Drunken Fist

Zui Quan (Traditional and Simplified Chinese: 醉拳; pinyin: Zuì Quán, literally Drunken Fist, also known as Drunken Boxing or Drunkard's Boxing) is a traditional Chinese martial art concept as well as a classification of Wushu form. It is a category of techniques, forms and fighting philosophy that appear to imitate a drunkard's movements.^[1] The postures are created by momentum and weight of the body, and imitation is generally through staggering and certain type of fluidity in the movements. It is considered to be among the more difficult wushu styles to learn due to the need for powerful joints and fingers. Zui Quan is sometimes called Zuijiuquan (醉酒拳, literally "Drunken Alcohol Fist").

Zui Quan Within Chinese Martial Arts

Many Traditional Chinese Martial Arts utilize drunken techniques and fighting philosophy within forms and techniques. For example:

• Some lineages of Choi Lei Fut contain "drunken" forms. CLF drunken technique teaches feints, explosive power generation, swaying motions and various other distraction techniques.^[2][3]
• Monkey Kung Fu contains a variation of monkey style called "drunken monkey" which involves "a lot of throat, eye and groin strikes as well as tumbling and falling techniques. It incorporates a lot of false steps to give the appearance it is defenseless and uses a lot of off balance strikes. The practitioner waddles, takes very faltering steps and sometimes fall to the ground and lies prone while waiting the opponent to approach at which time a devastating attack is launched at the knees or groin areas of the opponent."

Performance Wushu contains several exhibition forms called "Drunken" forms that bear no actual connection to the forms found in Traditional Chinese Martial Arts. ^[4]

[edit] Zui Quan in Mixed and non-Chinese Styles

Shaolin-Do teaches Drunken forms beginning at the first degree blackbelt level.^[5] It has not been verified whether or not Shaolin Do is a Chinese, Japanese or Indonesian style, or a mix of these and/or other arts.

[edit] Zui Quan Practiced as a Style in Modern Times

[edit] Description

'Drunken Boxing' techniques are based on the legend of the 'The Eight Immortals'.^[6] Each of the techniques in the Drunken Set demonstrate an attribute of one of the Immortals. These "elements" from all eight Immortals' styles are combined to form an effective fighting art.^[7]

Drunken boxing includes techniques contained in other kung-fu style and applies its deceptive philosophy.^[8] As the pugilist staggers about, he or she is concentrating on creating momentum and avoiding attacks with the style's trademark unorthodox adaptive moves; for example, if someone is going to push the pugilist, he or she rolls over his arms and hits him, and sometimes sinks his or her weight upon him, according to the situation.

Drunken Fist

Zui Quan (Traditional and Simplified Chinese: 醉拳; pinyin: Zuì Quán, literally Drunken Fist, also known as Drunken Boxing or Drunkard's Boxing) is a traditional Chinese martial art concept as well as a classification of Wushu form. It is a category of techniques, forms and fighting philosophy that appear to imitate a drunkard's movements.^[1] The postures are created by momentum and weight of the body, and imitation is generally through staggering and certain type of fluidity in the movements. It is considered to be among the more difficult wushu styles to learn due to the need for powerful joints and fingers. Zui Quan is sometimes called Zuijiuquan (醉酒拳, literally "Drunken Alcohol Fist").

Baguazhang

Bāguàzhǎng is one of the major "internal" (a.k.a. Nèijiā) Chinese martial arts. Bāguà zhǎng literally means "eight trigram palm," referring to the trigrams of the I Ching (Yijing), one of the canons of Taoism.

History

The creation of Baguazhang, as a formalised martial art, is attributed to Dong Haichuan (董海川) in the early 19th century, who apparently learned from Taoist, and possibly Buddhist, masters in the mountains of rural China. There is evidence to suggest a synthesis of several pre-existing martial arts taught and practised in the region in which he lived, combined with Taoist circle walking. Dong Haichuan taught for many years in Beijing, eventually earning patronage by the Imperial court.

