Ruoji (1642 - 1707) aka Shitao, a low-level prince. He was only two years old when the Ming fell. Later on in his life he took the name Dao Ji (道濟僧). He had a classmate or student named Fa Seng (法成僧).
[edit] Liu Shi Jun and Liu Cheng You
Liu Shi Jun (劉士俊) (fl. 19th century) of Xiong County, Baoding City, Hebei is considered the founder of the yīng zhuǎ fān zi quán (鷹爪翻子拳). He took up martial arts at an early age and studied under several proponents of Shaolin kungfu, Fanzi, Chuojiao and Liuhe boxing. Around middle age, he learned Yue Family linking free hands from Fa Seng and Dao Ji. He later was appointed as the military arts instructor for one of the barracks in the capital city of Beijing. He taught the troops fist and spear skills. His two most prominent students were Liu Dekuan (劉德寬) and Ji Zixiu (纪子修).
However, taking into account Daoji's previously stated lifespan, he could not have been the teacher of Liu Shi Jun as the latter was born centuries later.
Liu Chen You (劉成有) first learned martial arts from his uncle Liu Dekuan (劉德寬), who had been a student of Liu Shi Jun when stationed in Beijing. He continued his instruction under other prominent martial artist of the region. He later later received advanced training under Liu Chen You when he retired to his home village. Liu Chen You turned out to be a very strict teacher and only accepted a few students. Of those were Liu Qi Wen (劉啟文), Chen Zizheng (陳子正) and Zhang Zhan Wen (张詹文).
[edit] Chin Woo Athletic Association
The Chin Woo Athletic Association was an founded by the famed martial artist Huo Yuanjia in Shanghai. Its purpose was the dissemination of not only Martial Arts but sports and other educational systems to the public. The Eagle Claw system remained relatively restricted to the Xiong County, Baoding City in Hebei until Chen Zizheng was invited to teach at the Chin Wu.
After initial success with the first School in Shanghai, Chen went to his training brother Liu Qi Wen to offer his students careers as Martial Arts instructors in the Chin Woo Association. In time, Eagle Claw was being taught in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Guandong, Futsan, Singapore, Malaysia etc.
[edit] Lineages
There are three main Eagle Claw lineages that most teachers/schools can trace their style to.
- Liu Qiwen (劉啟文) (Lau Kai Man)
- Chen Zizheng (陳子正)(Chan Tzi Ching)
- Zhang Zhan Wen (张詹文)(Chian Jin Man
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