Famous disciples of Dong to become teachers were Yin Fu (尹福), Cheng Tinghua (程廷華), Song Changrong (宋長榮), Liu Fengchun (劉鳳春), Ma Weiqi (馬維棋), Liang Zhenpu(梁 振蒲) and Liu Dekuan (刘德宽). Although they were all students of the same teacher, their methods of training and expressions of palm techniques differed. The Cheng and Liu styles are said to specialize in "Pushing" the palms, Yin style is known for "Threading" the palms, Song's followers practice "Plum Flower" (梅花 Mei Hua) palm technique and Ma style palms are known as "Hammers." Some of Dong Haichuan's students, including Cheng Tinghua, participated in the Boxer Rebellion. In general, most Bagua practitioners practice either the Yin (尹), Cheng (程), or Liang (梁) styles of Baguazhang, although Fan (樊), Shi (史), Liu (劉), Fu (傅), and other styles also exist. (The Liu style is a special case, in that it is rarely practiced alone, but as a complement to other styles.)

Of all of Dong Haichuan's students, Yin Fu studied with him the longest. Some practitioners of the Yin style say that Yin was the only disciple to learn both the entire Bagua fighting and healing systems of Dong Haichuan.

Styles List

• Yin Style: Yin Fu 尹福
• Cheng Style: Cheng Ting Hua 程廷華
• Jiang Style: Jiang Rong Qiao 姜容樵
• Liang Style: Liang Zhen Pu 梁振蒲
• Gao Style
• Fu Style
• Shi Style

[edit] Common Aspects

The practice of circle walking, or 'Turning the Circle', as it is sometimes called, is baguazhang's characteristic method of stance and movement training. Practitioners walk around the edge of a circle in various low stances, facing the center, and periodically change direction as they execute forms. Students first learn flexibility and proper body alignment through such exercises, then move on to more complex forms and internal power mechanics. The internal aspects of baguazhang are very similar to those of xingyi and tai chi.

Many distinctive styles of weapons are contained within baguazhang, some use concealment like the "scholar's pan" or a pair of knives (the most elaborate which are unique to the style are the crescent-shaped deer horn knives). Baguazhang is also known for practicing with extremely large weapons, such as the Bāguàdāo (八卦刀), or 'Bagua Broadsword'. Other more conventional weapons are also used like the staff, straight (double-edged) sword, and spear. Baguazhang practitioners are also known for being able to use anything as a weapon using the principles of their art.

Baguazhang contains an extremely wide variety of techniques, including various strikes (with palm, fist, elbow, fingers etc), low kicks, joint locking techniques, throws, and distinctively evasive circular footwork.

Southern Praying Mantis

Chow Gar Tong long (周家螳螂) is a southern Chinese martial arts and is one of the four major schools in Southern Praying Mantis. It is an aggressive style with emphasis on close range fighting. These skills are developed by utilizing a range of training techniques which have been developed over several centuries.

This style is not related to Jow-Ga Kung Fu(周家), a southern Chinese martial art founded by Jow Lung in the early 1900's.

History

The history of Chow Gar Praying Mantis was transmitted orally with little supporting documentation until the 1900's. The origins of Chow Gar are similar to other martial arts of the Hakka community with references to the Southern Shaolin monastery and exploits centered around Southern China. Information prior to the turn of the century were speculative at best. In the modern era, Lau Soei is recognized by both the Chow Gar and Chu Gar practioners as the leading promoter of this style. The leading authority of Chow Gar are the students of Yip Shui and their schools can be found worldwide.

[edit] Chow Ah Naam

According to Chow Gar tradition, the founder of the style was Chow Ah Naam (周亞南) who lived in the 1800's. He had spent many years in the Southern Shaolin Monastery under the guidance of the abbot Sim See Yan. He created a new style which he called Praying Mantis from watching a fight between a praying mantis and a bird. His style is not related to the Northern Praying Mantis created by Wang Lang (王朗) during the Song Dynasty (960-1279). Ah Naam taught the style to many people in the region and one of his student was Wong Fook Go.

Wong Fook Go

Wong Fook Go (黃福高) was initially a lay person but later became a traveling monk. He travelled throughout Southern China including Wai Yearn village in the area of Tung Kung (East River).

Lau Soei (1866-1942)

Lau Soei (劉瑞; 誠初; 劉水) was an accomplished teacher of the martial arts in his home village of Wai Yearn in Southern China before meeting Wong Fook Go. Oral traditions suggested that Lau challenged Wong and was soundly defeated by Wong. Lau then became a student of Wong and became proficient in the Chu Gar Southern Praying Mantis. Using this knowledge, he futher enhanced his reputation and earned the nickname as the "Number one of the three tigers of Dong Jiang (東江三虎之一).^[1]

In 1913, Lau Soei moved to Hong Kong and established a Southern Praying Mantis school in Kowloon. Initially, he would teach his system only to members of the Hakka community. Near the end of his career, he opened his teachings to the general public. Yip Shui was one of his first non-Hakka students. Lau Soei passed away in 1942.

Yip Shui

Yip Shui (葉瑞; 啟瑞) continued on the tradition of Lau Soei after living and training extensively with Lau Soei. He established a reputation for the effectiveness of the Chow Gar style by meeting all challenges. He worked hard to teach and promote this style. Yip Shui passed away in 2004.

Yip Chee Keung, the son of Yip Shui, contines the family tradition as a promoter of this system. Chee Keung emigrated to London, England in the 1970's. He established a Chow Gar Southern Mantis School there.^[2] Paul Whitrod started his training with Yip Chee Keung at that school in 1974. Paul is now the UK representative for Chow Gar. ^[3]

Ng Si Kay (吳士麒), Yip Shui's son in law, is the current head instructor for Chow Gar Mantis Association (International) based in Hong Kong.^[4]

With the efforts and dedication of those teachers and many others, Chow Gar practitioners can now be found throughout the world. There are now Chow Gar schools and associations in Hong Kong, England ^[5], the Netherlands ^[6] and Australia. ^[7]

Forms

There are many different forms in the Chow Gar system and each instructor teaching a variety of forms. The name for some of those forms include:

• Sarm Bo Jin (三步箭; 3 step arrow)
• Gau Si Mun sau (9 seeking hands)
• Mo Ying Sau Chor Kui (no shadow hand crack the bridge)
• Bo Sim Sau (searching insect hand)
• Gen Tung Gen Sau Lin Wa say (shock power hand)
• Poon loong keok (flying dragon leg)
• Yau Loong Sau (游龍手; swimming dragon hands)
• Say Mun Sau (四門手; four gates hand)
• Bic Saan Quan (迫山拳; lifting mountain Fist)
• Yin Yang Sau (陰陽手)
• Fut Sau (佛手; Buddhist hand)

Techniques

Basic Movements

There are also 36 basic movements consisting of one or 3 moves, these are known as San Sau. they are;

• Bow Chong (cover hand, meaning to wrap up)
• Gau Choi (hammer fist to come down)
• Cye Sau (deflect)
• Doa Sau (spring hand)
• Narp Sau (hook hand)
• Got sau (cut back hand)
• Saw Sau (lock hand)
• Chum Chung sau (sinking elbow hand)
• Yong Sau (upward reach hand)
• Chuen sau (Transmit hand)
• Larp sau (snatch hand)
• Mut sau (sweep hand)
• Kum la Ja Jook (seize and hold hand)
• Kwor sau (circle over hand)
• Yui Sau (Shake off hand)
• Pai Kui (slicing hand)
• Cheet Jeung (cutting palm)
• Lau Sau (Leaking hand)
• Dun Chung (back elbow)
• Ngai Chung (Forward elbow)
• Jin Sau (scissor hand)
• Din sau (rivet hand)
• Soc sau (Shock pulling hand)
• Yong Kum sau (upward breaking hand)
• Yum Yearn Kor Sau (yin yang breaking hand)
• Lim Chung (Elbow picking hand)
• Tai Sau (Pulling Hand)
• Kok Choi (angular fist)
• Man Dan Sau (single bow pulling hand)
• Chup sau (thrusting hand)
• Noi Choi fun sau (inside hand and split)
• Chy Sau (grinding hand)
• Doy Chong ( double arm training)
• Sarm Bo Jin (3 step arrow)

Shock Power

The short-range power that can translate into shock power is a basic characteristic of this style. According to legend, this technique is created when the founder, Chow Ah Naam's saw a praying mantis fighting off a blackbird using quick sudden movements.

Eagle Claw Style (Kung Fu)

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

Main article: 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

Main article: Shaolin Monastery

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

Main article: 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.

1. Liu Qiwen (劉啟文) (Lau Kai Man)
2. Chen Zizheng (陳子正)(Chan Tzi Ching)
3. Zhang Zhan Wen (张詹文)(Chian Jin Man

Kung-Fu (Dragon Style)

The movements of the Dragon style (traditional Chinese: 龍形摩橋; Yale Cantonese: long4 ying4 mo1 kiu4; literally "dragon shape rubbing bridges") of Chinese martial arts are based on the mythical Chinese dragon

History

The history of Dragon style has historically been transmitted orally rather than by text, so its origins will probably never be known in their entirety. Modern Dragon style's history can be reliably traced back to the monk Tai Yuk Sim See who was the abbot of Wa Sau Toi (White Hair) temple on Mount Luofu. No reliable records of the style's origin prior to that exist, though there is much speculation regarding the subject.

Dragon style has roots in Hakka Kuen, a combination of the local styles of the Hakka heartland in inland eastern Guangdong with the style that the monk Gee Sim Sim See taught in Guangdong and the neighboring province of Fujian in the 1700s.^[1]

North of the Dongjiang in the northwest of Bóluó (博羅) County in the prefecture of Huizhou in Guangdong Province is the sacred mountain Luófúshān. Luófúshān is the site of many temples, including Wa Sau Toi where, c. 1900, a Chan (Zen) master named Tai Yuk taught Dragon style to Lam Yiu-Kwai, who in turn passed the art on to the many students of his schools in Guangzhou.

Lam Yiu-Kwai and Cheung Lai-Chuen were good friends from their youth in the Dongjiang region of Huizhou, longtime training partners and later cousins by marriage. Lam and Cheung would open several schools together, and Dragon style and Cheung's style of Bak Mei share many similarities.

A variation of the Dragon style is taught by the Long Choo Kung Fu Society based in Penang, Malaysia and with branches in Australia. Founded by Li Ah Yu and his father near the turn of the century, this association claims it is teaching a Soft / Hard Dragon style originating from Fukkien province.^[2]

Techniques

Overview

The dragon stylist relies on a variety of fighting techniques that can be employed for a wide range of needs. The style uses techniques that can cripple or kill an opponent if the need arises or it can be used simply to control a minor street fighting situation.

Like most southern style kung fu, it has limited kicks and jumps and consisted mainly of fist, palm and clawing techniques. Power generated from the waist using soft hard jin.

Basics

The Dragon Kung Fu practitioner typically attacks with winding low yang; that is, powerful and quick movements. For example, when striking with the fist, more power can be exerted when the movement originates from the feet, is guided by the waist, flows through the body, and exits through the fist.

Foot work

In Southern Dragon style, leg work is characterized by a zig-zag motion that mimics the imagined movement of the mythical Chinese dragon. This also allows one to use floating and sinking movements which are very important in generating power and stability, making your body calm and relaxed.

Southern Dragon style motto

"Control yourself, let others do what they will.

This does not mean you are weak.

Control your heart, obey the principles of life.

This does not mean others are stronger."

Codes of Southern Dragon style

• The seeds were first planted from Haufeng; the essence was gained later at Haushou
• Restrain one's self and yield to others not because one is weak, but to uphold the ethical Tao and let the others have their claim.

Four rules & two principles

1. Focus to train and condition the body. One must not have any act of laziness.
2. Be righteous and uphold your honor. One must not have any act of hypocrisy.
3. Respect your parents, honor your teacher. One must not have any act of defiance.
4. Treat others with honesty, treat your friends with loyalty. One must not have any act of arrogance.